Cycling great Cavendish announces retirement

Cycling great Cavendish announces retirement
Astana Qazaqstan Team’s Mark Cavendish during the media day at Tour de France Singapore Criterium, Singapore, on Nov. 9, 2024. (Reuters)
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Updated 09 November 2024
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Cycling great Cavendish announces retirement

Cycling great Cavendish announces retirement
  • “Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career,” wrote the 39-year-old British sprint legend
  • “Cycling has given me so much and I love the sport“

PARIS: Cycling great Mark Cavendish announced his retirement from the sport on Saturday, writing on social media that his final race will be Sunday’s Tour de France Singapore Criterium.
“Sunday will be the final race of my professional cycling career,” wrote the 39-year-old British sprint legend, the record stage winner on the Tour de France with 35, in a post on Instagram.
“Cycling has given me so much and I love the sport. I’ve always wanted to make a difference in it and now I am ready to see what the next chapter has in store for me.”
Cavendish made Tour de France history last July when he eclipsed Eddy Merckx’s record which had stood since 1975, having matched the Belgian’s mark in 2021.
“I am lucky enough to have done what I love for almost 20 years and I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike,” the rider from the Isle of Man said.
“I love this sport I always have loved this sport I want to make a difference on the bike I always have wanted to make a difference in it that will not change whether I’m on the bike or not.”
Cavendish made his Tour de France debut in 2008 before becoming world road race champion three years later. He won an omnium silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.
Since turning professional in 2005 he had won 165 races, including 17 stages in the Giro d’Italia and three in the Vuelta a Espana.
Last month, he had said that he “will see” about racing in next year’s Tour de France, explaining that he “saw things a bit differently” despite previously vowing not to compete in it again.
He refused to discuss his retirement after finishing third at the Saitama Criterium in Japan last weekend.
“I’d rather not talk about my future,” he told reporters, shortly after defending Singapore Criterium race champion Jasper Philipsen suggested that the Manxman would be calling it quits after the race.
Cavendish finished second behind Philipsen in last year’s race and the Belgian said the Briton would pose the biggest challenge to his title defense in Singapore.
“It’s always difficult to repeat and definitely with this being Mark’s last race, I think he’s very motivated as well to show off his amazing career that he had for the last time here in Singapore,” said the 26-year-old, ahead of Cavendish’s own announcement.
“So it will be a tough, tough competition I think.”
The race will feature 36 cyclists from nine teams including four-time Tour de France champions Chris Froome of Britain, four-time Vuelta Espana Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, and rising Eritrean star Biniam Girmay, who beat Roglic and Cavendish to win last week’s Criterium in Saitama.
They will complete 25 laps of the 2.3-kilometer circuit in Singapore’s historic Civic District.


Dania Akeel makes history as FIA Middle East Baja Cup 2024 champion

Dania Akeel makes history as FIA Middle East Baja Cup 2024 champion
Updated 04 December 2024
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Dania Akeel makes history as FIA Middle East Baja Cup 2024 champion

Dania Akeel makes history as FIA Middle East Baja Cup 2024 champion
  • Commanding performance in final round at Dubai International Baja

JEDDAH: Saudi motorsport sensation Dania Akeel etched her name into history on Tuesday, becoming the first female driver in the Middle East to win the FIA Middle East Baja Cup.

Akeel secured her title after a commanding performance in the final round at the Dubai International Baja, where she clinched the Ultimate category title and sealed her championship triumph.

Competing across all four rounds of the regional Baja rally championship in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Dubai, Akeel demonstrated remarkable consistency.

Partnering with different co-drivers and teams, she delivered podium finishes at every rally, amassing the points required to claim the prestigious championship title.

Akeel’s journey to victory began with third and first-place finishes in the opening two rounds with the Overdrive Toyota Hilux team, even leading the overall standings in Qatar after the first day.

In Baja Jordan, she achieved a strong second-place finish with the South Racing Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR team before making history with a triumphant performance in Dubai alongside the South Racing Can-Am team.

Akeel said: “The FIA Middle East Baja Cup was both exciting and challenging.

