Merlier edges Milan in sprint finish to win stage nine of Tour de France
As van der Poel's heroic effort ended in heartbreak at the end of the 174.1-kilometre ride from Chinon to Chateauroux, it marked a second stage win on the Tour this year for Merlier, who had also edged Milan in a photo finish on the third stage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
23 minutes ago
- STV News
'Dream': Oscar Onley matches Scottish record at Tour de France
Cyclist Oscar Onley equalled the best-ever Scottish finish in the Tour de France at the weekend and says the performance has 'sparked a dream' for the future. The 22-year-old finished fourth to match a 41-year-old record set by Philippa York, who was then known as Robert Millar, in 1984. Speaking afterwards, Onley, who finished one minute and 12 seconds behind third-placed Florian Lipowitz, insisted he never had any plans for the general classification (overall standings) at the start of the race. He told ITV Sport: 'We never really had the plan to go for GC in the beginning. It was more just see how it goes. 'To be honest, I've never even thought about a top five in the Tour before, so to get it in my first try in GC is quite incredible and I'm excited for the future. 'It gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming races as well as these are the top guys and in top shape in the biggest race. 'So if I can do it here then why not in other races? 'I've just taken every day as it's come really and not made any extra stress as the Tour is already stressful enough, just to ride and compete. 'I'm really happy with how myself and the team have managed these three weeks. 'I guess this is a really big moment in my career. 'I don't really realise it yet, but I think just with talking to other riders, going forward now we have something to build on and an exciting project for the future, and it sparks a bit of a dream.' Tadej Pogacar celebrated his fourth Tour de France title in Paris but was denied what would have been a stunning final stage victory as Wout van Aert rode away on the wet cobbles of Montmartre to win on the Champs-Elysees. Pogacar looked keen to take what could prove to be a unique opportunity to win in yellow in Paris as the introduction of three ascents of the climb to Montmartre reshaped the usual final day procession, but Van Aert broke clear on the last time up to take the glory. Although the general classification times had been neutralised in the soggy conditions, Pogacar still had to finish to secure his title yet was willing to risk it all on the greasy cobbles in pursuit of a fifth stage win of this Tour. The Slovenian attacked each time up the narrow climb to whittle down a leading group to just a handful of riders, but had no response when Van Aert made his move 400 metres from the summit of the final ascent, winning solo by 19 seconds from Davide Ballerini. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
28 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Watson claims 100th cap for Scotland
Olympian Charlotte Watson celebrated another career milestone when she made her 100th appearance for Scotland in Edinburgh. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Dundee-born player topped her appearance by scoring a spectacular solo goal, but the Tartan Hearts were broken by a 4-3 scoreline in the second of two hockey Test matches with France at The University of Edinburgh Playing Fields at Peffermill. The 27-year-old, who also has 34 caps for Great Britain and competed in the Paris Olympics last year, forced a turnover just outside the French D and drove for goal, leaving the defence in her slipstream. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Then the player, who has recently signed to join English club side, Wimbledon, calmy picked her spot before firing in the net after 22 minutes. Watson (centre) puts France under pressure in the first Test The home side were 3-0 down at the time and that sparked a comeback which lead to the Scots equalising at 3-3 with a deflected goal from Sarah Jamieson (Watsonians) 12 minutes later for 3-2 and the leveller arrived from Katie Birch with ten minutes remaining. That was just after the French goalkeeper, Violette Ferront, made a superb pad save, sticking out her left leg to send the ball to safety. The aggressive French side, who held the Scots 1-1 in the first test at the same venue on Saturday after losing a practice game 2-1 at Peffermill on Thursday, netted through Yohanna Lhopital after 52 minutes following a penalty corner to stun the home side in their last competitive outing before the EuroHockey Championships in Germany next month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Delfina Gaspari had opened scoring after 1min 52sec, capitalising on slackness in the Scotland defence, and Eve Verzura scored again seven minutes later with LHopital making it 3-0, chipping the ball over the advancing Scotland goalkeeper, Jessica Buchanan, after 19 minutes making it a long way back for Scotland. Charlote Watson presented with her 100th cap by Chris Duncan, Scotland head coach at Peffermill The narrow win is undoubtedly a boost for France who are ninth ranked in Europe, two places below the Tartan Hearts who open their EuroHockey Championship campaign against England on August 10 (9.15am) in Monchengladbach. Then they play Spain 24-hours later (2.30) and finish their qualifying pool by squaring-up to Belgium on August 13 (11.15). Chris Duncan, Scotland's head coach, has much to ponder as the clock ticks down towards the EuroHockey Championships, including lack of real penetration in the final third despite enjoying a large slice of possession, and also his side's failure to convert more penalty corner chances, only one taken in ten attempts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Watson confirmed it had taken over nine years to hit three figures for Scotland but the former Dundee Wanderers player does not see herself playing on to reach 200 caps. She started her senior international career during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016 and progressed to being a member of the Scotland Commonwealth Games squad in 2018 in the Gold Coast in Australia. Her CV includes scoring the second and clinching goal in the final of the EuroHockey Championships, Second Division, in Glasgow in 2019 as the home side won gold. She then received a call from the Great Britain selectors and she made here first appearance during a Test match against Japan in Hiroshima before playing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Now she is looking to help steer Scotland to a high placing in the EuroHockey Championships also in Munchengladbach. At her last appearance there she scored a memorable and game-clinching goal as Scotland edged Spain 2-1 to record one of their finest victories in recent times. Spain were ranked No 8 in the world at the time, Scotland were No 19, but Watson was sent clear by Dunfermline-raised Eve Pearson and she slid the ball low into the right-hand corner for 2-0.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Osaka parts company with coach Mouratoglou after Washington exit
July 28 (Reuters) - Naomi Osaka has parted company with coach Patrick Mouratoglou less than a year after the pair began working together, the four-times Grand Slam champion said days after her defeat to Emma Raducanu at the Washington Open. The 27-year-old began working with Mouratoglou ahead of the China Open in September last year, as she sought to reignite her career following a patchy run of form after returning to the tour from a long maternity break. "Merci Patrick. It was such a great experience learning from you. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people I've ever met and I'm sure I'll see you around," Osaka wrote in a post on Instagram on Sunday. Under Frenchman Mouratoglou, who previously guided Serena Williams to 10 of her 23 major titles, Osaka won her first WTA title since 2021 at the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo in May - a WTA 125 tournament. She also reached the final of the Auckland Classic in January, where she was forced to retire with an injury, and suffered a frustrating first-round exit from this year's French Open at the hands of Paula Badosa. "Nothing lasts forever. What counts is what a collaboration has brought to each other and what lasts after," Mouratoglou wrote on social media. "After 10 months of collaboration, we have decided to part ways professionally. I am grateful for the trust, the journey and what we have built together. I will always root for you and wish you nothing but the best." Osaka is next in action at the Canadian Open in Toronto, where she takes on Ariana Arseneault later on Monday.
