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Critta capitalises on Blues 1st penalty

Critta capitalises on Blues 1st penalty

News.com.au18-06-2025
State of Origin: Stephen Crichton has scored from the Blues only penalty of State of Origin game two up until the 55th minute.
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Tour de France: Australian Kaden Groves wins stage 20 as Pogačar on cusp of fourth title
Tour de France: Australian Kaden Groves wins stage 20 as Pogačar on cusp of fourth title

SBS Australia

time20 minutes ago

  • SBS Australia

Tour de France: Australian Kaden Groves wins stage 20 as Pogačar on cusp of fourth title

Australia's Kaden Groves has completed his set of grand tour stage wins after traversing the slippery roads to triumph on the penultimate day of the Tour de France. The Australian sprinter is normally renowned for fast finishes, but excelled in the tough and wet slog over the hills to claim an emotional victory from the 13-man breakaway. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider surged ahead 16 kilometres from home and held on for his first Tour stage win and 10th at major races. The 26-year-old from the Sunshine Coast has claimed two at the Giro d'Italia and seven at the Spanish Vuelta. He finished 54 seconds ahead of Frank van den Broek and 59 clear of Pascal Eenkhoorn, bursting into tears as he crossed the finish line in Pontarlier. Groves' first career Tour stage win was a third of this race for his Alpecin-Deceuninck team but the first since stage two, with their previous two winners, Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel, since lost to injury and illness. "Today we weren't sure whether to go for the stage or wait for tomorrow but when the rain falls I have a super feeling normally in the cold weather," an emotional Groves said. "There's so much pressure at the Tour, and having won in the Giro, having won in the Vuelta, all I ever get asked is am I good enough to win in the Tour? And now I show them. "It's my first time winning, so it's pretty incredible." Earlier in the stage, another Australian, Harrison Sweeny, had made his mark. When the front group tackled the 3.6km Côte de Thésy, Frenchman Jordan Jegat launched a solo attack, but he was then overtaken by Sweeny. Kaden Groves celebrates on the podium after winning a Tour de France stage for the first time. Source: AP / Mosa'ab Elshamy As rain fell heavily again after 40km, Sweeny opened up a 50-second lead, only to be quickly reeled in. Aside from the Australian cameos, Pogačar kept things safe to maintain his healthy lead over arch-rival Vingegard and set the stage for a triumphant finale into Paris on Sunday. The Slovenian ace has a 4 minutes 24 seconds advantage over two-time Tour winner Vingegaard with Germany's Florian Lipowitz 11:03 behind Pogačar in third overall. Barring a dramatic misadventure, Pogačar should complete the job on Sunday (local time) and move level with British rider Chris Froome on four Tour titles. Victory would also give Pogačar a fifth Grand Tour after winning the Giro d'Italia in dominant fashion last year. However, Sunday's final stage is not a processional one, as is usually the case, and could potentially prove troublesome toward the end with three consecutive climbs. Saturday's 184.2km route from Nantua through eastern France featured three small climbs and a moderately difficult one up Côte de Thésy. The wet roads were treacherous at high speeds, with France's Romain Grégoire and Spaniard Iván Romeo both crashing as they attempted to navigate tight turns. Both were able to continue. The final stage is a 132.3km ride from Mantes-la-Jolie to Paris, where the peloton will cycle up the famous Butte Montmartre three times before the final laps on the Champs-Elysees. The place to watch the 2025 Tour de France — live, free and exclusive — plus the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is right here on the SBS On Demand Hub .

Calls for more racing to address Mount Panorama speeding problem
Calls for more racing to address Mount Panorama speeding problem

ABC News

time33 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Calls for more racing to address Mount Panorama speeding problem