“Initially, I didn’t plan to compete in the entire championship but after a strong result in Baja Hail, we realized the potential and made the decision to pursue the full championship. Each rally brought unique challenges, but through careful strategy and teamwork we secured the Ultimate category and overall title.”

Akeel credited her success to her dedicated co-drivers Stephane Duple and Sebastien Delaunay and the support of teams such as Overdrive, South Racing, and SRT Racing.

She also acknowledged the backing of her sponsors, including Jameel Motorsport, Tamer Group, Hertz Saudi Arabia, Toyota Motor Oil, BFGoodrich Tires, Accelerom, and Red Bull Saudi Arabia.

The triumph not only marks a personal milestone for Akeel but also sets a new benchmark for female participation in motorsport across the region.

Looking ahead, Akeel will compete in the Toyota Jeddah Rally, the final round of the Saudi Rally Championship, scheduled to take place from Dec. 19-21.

Her historic season promises to inspire a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia and beyond.


Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca
Updated 04 December 2024
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Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca
  • The comprehensive victory brings the Catalans to 37 points at the top of the league table
  • Mallorca stay sixth in La Liga, still two points behind Bilbao in the final Champions League spot

PALMA: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal inspired Barcelona to a first win in four La Liga outings as they beat Mallorca 5-1 on Tuesday.
The comprehensive victory brings the Catalans to 37 points at the top of the league table, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, but with two extra matches played.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish and European champions will have the chance to cut that lead back to one point on Wednesday when they travel to Athletic Bilbao.
Mallorca stay sixth in La Liga, still two points behind Bilbao in the final Champions League spot.
Ferran Torres gave Barcelona the lead, before Vedat Muriqi equalized to ensure the sides were level at the end of an even first half.
Raphinha and Yamal then lit up the second half as the away side ran riot with the Brazilian scoring a double, followed by strikes from Frenkie de Jong and Pau Victor.
“We knew how important it was to win again. In the last three games something has been missing. Today we were good, it wasn’t our best game but winning was the most important thing,” Barcelona captain Raphinha told Movistar.
Barcelona were boosted by the return of teenage starlet Yamal, who started the match after recovering from an ankle problem.
Hansi Flick’s side dropped points in the two league outings Yamal missed, and were also defeated last time out at home to Las Palmas when he was only fit enough to start on the bench.
The hosts gifted Barca the lead in the 12th minute when panicked defending resulted in Torres being presented with a golden opportunity when there seemed to be no danger.
As a trio of Majorcan defenders shepherded the ball back to their goalkeeper, full-back Johan Mojica suddenly decided to try to lash it away, only to smash the ball straight into Antonio Raillo and it fell perfectly to the feet of the Barcelona forward, who duly stroked home the opener.
The Catalans’ high defensive line caught Mallorca out on several occasions as they tried to spring their attackers with passes over the top.
Mallorca were, however, starting to build pressure on Barcelona, though the visitors remained dangerous on the counter with their fleet-footed attacking quartet of Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha and Torres.
A second goal in the match did not seem far away, for either side, and it came for the hosts in the 43rd minute.
Inigo Martinez was deeper than the rest of the Barcelona line and Pablo Maffeo timed his run onto Sergi Darder’s pass to perfection, before rolling the ball across to Muriqi to tap into an open net.


Another defensive lapse nearly restored the visitors’ lead on the stroke of half-time, but goalkeeper Leo Roman bailed out Raillo for his poor back-header by denying Raphinha one-on-one.
The Mallorca ‘keeper thwarted the Brazilian again early in the second period, punching away a fizzing free-kick from close range.
But it was eventually third time lucky for Raphinha in his duel with Roman as he flashed a 56th-minute penalty just beyond the Spaniard’s reach.
The sheer pace of the returning Yamal had earned the spot-kick as he raced onto Olmo’s through-ball, before being brought down by Mojica inside the box.
Barcelona struggled creatively in Yamal’s absence, and the 17-year-old displayed his brilliance again moments later when an inspired backheel created a chance out of nothing, until Pedri’s snapshot was blocked.
Raphinha made the game safe for Barcelona with 14 minutes remaining when he knocked home a magnificent outside-of-the-foot cross courtesy of Yamal.
“I’m living my best moment but I don’t want to stop there. I want to do much more for this crest. It’s a club that I love enormously. Everything I can give on the pitch, I’ll give it,” said Raphinha.
Euro 2024 winner Yamal repeated the trick five minutes later, this time finding the forward run of Victor, whose pass across goal was cut out, but only as far as the onrushing De Jong who finished unerringly.
De Jong then turned provider in the final 10 minutes as he squared for 23-year-old substitute Victor to score.
Yamal could have capped off a superb second-half showing, but his dinked finish near the end was well saved by the defiant Roman.


Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group

Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group
Updated 04 December 2024
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Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group

Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group
  • Al-Hilal register comfortable 3-0 victory over Al-Gharafa of Qatar 
  • Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes

Al-Hilal defeated Al-Gharafa of Qatar 3-0 on Tuesday to return to the top of their AFC Champions League Elite group with two games of the group stage remaining.

The four-time champions, who are already guaranteed a place in the round of 16 as the top eight from each of the two groups of 12 progress, found it easy as they strolled past the visitors.

The win moves them onto 16 points from six games, above Al-Ahli on goal difference and three points above Al-Nassr in third, although both their Saudi Pro League rivals have also booked their spots in the next round ahead of schedule.

Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes. Yasser Al-Shahrani had possession of the ball on the right side of the area and pulled it back to the Brazilian who shot first time into the roof of the net for his third goal of the tournament.

The Saudi Arabians were in control for much of the match but it took the Blues until the 82nd minute to add to the scoreline and seal the win, the goal coming courtesy of in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Salem Al-Dawsari drove at the defence and fed the Serbian striker just outside the area. Mitrovic had time to turn and drive a low shot toward the target but Sergio Rico in the Al-Gharafa goal should have done better.

However, few in Riyadh cared, and just three minutes later it was 3-0. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who had scored twice on Saturday to give Al-Hilal a vital 2-1 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League, netted again, this time with a simple but well-taken goal. Malcom swung over a corner from the right and the former Lazio midfielder climbed well just outside the six-yard box to head home powerfully.

That concluded the last of the Asian action until 2025 and the Saudi Arabian clubs are looking very healthy indeed at the end of the year.


Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career

Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career
Updated 58 min 45 sec ago
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Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career

Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career

MUNICH: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was sent off for the first time in his 866-match career on Tuesday, seeing a straight red for a last-man foul on Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong.
The 38-year-old rushed out of the box in typical fashion 18 minutes in to the German Cup last 16 clash, taking out an advancing Frimpong.
Neuer was shown straight red, bringing Israel ‘keeper Daniel Peretz on for his Bayern debut, and was seen apologizing to coach Vincent Kompany after leaving the field.
Bayern’s captain has received a yellow card 23 times during his career. All have come at club level, with the 2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper never cautioned during his 124-game international career.
The match, between the 20-time winners and current holders Leverkusen was particularly tense, with referee Harm Osmers handing out three yellow cards in addition to Neuer’s red in the opening 22 minutes.
Despite playing for Israel at international level, Tuesday’s match was Peretz’s first game for Bayern, having joined the club in the summer of 2023.


Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event

Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event
Updated 03 December 2024
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Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event

Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event
  • SKF President Ahmed Al-Towayan expressed delight at Prince Sultan’s visit
  • “Our participation in this event is part of activating the ‘Qadir’ initiative launched by the federation earlier this year,” he said

RIYADH: The Saudi Kickboxing Federation participated on Tuesday in the International Day of Persons with Disabilities event, organized by the Disabled Children’s Association in collaboration with the King Salman Center for Disability Research.
Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud, chairman of the board of trustees of the center, visited the federation’s booth and met several athletes and coaches, a media statement said.
SKF President Ahmed Al-Towayan expressed his delight at Prince Sultan’s visit and his support for activities and events related to persons with disabilities.
“Our participation in this event is part of activating the ‘Qadir’ initiative launched by the federation earlier this year,” Al-Towayan said.
The initiative aimed to provide sports activities for persons with disabilities, develop their skills in kickboxing, and empower Paralympic athletes to practice these sports, he added.
“Qadir initiative aims to offer sporting opportunities to anyone facing difficulties in participating in sports, whether due to a disability or limited financial resources,” Al-Towayan said.