27/07/2025

theSun on Sunday JULY 27, 2025

SPORTS 11

Master Pogacar Reigning champion has peloton under his thumb

SUCH is Tadej Pogacar’s domination on the Tour de France that what began as a frantic chase for stage wins has morphed into a racing masterclass – a reigning champion pulling the strings on his way to a fourth title. Since the Slovenian declared he would not grant any freebies after he won four of the opening 13 stages, he has not crossed the line first and yesterday’s final mountain trek showed that he might have changed his mind along the way.

Tadej Pogacar wearing the yellow jersey in the final ascent of La Plagne during the Tour de France. – AFPPIC

since Stage 13 – as the race approaches the end, Pogacar said: “I’m obviously tired. “It hasn’t been an

down the kilometres to Paris. “I just set the pace that I

felt comfortable with and if somebody would attack from my wheel, then I could still accelerate.” He did not need to and did not bother to either in the finale, where any move by the 26-year-old would have obliterated Arensman’s chances. The same quiet authority was on display on Friday on the Col de la Loze: no fireworks, just total control as he let Australian Ben O’Connor ride to the stage win. Pogacar leads the Danish rider by 4min 24sec and only a major incident would see him not win the race for the fourth time after his 2020, 2021 and 2024 triumphs. Pogacar is now unlikely to be bothered by Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike team, with the biggest scare over the last couple of days being when he bumped into the rear of one of their team cars. Asked if he was bored – having been sitting on a cushion of over four minutes

The UAE Emirates-XRG rider was just content with setting the pace in the final climb of yesterday’s 19th stage, a short yet brutal Alpine trek to La Plagne, letting Thymen Arensman celebrate a second victory this

easy Tour. People have been attacking me from left, right and centre. “From day one to the end, I’ve had to stay focused and motivated. The main priority was always the yellow jersey. “Sometimes, all you can do is keep counting down the distance to the finish line. That’s how it is.” For most riders, counting down the kilometres to the finish line on the Champs Elysees is an act of survival. For Pogacar, it’s the ultimate luxury. – Reuters

year after the Dutchman battled solo on the steep slopes through episodes of heavy rain in sub-10°C temperatures. The contrast with Pogacar’s almost effortless style on the last mountain day was striking as the three-time champion controlled chief rival Jonas Vingegaard, who appeared resigned to defeat. “It started to be very long, especially with the weather today. “I just want to go on the (team) bus and go take a hot shower, Pogacar told reporters. “I tried (to attack once) as soon as (the) Decathlon (team) stopped with their hard pace. “It was too early and nobody contributed to the chase of Arensman. So I just kept the pace and I was counting

Root puts England in control

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breakthrough when he took out King, who had holed out to deep forward square, while Shimron Hetmyer (9), Sherfane Rutherford (12) and Rovman Powell (9) were all removed cheaply. West Indies’ total was boosted by a fine unbeaten 102 off 57 balls by captain Hope as they posted 214-4. Australia’s reply initially stuttered as they found themselves 61-3 in 5.5 overs, but David scored a sparkling ton to eclipse Josh Inglis’ record (43 balls) for fastest T20 century for Australia by six deliveries. – Reuters been a privilege to see his career unfold.” India’s attack had few answers to Root’s latest century, with bowling coach Morne Morkel – the former South Africa quick – saying: “There’s not a lot of weaknesses in his game. That’s why he’s scored 13,000 plus runs.” “Much better with the ball today. Yesterday was a tough day at the office,” Morkel said. “We missed our line, but the boys responded this morning which was good to see. We tried our best to create opportunities. “A big thing in this innings is we are struggling to create pressure from both ends. “We need to bowl in partnerships and we are not doing that right now. “England have a powerful batting line up but at times we lacked energy on the ball.” – AFP/Reuters

retiring hurt with cramp, ensured England regained the initiative. And it was Stokes who celebrated at the other end as Root, his predecessor as England captain, reached 13,379 runs with a single to move one ahead of Australian Ricky Ponting’s figure. “Magnificent from Root, this is a great moment in history,” former Australia captain Ponting said on Sky Sports as the Manchester crowd stood to applaud and chant the Yorkshireman’s name. “The way his career his gone, there is absolutely no reason why he will not go past Tendulkar.” Root’s 38th Test century also drew him level with Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in fourth place on the list of most hundreds in a Test career. “It has been a privilege to watch him knock off those milestones,” former England skipper Michael Atherton said on Sky . “It has also

JOE ROOT climbed to second on the all-time list of Test run-scorers after hitting a sparkling 38th century yesterday as England hunted a series-clinching win against India. Ben Stokes’ team, 2-1 up in the five-match series, were 544-7 at stumps on the third day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, 186 runs ahead of the toiling tourists on first innings. Root made an imperious score of exactly 150, with only retired India great Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 Test runs) now having made more than the 34-year-old Englishman’s tally of 13,409. Earlier, Ollie Pope (71) put on 144 for the third wicket with Root before he was dismissed by Washington Sundar, who also removed Harry Brook cheaply to give India renewed hope. But skipper Stokes, who ended the day 77 not out after briefly

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David blasts Windies with fastest T20 ton MIDDLE order batter Tim David smashed the fastest Twenty20 International century for Australia as they sealed a six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the third T20 yesterday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in their five-match series. David hit 11 sixes and six fours to finish on unbeaten 102 off 37 deliveries, with Australia crushing the hosts with 23 balls to spare at Warner Park in Basseterre, Saint Kitts. Australia so I’m stoked,” David said. “The pitch was good and small boundaries so you have to back your strengths. Warner Park is a great place to bat and it was great to have experience here in the CPL (Caribbean Premier League). “I’ve spent a lot of time working on power hitting but now I’m working on my shot selection.”

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Put into bat after Australia won the toss, West Indies got off to a solid start helped by a 125-run opening stand between Shai Hope and Brandon King. Mitchell Owen provided Australia with a much-needed

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“I was just having a great time in the middle playing for Australia. I didn’t think I would get the opportunity to get a hundred for

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