Wimbledon win 'fulfilled a dream'
Rooting for 'best mate' Draper
Pinnington Jones admitted that fellow Briton Jack Draper is one of his closest friends in the game. The pair trained together during their younger days in south London, and this year Draper, seeded fourth in the men's singles, is tipped to go far in SW19.The world number four got off to a winning start on Tuesday and was on court at the same time as Pinnington Jones, leading 6-2 6-2 2-1 in his match against Sebastian Baez when the Argentine was forced to retire through injury.Despite both playing at the same time, Draper made the effort to find his mate after the game to commend his efforts. "It's special to win at Wimbledon and he is one of my best mates," added Pinnington Jones."We're rooting for each other; he came up to me after my game and congratulated me and that means a lot. He has a lot of belief in me and he's always there for me."Hopefully Jack can have a deep run in this tournament. I'm rooting for him."
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Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Telegraph
This is the last Tour de France on free-to-air and cycling will never be the same
When the peloton rolls out of Lille on Saturday for the start of the 112th edition of the Tour de France, it will mark the beginning of the end of one of British sport's great institutions. Nearly 40 years after Channel 4 first screened the highlights of the Tour de France in 1986 – played in by that iconic Pete Shelley theme music – ITV will this year broadcast coverage of cycling's biggest race on free-to-air for the final time. As of next year, the Tour will be behind a paywall in the UK, on TNT Sports. It is the end of an era. 'It's going to be emotional,' admits commentator Ned Boulting who has been part of ITV's coverage since 2003, and who will reprise his role this year alongside David Millar, continuing a line going back to Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett. 'That's very nearly 40 years of continuity. So that's almost three generations of viewers within families. You know, that's grandparents, parents, and children, all of whom have come through the same very familiar routine. The same faces and voices, the same look and feel, the same style. It's unique in broadcasting.' 'A hammer blow for cycling' Once the emotion dies down, the question is: what does it mean for cycling in the UK, both in terms of viewing figures and participation? Will the sport wither on the vine, stuck behind a paywall where no one will watch it? Will the next generation of potential Geraint Thomases and Tom Pidcocks be starved of inspiration? Or might cycling benefit from being lumped in with bigger sports in the TNT Sports portfolio such as football and rugby, attracting new, crossover fans? It is fair to say fan reaction when the initial announcement was made last autumn that Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns TNT Sports, had bought the exclusive UK rights to the Tour, was not positive. There was sadness at the demise of the much-loved ITV coverage, particularly the daily highlights show. But public opinion really nosedived when WBD announced in January that it was axing Eurosport UK and cycling fans would have to shell out for the full TNT Sports subscription to access bike races in the UK. Not just the Tour, but the Giro d'Italia, the Vuelta a España, the spring classics, the whole caboodle. From £6.99 a month for Eurosport to £30.99 a month for TNT Sports – a price hike of some 400 per cent. Outraged fans – who, a couple of years ago were so spoilt they could get every obscure race under the sun for £5 a month on the GCN+ app, before it was bought and shuttered by WBD – threatened to boycott the channel, while others claimed WBD would get more people into piracy than they would cycling. The debate even reached the Houses of Parliament with Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative MP, securing a debate on the merits of free-to-air coverage of professional cycling in Westminster Hall on March 5. In an impassioned speech, Obese-Jecty told of how he had been inspired as a child by the exploits of British mountain bike rider Jason McRoy, whose races were occasionally shown on Eurosport. Describing the channel's demise as 'a hammer blow for coverage of cycling in the UK' he argued that cycling going behind a paywall would have a number of unintended consequences. It would mean children in the UK were not exposed to a sport which was patently good for their health. It would impact on the next generation of wannabe Bradley Wigginses. 'To be popular, a sport must be visible,' he said. 'To be visible, a sport must have a television presence. The Government would never allow the Fifa World Cup, the Olympics or Wimbledon to be put behind a paywall. With an estimated 12 million spectators attending the race each year, the Tour de France is easily the most attended sporting event in the world. 