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British teenager Carys Lloyd held off former world champion Elisa Balsamo to claim her first ever professional victory in a sprint finish at the Tour of Brugge.

The 19-year-old Movistar rider, who was the youngest rider in the World Tour peloton in 2025, powered through in the final 200m, with Italy’s Balsamo unable to close the gap on the line.

Dutch rider Nienke Veenhoven was third, while pre-race favourite Lorena Wiebes ended up in ninth after being boxed in as the finish approached.

“With about 500 metres to go all the sprinters were left with no leadouts so it was everyone for themselves,” said Lloyd.

“I saw 200 metres to go and thought I just had to go and see what happened and it worked. We spoke about it in the bus as a little bit of a joke.

“My mechanic was like, ‘I’ll take you to the Lego store, and you can buy anything if you win’, as a joke, but now, I was like, ‘oh my God, I’ve actually won’.”

1. Carys Lloyd (GB/Movistar) 3hrs 31mins 23secs

2. Elisa Balsamo (Ita/Lidl -Trek) Same time

3. Nienke Veenhoven (Ned/Visma Lease a Bike) “

4. Chiara Consonni (Ita/Canyon SRAM zondacrypto) “

5. Shari Bossuyt (Bel/AG Insurance – Soudal Team) “

6. Lara Gillespie (Ire/UAE Team ADQ) “

7. Katrijn De Clercq (Bel/Lotto Intermarche Ladies) “

8. Marjolein van ‘t Geloof (Ned/Laboral Kutxa – Fundacion Euskadi) “

9. Lorena Wiebes (Ned/SD Worx – Protime)

Jac Morgan said he was hugely encouraged by Wales’ Six Nations showing and delighted for his team-mates to finally enjoy a win over Italy.

The British and Irish Lions flanker had been due to lead Wales into the tournament, but dislocated his shoulder during the autumn international against Argentina.

Supporting from the stands, Morgan said he thought “the boys were brilliant”.

“You could see how the boys and the squad were growing, learning and getting better every week,” he said.

“I loved being there to support.

Morgan, 26, returned to action in Ospreys’ defeat by Benetton last weekend and hopes to help his side reach the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs before departing for Gloucester next season.

“It was a great feeling being back out with the boys,” Morgan said. “I really missed it over the last few months.

“It’s a tough one getting injured. I’ve picked up a couple now over the last few years.

Ospreys head to Connacht on Saturday (14:15 GMT) sitting 10th in the URC table, six points adrift of the play-off positions.

And Morgan knows – with just five games remaining – every game is now a must-win.

“You want to win every game and it’s going to be a tough challenge with the teams that are coming up,” he said.

“We want to get into the play-offs and try and go as far as we can in Europe as well.

“It’ll be great to be able to achieve that, being able to play in the play-offs a couple of years ago was a great experience to be involved in, and it’s something that you want to get to again, especially as a squad.

Arsenal captain Kim Little has signed a one-year contract extension with the club.

The 35-year-old is one of the north Londoners’ most successful players of all time and has spent almost 15 years at Arsenal during two spells.

She led the squad to Women’s Champions League glory last season as they defeated Barcelona in Lisbon to lift their second European title.

The midfielder, widely regarded as one of Scotland’s greatest female footballers, has netted 177 goals in 405 Arsenal appearances.

She has won every trophy with the club, winning five league titles, three FA Cups and seven League Cups, along with last season’s Champions League and this term’s Champions Cup.

Little first joined Arsenal at the age of 17 in 2008 and spent five years in London before moving to Seattle Reign and later Melbourne City.

She returned to Arsenal in 2017 and was named captain a year later, helping them win the Women’s Super League title in 2019.

Her decision to retire from international football in 2021, after scoring 59 goals in 140 Scotland appearances, has helped prolong her club career.

Arsenal have been lowering the average age of their squad since the start of last year as they transition into a new era.

Their success in Europe has given them a platform to push on and invest, with the club able to attract some of the biggest names in global football.

They have a number of experienced players out of contract in the summer, but there was no doubt Little would stay on as the legendary midfielder remains a key part of Renee Slegers’ squad and has been integral to recent success.

As a result, the club made it clear they wanted Little to sign a new deal early on and their captain knows she still has more to give.

She was awarded an MBE for her services to football in the New Years Honours List in 2023 and showed her importance on the pitch last year in Europe.

While the women’s game continues to advance in medical science, nutrition and recovery, Little is still setting standards for younger players coming through.

Her longevity is testament to her professionalism and has justified her decision to retire from international football while still at the peak of her career.

Britain’s Ethan Vernon won a sprint finish on a shortened stage four of the Volta a Catalunya.

The 25-year-old NSN Cycling Team rider surged to the front on the run-in to the line in Camprodon and comfortably held off France’s Dorian Godon, with fellow Briton Tom Pidcock in third.

Ineos Grenadiers’ Godon retains the overall lead, 13 seconds clear of Pidcock who has moved into second place, with Remco Evenepoel a further second back and two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard 24 seconds adrift.

“This is a special race for me, I had my first pro win here and our sponsor is also based here,” said Vernon.

“The change [in the route] calmed everything down, we knew last night and made the plan to come out of the last roundabout in first place and then go for it.”

Had the first of three Pyrenees stages concluded at the Vallter ski station as planned, it would likely have favoured the likes of Vingegaard and former Vuelta a Espana champion Evenepoel.

1. Ethan Vernon (GB/NSN Cycling) 4hrs 01mins 03secs

2. Dorian Godon (Fra/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time

3. Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello – Q36.5 Pro Cycling)

4. Brandon McNulty (US/UAE Team Emirates)

5. Magnus Cort (Den/Uno-X Mobility)

6. David Gonzalez (Spa/Pinarello – Q36.5 Pro Cycling)

7. Mathieu Kockelmann (Lux/Lotto Intermarche)

8. Alberto Dainese (Ita/Soudal Quick-Step)

9. Noah Hobbs (GB/EF Education – EasyPost)

1. Dorian Godon (Fra/Ineos Grenadiers) 15hrs 30mins 47secs

2. Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello – Q36.5 Pro Cycling) +13 secs

3. . Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe) +14secs

4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma – Lease a Bike) +24secs

5. Andrea Raccagni (Ita/ Soudal Quick-Step) +25secs

6. Brandon McNulty (US/UAE Team Emirates) Same time

7. Rudy Molard (Fra/Groupama – FDJ United) +26secs

8. Antoine L’Hote (Fra/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) Same time

9. Ben O’Connor (Aus/Team Jayco AlUla) “