PARIS: The Tour of the Algarve was branded as “ridiculous” and a “joke” on Wednesday when a pack of riders took the wrong road and completely missed the finish line.
With around 800m left on the opening stage, most of the peloton took a right-hand exit, reserved for officials and team cars, at a roundabout instead of the left which headed to the finish.
Only around 30 riders chose the correct route including Filippo Ganna who came home ahead of Frenchman Romain Gregoire and Jan Christen of Switzerland.
However, their joy was short-lived as the stage was swiftly canceled and Ganna’s career wins total remains at 33.
“It’s a joke! It’s completely ridiculous!” said Austrian rider Marco Haller who blamed the chaos on the lack of clear signage at the entry to the right-hand lane.
“The diversion was not blocked off. As a result, the riders followed the motorcycle (of the organization). There could have been consequences... Fortunately, that was not the case.”
Belgium’s Jordi Meeus, for whom Haller “had ridden for 190 kilometers,” railed at having been deprived of a stage win.
“I only realized 200 meters from the line that there was a problem when we passed police motorcycles. It’s a shame this missed opportunity. The main thing is that no spectator was injured,” he told Flemish website Sporza.
’It’s a joke’ as Tour of Algarve riders take road to nowhere
https://arab.news/83u5x
’It’s a joke’ as Tour of Algarve riders take road to nowhere
- With around 800m left on the opening stage, most of the peloton took a right-hand exit
- “It’s a joke! It’s completely ridiculous!” said Austrian rider Marco Haller
Play suspended at Australian Open over extreme heat: organizers
- Among the matches held up was the third-round clash between defending champion Jannik Sinner and the American Eliot Spizzirri at Rod Laver Arena
MELBOURNE: Australian Open organizers suspended play Saturday in Melbourne because of extreme heat forecast to hit 40C, before some matches resumed under roofs.
Among the matches held up was the third-round clash between defending champion Jannik Sinner and the American Eliot Spizzirri at Rod Laver Arena.
It resumed after about 10 minutes following the closure of the roof.
“Play is suspended for all matches and practice on outside courts,” the tournament said on X.
Roofs on the courts that have them “will close and remain closed for the remainder of the match.”
Players, spectators and officials roasted on day seven at Melbourne Park.
The tournament has a Heat Stress Scale of 1-5, with five the highest.
It hit five in the early afternoon, prompting the suspension.