'Will the Government consider how it can inspire a new generation of Froomes and Cavendishes to take up the mantle and consider what they are doing to restore a sporting jewel, in which we have enjoyed such recent success, to the masses, lest its absence from our screens cause the sport to wither on the vine?' Stephanie Peacock, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, replied to say that she was grateful to the honorary member for bringing the matter to her attention, and that she 'sympathised' with his points, but that it was entirely up to the rights holder to determine whether any coverage will be available to free-to-air television in the future. New coverage, but less viewers TNT, understandably keen not to be painted as the villains here, say that is already happening. There is already a new hour-long programme called The Ultimate Cycling Show, hosted by Orla Chennaoui and Adam Blythe, shown on its free-to-air Quest channel, as well as daily highlights shows on the same channel during the recent Giro. The same is planned for the Vuelta a España in August. Only the Tour will remain fully behind a paywall, although a TNT spokesperson suggested the possibility of free-to-air highlights being shown on Quest next year, or in 2027, when the grand depart is once again scheduled to take place in the UK, was under consideration. What might the impact be on UK cycling by then, though? Again, WBD defend themselves. They claim over half of Eurosport viewers already had access to TNT Sports at the time of Eurosport's closure. They maintain that being part of a package which include Champions League and Premiership Rugby will introduce new fans to the sport. They also point out, rightly, that ITV declined to renew its broadcast rights for the Tour, whereas it is investing millions into cycling. Like football and cricket on Sky Sports, they promise to innovate and raise standards. That may all be true. But it does not change the fact that the Tour is disappearing from free-to-air TV and millions of fans will be left without a show which was appointment viewing for three weeks every year. As Obese-Jecty MP said: 'The reassuring tones of Gary Imlach and the encyclopaedic knowledge of Ned Boulting will no longer be staples of cycling fans' summers.' Boulting smiles at that line. 'The fact it got debated in Parliament is insane,' he says. 'David and my names are in the Hansard register now.' He does find the fans' backlash interesting, though, mainly because of how persistent it has been. 'The level of engagement with the topic just doesn't seem to have died down,' he says. 'In fact, the closer we get to the Tour the more it is ramping up. I think it's because, unlike the Ashes, or the Olympics, the Tour is every summer. It's an annual event, which just anchors its place in the rhythm of the year for so many family lives. That, I think, is the reason why the noise around it is so persistent and so loud.' Like many subscription channels, TNT does not release its viewing figures; or say how many new subscribers have signed up since shutting Eurosport down. Even if it did, it would be difficult to tell how many had signed up for cycling as opposed to its other sports. But Boulting stresses he wants the new landscape to be a success, not least because a bigger fanbase will drive more listeners to the Never Strays Far podcast he co-hosts with Millar. New TMS-style podcast planned The pair have big plans for the podcast next year, which they will confirm on Saturday. But essentially they involve Millar and Boulting driving around France in a camper van, with Lizzie Deignan as their co-host, doing live podcasts from the roadside, only looking away from the race, so the cameras watch them watching the action in the style of Soccer Saturday. 'We're going to call it Never Strays Far: Live in France,' Millar says. 'So we'll be on the race, following the race, watching the race, and just relaying as much of it as we can. We'll put it out as video as well, almost certainly on YouTube, but across as many platforms as we can.' 'Think TMS [ Test Match Special ],' Boulting says. 'It will be whimsical, irreverent. We'll chat to fans. We'll broadcast from random squares or places on the route. We won't be rights holders so we won't be able to show race footage. And we won't have accreditation. That's very important. But we can always go see riders in hotels or wherever. 'The Tour de France has always been about much more than the race,' he adds. 'And I think that's one of the things that our ITV viewers really understand and value. And we want to encourage a big percentage of these suddenly disenfranchised viewers to keep the Tour de France in their lives in this new form, where they can. We are very familiar voices and faces to them. And Lizzie will be an absolutely unbelievable addition to our team.' Will they sleep in the camper? Boulting laughs. 'Funnily enough that was Lizzie's first question. No. We're going to have plastic key cards to get into Campanile hotel rooms.. In fact, we might try and do the whole thing in Campaniles. The dream.' One more emotional lap It remains to be seen how it all shakes out; what exactly the loss of free-to-air will do to cycling in the UK. But in the meantime Imlach, Boulting, Millar, as well as reporters Daniel Friebe and Matt Rendell, are preparing for one final, emotional lap of France. 'I think the producers are definitely going to celebrate the heritage,' Boulting reflects. 'You know, it's tricky for ITV because they don't want to put up on great big billboards: 'We're leaving the sport'. But on the other hand, this is a unique programme, a unique event, and a unique association that has gone on for a long time. So they acknowledge that, and they are going to celebrate, you know, in style I think. 'For sure, we're going to hear the Channel 4 theme tune that so many people are nostalgic about. We're going to drill down into all that history, repeatedly, throughout the three weeks. The Tour de France allows us that. It gives us that time to be reflective and to sort of dredge the seabed of memories that people have.' How will he feel when it's over? 'I find it emotional at the best of times. When we sign off on the show each year, when the sun goes down behind the podium and you get the Arc de Triomphe in the background, I always find that a very emotional moment. Because we're tired, we've been on the race for three weeks, we've made it to Paris, and that's it, we're signing off. Signing off for the final time in three weeks will be a very hard thing to get right.'
