Tour de France yellow jersey contender ruled OUT
'Last week, he began experiencing abdominal pain and a high fever,' said his team EF on their website.
'(Doctors) have advised against long-haul travel and competition at this time. As a result, Richard will not take part in this year's Tour de France.'
Carapaz finished third in the Giro d'Italia earlier in June and would have led the EF Pro Cycling team in the Tour, which starts on July 5.
'We're all gutted for Richard,' said Jonathan Vaughters, the EF chief.
'He came out of the Giro with amazing form.
'He sacrificed a lot to get to that level, so the timing really couldn't be worse. We know how much the Tour means to him, so to lose him this close to the race is a real blow.'
Carapaz, the 2020 Olympic champion and 2019 Giro winner, won the climbing and combativity prizes in last year's Tour de France.
The team said that the 32-year-old 'will take a few weeks off to let his body fully recover' and then shift his focus to the least prestigious of the Grand Tours starting on August 23.
'His goal? Win the Vuelta a Espana,' said the team.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Will Swimming SA's crushing court loss spark change across SA sport?
This was because of the humiliating loss the ruling body of SA aquatic sport took in the Western Cape High Court, where a judge ruled that the breakaway South African Water Polo (SAWP) organisation has the legal right to exist. SSA's bid to interdict the upstarts was a massive embarrassment in keeping with the general state of dysfunction that abounds. According to Clinton van der Berg, writing on his 'Got Game' website, the court found SSA does not have an exclusive, perpetual right to govern water polo in South Africa. It also upheld SA Water Polo's constitutional right to freedom of association. SAWP was formed by disillusioned coaches, players, and officials aiming to improve the sport's governance and performance. They had simply had enough. While SSA remains the officially recognised federation, the ruling opens the door for SAWP to potentially become the national governing body in the future. This is the same SSA which last month failed to acknowledge the death of Joan Harrison, South Africa's first Olympic swimming champion. This is the same SSA which failed to mention Tatjana Schoenmaker on its social platforms when she was winning gold at the Olympic Games. This is the same SSA which revels in controversy. In recent years there have been governance and leadership challenges with the federation's executive, including president Alan Fritz, serving beyond the constitutional three-term limit, raising legal and ethical questions. Additionally, elite artistic swimmers Jessica Hayes-Hill and Laura Strugnell successfully challenged SSA's disciplinary actions after being controversially sent home from the 2024 World Championships, leading to a R7.2 million lawsuit. 'Deceitful actioning of training protocol without management approval,' was cited by SSA, a vague charge that has raised eyebrows. SSA also admitted to an unconstitutional clause in its constitution forbidding members from suing the federation, promising amendments. Allegations of poor leadership, inadequate communication, and insufficient support for non-swimming aquatic sports persist, fuelling calls for urgent reform and greater transparency. The court ruling sets an important precedent: dissatisfaction with poor governance can lead to the rise of alternative structures, challenging entrenched federations. Given South Africa's widespread sports administration crises, including financial mismanagement and weak accountability, this could inspire similar breakaways, underscoring the urgent need for reform to restore trust and stability. The ruling is a wake-up call. Will the powers that be answer it? And will other sports pay heed? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Is THIS the course that will host LIV Golf event in South Africa?
Ever since reports broke that LIV Golf will stage a tournament in South Africa in 2026, questions have been asked as to which course would be best suited to hosting the event. Predictably, many suggested the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City or Leopard Creek as possible options having held the Nedbank Challenge and Alfred Dunhill Championship, respectively, for decades. Others mentioned Blair Atholl or Durban Country Club as alternatives. However, another venue in the Cape has gained support. Earlier this year, Filipino ports and casino billionaire, Enrique Razon, whose company won an multi-billion-rand bid to revive sub-Saharan Africa's biggest container port, bought a development that includes one of South Africa's top golf courses, Pearl Valley. Entities associated with Razon bought Pearl Valley – a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course – and the hotel on the property in the Cape Winelands from a company controlled by shareholders that include South African businessman and Olympic swimming gold medal winner, Ryk Neethling. Pearl Valley has consistently been ranked among South Africa's top golf courses and has previously held the South African Open, among several other Sunshine Tour and co-sanctioned events. Razon, who chairs and is president of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and is a major supporter of the sport in his home country, has an estimated net worth of $13 billion, according to the Forbes Real Time Billionaires List. At the time of publishing he's the 202nd-richest person in the world. Razon is reportedly dead-keen on hosting the LIV Golf event and is prepared to throw money – lots of it – at realising his dream. LIV Golf's 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most internationally focused yet, with a schedule that includes nine tournaments outside of the United States. According to sources who have seen the preliminary schedule, LIV Golf's 2026 season will kick off with six straight international events, a significant increase compared to the four in the opening weeks of 2025. While the schedule has yet to be confirmed, reports are that these locations are '100 percent' confirmed, with the only expected changes being dates. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – February 5-7 – February 5-7 Adelaide, Australia – February 12-14 – February 12-14 Hong Kong – March 6-8 – March 6-8 Singapore – March 13-15 – March 13-15 South Africa – March 20-22 (first ever LIV event in South Africa) – March 20-22 Mexico City – April 17-19 – April 17-19 Washington DC/Virginia – May 15-17 – May 15-17 South Korea – May 29-31 – May 29-31 Spain – June 5-7 – June 5-7 New Orleans – June 26-28 – June 26-28 UK – July 24-26 – July 24-26 Chicago – August 7-9 – August 7-9 Indianapolis – August 21-23 – August 21-23 Michigan – August 28-30 South African tournament The 2026 schedule marks the first-ever LIV Golf event in South Africa. This highly anticipated addition is a win for the Stinger GC, the all-South African team consisting of Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester, and Branden Grace, all of whom have long pushed for a tournament on their home soil. The venue remains unconfirmed, but the event will be a landmark moment for the tour. No Japan Event A previously rumoured Japan event looks to have been delayed, with the 2026 schedule not including a stop. Instead, Hong Kong and Singapore will see action in March. International focus early in the season The 2026 season would begin with six consecutive international tournaments in February and March, including notable locations like Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. This marks a shift toward a truly global LIV Golf tour and presents significant international opportunities for players and sponsors alike. US leg starts late in the season The first LIV event in the United States will not come until May 15-17 in DC/Virginia, just a week before the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia. This marks a strategic move for LIV to avoid overlapping with the traditional PGA Tour schedule. No LIV Miami or Dallas In a notable omission, the LIV Golf Miami and LIV Golf Dallas events are absent from the 2026 calendar, despite the popularity of these locations in previous seasons. Instead, the tour continues its trend of visiting new cities and countries, suggesting that LIV Golf will continue to prioritise global expansion over returning to established US venues. If this schedule holds, LIV Golf will maintain its aggressive push to grow the sport globally, especially in emerging markets such as South Africa, South Korea, and Mexico. The addition of a South African event will undoubtedly be a significant moment for the country's golf scene, as well as a response to the growing call for more international representation on the tour. For LIV players, the extended international schedule provides more opportunities for travel, promotion, and securing sponsorships in regions where the tour is looking to make a lasting impact. With high-profile locations like Riyadh and Hong Kong, LIV continues to solidify its commitment to broadening the scope of professional golf. As the schedule remains unfinalised, LIV Golf fans and players alike are eagerly awaiting official confirmation, likely to come in the next few weeks. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
21 hours ago
- IOL News
Rassie Erasmus the bearer of good news as Springboks' injury infirmary starts clearing out
FILE - Springboks flank Pieter-Steph du Toit is set to pull on the Springboks jersey next week for the time since November. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers Despite losing Jean Kleyn to injury after the Barbarians clash, the Springboks' injury infirmary is starting to clear out, with a host of key players set to return over the next week. The Springboks have already welcomed back big lock Lood de Jager last week after a two-year absence, while fullback Damian Willemse, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and second-row legend Eben Etzebeth is in the matchday squad for this Saturday's first Test against Italy in Pretoria. But next weekend will see the return of the great Pieter-Steph du Toit, who had been on the sidelines since the Springboks' 2024 November Tour match against England. Du Toit, who is contracted to Toyota Verblitz, missed the Japanese League One season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that the current World Player of the Year is in line to be fit for the second Italy Test in Gqeberha. Quicksilver Sharks scrumhalf Grant Williams is also set to feature next weekend after missing the Durban side's United Rugby Championship playoff matches and the Boks' games against the Barbarians and this Saturday's first Test against Italy. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The good news for Nelson Mandela Bay rugby fans is that their hometown hero Siya Kolisi also set to return to action in the second Test after a neck injury kept him out of the Barbarians game. The Bok captain was also not considered for this weekend because of an Achilles niggle. Erasmus, however, confirmed his captain should be ready to lead the team out next weekend. 'Siya had a stiff neck, but it's all cleared up. Now he has an Achilles issue. It's not a strain, but he is really stiff there. We just want to make sure he is okay,' Erasmus told a news conference in Pretoria ahead of the Loftus Versfeld clash. 'There isn't a player who will play more than eight or nine matches this year, so we just want to make sure his achilles is 100 percent ready. But it's nothing serious, he had some scans to confirm it. Siya should be back next week.' The only long-term injury concern is tighthead Frans Malherbe, who is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the year. But the Springboks have plenty of cover at tighthead in the big frames of Wilco Louw and Vincent Koch, who has been selected to take on Italy this weekend. Erasmus confirmed yesterday that Kleyn suffered a knee injury against the Barbarians and could be on the sidelines for the next six weeks. Jesse Kriel will continue to lead the Boks in Kolisi's absence, becoming the 67th player to lead the Boks in a Test match when he takes the field on his old stomping ground this weekend.
