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Philipsen wins nervy Tour de France opener as Evenepoel loses time

Philipsen wins nervy Tour de France opener as Evenepoel loses time
Alpecin — Deceuninck team’s Belgian rider Jasper Philipsen celebrates on the podium with the overall leader’s yellow jersey after the 1st stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 184.9 km starting and finishing in Lille Metropole, on July 5, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 05 July 2025

Philipsen wins nervy Tour de France opener as Evenepoel loses time

Philipsen wins nervy Tour de France opener as Evenepoel loses time
  • Philipsen took the yellow jersey in a frantic sprint finish at the northern city of Lille
  • Race favorites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard both finished safely in the lead pack on a day marred by a series of falls

LILLE, France: There were mixed fortunes for the thousands of Belgian fans who poured over the border for the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday as Jasper Philipsen won, but star rider Remco Evenepoel lost valuable time.

Philipsen took the yellow jersey in a frantic sprint finish at the northern city of Lille, while double Olympic champion Evenepoel was trapped in a second group and lost 39 seconds.

Race favorites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard both finished safely in the lead pack on a day marred by a series of falls.

Even defending champion Pogacar appeared flustered at the finish line.

“It was as frantic as we had expected, but when the split came fortunately I was near the front,†said the 26-year-old Slovenian.

“I’m just happy day one is done. Nine days to go before the first rest day.â€

Africa’s sole rider Biniam Girmay, winner of three stages in 2024, was second on the day as Philipsen got ahead of him with 100m to go.

“It’s a day I will never forget. This is why I have been getting up early and training hard each day,†said Philipsen after notching up a 10th career stage win on the Tour.

His Alpecin team, marshalled by Mathieu van der Poel, formed an old-school sprint train that the winner hailed.

“What an experience! Those final kilometers, to be part of that,†beamed Philipsen.

Around 40 riders in the first group contested the sprint where one of the day’s many falls happened.

Primoz Roglic of Red Bull and Team UAE’s Joao Almeida were also caught in the surprise split in blustery winds.

Fans packed the route in one of France’s more modest regions passing First World War memorials, red-brick houses and slagheaps from long-closed coal mines along the Belgian border.

Under overcast skies with the temperature a manageable 22C, the peloton cut a fast pace despite the windy conditions, but no rain fell until the riders had passed the finish line.

Racing toward an intermediate sprint over cobbles, escapee Benjamin Thomas slid sideways and took out his sole rival Matteo Vercher in one spectacular fall and the pair were still bickering when the peloton shot past them.

Former time-trial world champion Filippo Ganna was one rider who will take no further part after a clumsy fall on a corner.

The Italian would have been a contender on the lengthy stage 5 individual time-trial, as well as key in the Ineos team’s campaign to get veteran Geraint Thomas into the top 10 on his 14th and final Tour de France.

Philipsen, in yellow, will lead the peloton out for Sunday’s second stage, a hilly 209km route to the beaches of Boulogne-sur-mer.


Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds

Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds
Updated 22 October 2025

Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds

Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds
  • Morocco became the first Arab country to win the tournament
  • The players were driven through the streets of Rabat on an open-top bus

RABAT: The Moroccan team were greeted by thousands of fans in Rabat on Wednesday for a parade to celebrate their historic victory in the Under-20 World Cup last week.
Morocco became the first Arab country to win the tournament with a 2-0 triumph over favorites Argentina in Sunday’s final in Chilean capital Santiago.
Before the parade, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan presided over a ceremony in honor of the team at the royal palace.
The players were then driven through the streets of Rabat on an open-top bus, to the delight of jubilant supporters and to the sound of vuvuzelas.
“It’s a great achievement, they filled us with joy and waved our country’s flag high,†Youssef, a 34-year-old salesman, told AFP.
Yassir Zabiri, who plays for Famalicao in Portugal, scored twice in the final to end the tournament as the joint top-scorer with five goals.
“The future of our football is in good hands. Well done guys, U20 world champions,†Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi, who helped the senior team reach the 2022 World Cup semifinals, posted on social media.
Morocco will host the Africa Cup of Nations later this year and will be co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.


Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt

Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt
Updated 22 October 2025

Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt

Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt
  • Osimhen wasted no time giving the home side an early lead
  • Osimhen doubled his tally in the 33rd minute after another error

ISTANBUL: Galatasaray made the most of a litany of errors by Norwegian visitors Bodo/Glimt as they cruised to a 3-1 home win in the Champions League on Wednesday, with striker Victor Osimhen netting twice for the Turkish side in the first half.
Osimhen wasted no time giving the home side an early lead, sweeping a sumptuous first-time finish past Nikita Haikin in the third minute as the Norwegian side was quickly punished for giving the ball away cheaply in midfield.
Osimhen doubled his tally in the 33rd minute after another error. Under pressure as he ran infield, Bodo left-back Fredrik Bjorkan inexplicably passed the ball straight to Osimhen in a central position, and the forward gratefully tucked the ball away.
Bodo created some decent chances of their own but were made to pay again on the hour mark as center-back Haitam Aleesami was robbed just outside his penalty area by Osimhen, and Yunus Akgun was able to score at the second attempt to make it 3-0.
Osimhen had plenty of opportunities to complete his hat-trick but he was thwarted by keeper Haikin, and Bodo substitute Andreas Helmersen was able to head home a close-range consolation goal in the 76th minute as his side finished strongly.
With seven games kicking off later on Wednesday, the win leaves Galatasaray on six points from three games, while Bodo/Glimt have two points ahead of their home clash with Monaco of France in two weeks. Galatasaray are next away at Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam.


Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern

Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern
Updated 22 October 2025

Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern

Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern
  • Karl became Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in style, breaking a record set by Musiala
  • Karl sprinted to the corner to celebrate with a knee slide

MUNICH: Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl was handed his first Champions League start and made the most of it.
Within five minutes of kickoff against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Karl became Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in style, breaking a record set by Jamal Musiala.
Karl picked up a pass in midfield from Jonathan Tah, dodged past defender Brandon Mechele and surged to the edge of the Brugge box before hitting a swerving left-foot shot which went in over goalkeeper Nordin Jackers.
Karl sprinted to the corner to celebrate with a knee slide before Bayern striker Harry Kane and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rushed over to hug their young teammate.
At 17 years, 242 days old, Karl breaks a record set by Musiala, who was 121 days older when he scored against Lazio in a round-of-16 game four years ago, UEFA said.
Karl wears the same shirt number, 42, that Musiala wore in that game.
It’s Karl’s first senior club goal in his 10th Bayern appearance in all competitions.
He made his debut at the Club World Cup in a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City in June.


Dyche demands substance over style to get Forest going

Dyche demands substance over style to get Forest going
Updated 22 October 2025

Dyche demands substance over style to get Forest going

Dyche demands substance over style to get Forest going
  • Dyche will take charge for the first time against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday
  • “I have seen enough fashionistas come in and out of this division,†said Dyche

LONDON: Sean Dyche said Nottingham Forest have to get back to basics if he is to turn around a disastrous start to the season that has already seen Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou sacked.
Dyche will take charge for the first time against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, returning to the City Ground where he began his playing career nearly 40 years ago.
The former Burnley and Everton boss’ direct playing style has been criticized in the past for lacking flair.
But those tactics are now in vogue in the Premier League with long throw-ins and long punts down the field from kick-off becoming commonplace this season.
“I have seen enough fashionistas come in and out of this division,†said Dyche on Wednesday.
“You’ve got to win the games, it’s as simple as that.
“Long ball, short ball? You’ve just got to play effective football. That will never go out of fashion.â€
Forest tried to switch styles from Nuno’s more conservative counter-attacking approach to a more attack-minded manager in Postecoglou.
The Australian lasted just 40 days as he failed to win any of his eight games in charge.
After finishing seventh under Nuno last season to qualify for Europe for the first time in 30 years, Forest currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone and have just one point from their opening two Europa League matches.
“As a football manager, a football coach and football players you should be wanting more but the first thing is can we just stabilize the situation,†he added.
“It still needs the basics put back into the team from my point of view, because they have lost sight of that a little bit.â€
Dyche added that Forst owner Evangelos Marinakis is realistic about the club’s prospects and recognizes that Premier League survival is now their main priority for the campaign.
“He’s well aware of the challenges,†said Dyche. “I don’t think he thinks it’s a gimme just because of last season.â€


PSV coach says Sergiño Dest failed to start in Champions League game after turning up late

PSV coach says Sergiño Dest failed to start in Champions League game after turning up late
Updated 22 October 2025

PSV coach says Sergiño Dest failed to start in Champions League game after turning up late

PSV coach says Sergiño Dest failed to start in Champions League game after turning up late
  • “Sergino was late today, so he won’t be playing,†said Bosz
  • “If you’re not on time, you know the consequencesâ€

EINDHOVEN: American international Sergiño Dest failed to start in PSV Eindhoven’s stunning win against Napoli on Tuesday because he turned up late for the Champions League match, his coach Peter Bosz said.
Bosz said in an interview with broadcaster Ziggo Sport that Dest had to face the consequences for breaching team rules.
“Sergino was late today, so he won’t be playing,†said Bosz, in quotes reported by Dutch outlet nu.
“This isn’t a difficult decision. We made agreements three years ago. Everyone has to abide by them, and so does he. Unfortunately, he didn’t.
“If you’re not on time, you know the consequences.â€
PSV went on to record a famous win in the Dutch club’s history by beating Italian champion Napoli 6-2 for their first victory in the Champions League this season.
The 24-year-old Dest, who has played for Barcelona and AC Milan, eventually came on as a substitute in the 84th minute of the game at Philips Stadion.