Daily Mirror
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Carlos Alcaraz's new weapon at Wimbledon that has him 'performing at 100%'
Carlos Alcaraz will hope for a Wimbledon three-peat this summer, and he has adopted new technology to help him boost his performance at the London-based Grand Slam Carlos Alcaraz is on a quest for his third consecutive Wimbledon title, and will face off against Andrey Rublev in the round of 16. The young Spaniard, who has already conquered Italy's Fabio Fognini, Britain's Oliver Tarvet and Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff, is eyeing his sixth Grand Slam trophy and his third at SW19 in a row. But it's not just his tennis prowess that's catching attention; fans have spotted an unusual blue patch on Alcaraz's chest – a high-tech aid helping him combat the sweltering London heat. This innovative patch is designed to monitor his sweat and fluid levels, ensuring he stays hydrated and ready to perform at his peak. The 22-year-old previously sported the patch during his victorious French Open campaign, where he beat Jannik Sinner in a thrilling final. It's not just about tracking sweat loss; the patch also provides crucial data on how much hydration Alcaraz needs to maintain his top game. Alcaraz, always on the lookout for an edge, spoke candidly about his unique accessory, explaining: "I always say that details make the difference. Yes, it's something to control sweat, to know what I should take during matches, before matches, to be at 100%. "It probably only helps me one or two percent more. But I believe, as I said, that details make the difference. "It's something I work on sometimes. I did it in Paris. I use it here to see what I should take." Addressing the scorching conditions sweeping the UK, he added: "Yes, this week, last week, and I think next week it's going to be quite hot. So I think it will be great to know what I should take more of-more water or whatever." The innovative SweaTracker patch is the brainchild of tech firm Sweanty. Established in July 2021 by the enterprising duo Llorella and Laura Ortega, Sweanty clinched the top spot at the Allianz Startup Challenge's second instalment in March 2024. The company has also roped in a team of scientific experts to refine the patch. While still in the development stage, the SweaTracker is expected to launch commercially early next year, with its profile boosted by Alcaraz's glowing recommendation. "The patches allow us to analyse sweat and propose personalised hydration guidelines," explained Anna Llorella, co-founder. The firm is actively conducting hands-on sweat assessments and perfecting the final version of the patch. An accompanying app is in the works, enabling users to access their custom hydration advice. Over on the Sweanty website, they tout the product as "the first smart patch designed to analyse your sweat and transform that data into personalised hydration strategies." The device also purports to measure a person's sweat rate and the loss of key electrolytes simply by being placed on the skin during exercise. It isn't the first instance of the Spanish sensation utilising cutting-edge technology to boost his performance either, reports the Express. In November 2024, he sported a nasal strip at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam to assist his breathing.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Gloucester 'crazy' challenge in support of men's mental health
A man is taking on a "crazy" challenge completing a marathon in his wheelchair on a set of rollers to raise awareness for men's mental Hampton, from Gloucester, is taking on the challenge at Everlast Gym, in Cheltenham on Saturday, teaming up with Gloucester-based Archie Matthews Trust for a special day of "fun, fitness and fundraising".Mr Hampton said his friend Jay, who he met through the gym, "sadly took his own life" and that "members of the gym wanted to do something in his memory to help raise awareness".Alongside the Archie Matthews Trust, they are fundraising to support the gaps in young men's mental health. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Mr Hampton's racing wheelchair will be on a long roller in the gym, which "really will be a challenge," he said. With no hills to roll down, and continually having to use his hands, he said "you wouldn't normally do this". "So I've no idea how long it's going to take me, but it will be hours"."Jay would say I'm crazy but would really encourage me if he knew what I was doing. He would always say in the gym 'come on Les, just one more'."The team is hoping to raise about £2,000. Other challenges gym members are attempting on the day include a marathon swim, a charity spin and a community challenge to try and push a sledge down a 15m (about 50ft) track, for 3,500 lengths, wearing 50kg (110 lb).Gym manager Jo Allen said: "It's going to be tough and we'll need all the help we can get from members," many of whom were friends with said men's mental health needed a lot of support as it was a big problem. "In gyms, behind the testosterone and heavy weights being lifted, you'll find a lot of young lads who might suffer, but it's something we definitely don't talk about enough." 'Plug support gaps' Steve Matthews, chairman of the Archie Matthews Trust, which is named after his son, will be at the challenge with his wife and Archie's mum, Steph."Archie was a wonderful lad. Everyone who met him would have said he was a bright confident funny guy with lots of friends," Mr Matthew's said."He was a big lad. But behind that he did struggle with his mental health. He had ADHD, was autistic and struggled with anxiety, then later depression. He sadly took his own life last year," he Matthew's said they set up the trust to "plug some of the support gaps we found through Archie's experience".They hope to help young men and boys - particularly in Gloucestershire - and particularly those with neurodivergence, as they are at a high risk of mental health issues and suicide, he said."Jays story really resonated with us and we're just trying to help where we can so others don't have to go through what we did," he added.
