Latest - Just three stages remaining for the Slovenian Primoz Roglic to claim his maiden Tour de France title after there was no change in general classification on stage 18.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Michal Kwiatkowski, the unsung hero of Team Sky/Ineos during their dominant years, claimed his maiden Tour victory when he won the stage from a breakaway duo with team mate Richard Carapaz.
The victory is a sweet reward for Kwiatkowski, whose role as a domestique has helped Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal win Tour de France titles since 2016.
Roglic retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after the last mountain stage, a 175km effort from Meribel, as he controlled his closest rival and fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.
Pogacar lags 57 seconds behind with Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez in third place, 1:26 off the pace.
Roglic is the team-mate of New Zealander George Bennett, who is 31st overall.
Tonight's 19th stage is a 166.5km undulating ride between Bourg en Bresse and Champagnole.
Meanwhile New Zealander Mikyala Harvey is in 5th place overall with 2 stages remaining of the women's tour of Italy, the Giro Rosa.
-Reuters
Lake Taupo Challenge postponed
New Zealand's largest cycle race has been postponed because of the uncertainty amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Lake Taupo Challenge planned for 14 November, has been pushed back 12 months.
Organisers say with just under eight weeks until event weekend, and with the continued uncertainty around what the coming weeks and months may hold for mass participation events, we believe this is the right decision in the current environment.
The event, which has been running for 43 years, attracts more than 5,000 entries with the majority competing in the 160km ride around Lake Taupo.
Paddon puts EV car on the track
Hayden Paddon has driven his new electric rally car for the first time.
The former WRC driver has spent the last 18 months designing and building the Hyundai Kona EV Rally car in Cromwell and yesterday turned wheels for the first time at Highlands Motorsport Park.
"While the car is just in its raw format at present while we confirm systems and operation of components, it was still hugely exciting for the team who have poured blood, sweat, and tears into this project," Paddon said.
Watch the Hyundai Kona EV Rally car in action
"We now have a very busy 5 weeks ahead to strip the car, prepare the body shell, and start the final assembly. The official launch of the car will be 4th of November. We are all very excited to show the world something spectacular which we are very proud of," Paddon said.
Bulldogs stun Rabbitohs
A ferocious 20-0 burst in the opening 26 minutes helped Canterbury climb off the bottom of the NRL ladder with a tense 26-16 win over play-off bound Souths in Sydney.
There was no shortage of controversy with Canterbury scoring twice while Jaydn Su'A was in the sin bin for a high shot that knocked Lachlan Lewis out of the match, while a Souths try was awarded without the aid of a Bunker despite winger Jaxson Paulo going into touch before he grounded the ball.
The result puts Souths' hopes of a home final in jeopardy with Newcastle able to leapfrog them into sixth if they beat the Dragons while Brisbane drop to last and will now need to win one of their last two games to avoid the wooden spoon.
-NRL
Roland Garros cuts back crowds
The French Open will permit only 5,000 spectators per day following a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Roland Garros Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) had announced earlier this month that the tournament will allow a maximum of 11,500 fans per day at the claycourt major, which will be held at Roland Garros from Sept. 27-Oct. 11.
The FFT has been aiming to host daily crowds of 5,000 at both the Philippe-Chatrier and Suzanne-Lenglen showcourts while 1,500 fans were slated to watch matches at the smaller Simonne-Mathieu court.
The L'Equipe report said the tournament organisers are still looking to host 5,000 fans a day at Philippe-Chatrier but none on Suzanne-Lenglen or Simonne-Mathieu court.
A record 520,000 spectators attended last year's French Open.
-Reuters
Reds pick up Spaniard
Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich.
British media reported the deal will cost the Premier League champions around $40 million.
Thiago will leave the German giants a year before his contract is set to expire and is expected to sign a four-year deal with the Anfield club.
Thiago has won the Bundesliga title with Bayern every season since his move to Munich and also lifted the Champions League trophy last season.
-Reuters
Women's cricket series sold out
The international women's cricket series between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane starting next week is a sell-out.
Cricket Australia has allowed 50 percent capacity at Allan Border Field.
All three T20 internationals and three ODI's are now sell-outs.
One side effect of the strict biosecurity measures in Brisbane means players will be unable to share in the post-game interactions with fans they usually relish.
Fans have also been asked to limit their cheering to avoid any possible transmission of coronavirus.
The first T20 international is on the 26th of September.
-CA