As one of the most revered racetracks in the world, Mount Panorama-Wahluu is no stranger to speeds in excess of 300 kilometres per hour. But when the country's best drivers are not tackling the track made famous by the Bathurst 1000, it is a public road where increasing numbers of drivers are being caught speeding. According to NSW Police, since the beginning of the year there have been 111 speeding offences on the mountain, 11 of which involved drivers more than 45kph over the 60kph speed limit. Almost 100 of those incidents occurred on Conrod Straight, with a provisional driver caught doing 128kph earlier this month. In May, a learner driver was detected allegedly travelling at 149kph at the same location. "Despite its racing heritage, the rules apply just like they do anywhere else," Acting Inspector Jason Marks said. "Drivers are ignoring these warnings and treating Mount Panorama like a racetrack, putting themselves and others at risk. "It is deeply troubling and concerning." The Bathurst Light Car Club hosts track day events on Mount Panorama-Wahluu, with a section of the circuit closed to allow drivers to test their skills in their own vehicles. President Neville Lin believes the events could provide a solution to the speeding problem. "If we could have more of the one-day events, you would get all the street racers off the street, they would be in a controlled environment," he said. Acting Inspector Marks has backed the plan. "If you want to go fast, get behind the wheel and do those extreme speed limits, sign yourself up to the light car club," he said. "There are a lot of safety measures that go in place for things like that." Five motor racing events involving a full closure of the circuit can be held on Mount Panorama-Wahluu each year. The Bathurst Light Car Club holds a further five events annually with a partial track closure but is hoping to increase that number. However, club vice-president Scott Sims said it "costs an extraordinary amount" to host an event at the mountain compared to other circuits such as Eastern Creek in Sydney. "You can go down there and run for about four hours at Eastern Creek for about $280," he said. "You can do as many laps as you want. "We can't compete, and we're losing a lot of guys." But Mr Sims said nothing could compare to the thrill of racing around one of the greatest circuits in the world. "You are on the edge the whole time. "The circuit is unique because you go up and down hills, there are blind corners. "It is the best feeling you will ever get." Deputy Mayor Ben Fry said Bathurst Regional Council was exploring all options to try and commercialise the racetrack. "We spend $4 million to make $4 million on this asset every year," he said. Last year Cr Fry visited the Nurburgring motorsport complex in Germany and other racetracks in Europe to investigate ways the council could generate more income from the circuit. "Are there opportunities for drive days, manufacturer partnerships, advertising, films?" he said. "This is the most famous motorsport track in the Southern Hemisphere and should be used as much as possible."

‘This isn't a novelty or aberration': Female jockeys set up for success in Queensland
‘This isn't a novelty or aberration': Female jockeys set up for success in Queensland

News.com.au

timean hour ago

  • News.com.au

‘This isn't a novelty or aberration': Female jockeys set up for success in Queensland

Don't think it's just a one-off. A female jockey will soon create history by winning the Brisbane riding premiership for the first time, but expectations are that it could soon be the rule rather than the exception. As great mates Angela Jones and apprentice Emily Jones have been battling it out for the title, Brisbane Racing Club chairman Richard Morrison has been making plans to cater for the continuation of a trend that is reshaping Australian racing. As part of its broader refurbishment plans at Eagle Farm, Morrison confirmed the BRC is already planning to significantly expand the female jockeys' room to accommodate the growing number of women riding at the top level. 'It's something we're proud to support. We're not just responding to what's happening now, we're preparing for what racing will look like in the future,' Morrison said. 'The growth in female participation is real, it's sustained, and it's only going in one direction.' Morrison, who was elected BRC chairman earlier this year when he replaced long-serving Neville Bell, feels there is a growing wave of female jockeys who are taking racing by storm. 'It's the first time a female rider will win the senior title, but it won't be the last,' Morrison said. 'This isn't a novelty or an aberration. 'It's a reflection of a changing industry and the incredible talent we're seeing from female riders across the board. 'Gone are the days where women were only given rides on outsiders as some kind of token gesture. 'Today, they have the trust of punters and the backing of the leading stables. They're riding the favourites and winning regularly. 'It's not just about the top two. 'Look at the apprentice ranks, there are 21 female apprentices and just eight males currently licensed to ride at provincial meetings in Queensland. 'Across the state, there are more registered female trackwork riders than male and the number of stablehands is similarly skewed. 'Thoroughbred racing across Australia would grind to a halt without the contribution of women.' COBALT MYSTERY Peter Hulbert, 79, has been training for 48 years without any of his horses ever registering a positive swab ... until a recent cobalt case. It is surely one of the cleanest records of any trainer in Australia who has trained over several decades or more. And Hulbert, who trains with son Will, said he is gobsmacked at how former import Dillian tested above the legal threshold for cobalt. 'I've got absolutely no idea,' Peter Hulbert said. 'I will be looking through the (horse) feed and investigating how this could have happened. 'I had to go before stewards on Thursday and that was the first time in 48 years I have been called upon before stewards for a positive swab.' in April and a $5000 fine imposed on its trainers.

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