Archive August 28, 2025

As he prepares to end his racing career, Geraint Thomas claims to have discussions about staying on at Team Ineos.

The 2018 Tour de France champion would collaborate closely with Sir Dave Brailsford to resurrect their previous Grand Tour victories.

When the Tour of Britain concludes in his hometown of Cardiff on Sunday, September 7, the 39-year-old Welsh rider will cross the finish line.

Thomas made his debut for Team Sky in 2010, as it was known then, in 2010, and over the course of the following decade, the British outfit won seven Tours de France and triumphed in the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d’Italia. They haven’t won one of cycling’s biggest tours in four years, though.

Like Team Ineos, Brailsford has recently reduced his involvement with Manchester United, which is owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

“Dave Brailsford is obviously back in the fold with the team,” Thomas said.

He resisted leaving for a while, but he’s back now, and he’s been a key player in the team’s development.

Thomas is being considered for the top management structure of Team Ineos rather than taking on a more hands-on role with riders as a sporting director. He also won two Olympic gold medals on the track and two more top-three finishes in the Tour and one in the Giro.

I’ve obviously learned a lot about the actual physical performance and the preparation for the training, but on the other hand, I want to try to learn as much as I can about that subject, he said.

Nothing is certain at this time, but it’s the point, so we can hopefully figure it out soon.

The Cardiff-born cyclist wants to combine grassroots development with a part-time job in professional cycling.

Thomas said in his breakfast program on BBC Radio Wales, “I feel like it ticks both boxes.”

It gives me that focus, drive, and competitiveness, which will be present in a different division of the team at the time, but I believe it will still pique my interest and spur me on to help the boys out.

However, Thomas, who has spent most of his racing career in Monaco, will be moving back to Cardiff and looking forward to making his way back to the Maindy Velodrome, where he first gained racing experience.

You get the real grassroots stuff, he continued, as well as promoting active riding for kids and encouraging them to do it.

“I might never have had the career I had, the life I’ve had, the enjoyment I’ve had, and met all the great people I have, if I hadn’t lived so close to Maindy or if I hadn’t lived in Cardiff.”

Thomas will then put on his lycra and pedal for a final race before going on.

The six-day Lloyds Tour of Britain wraps up in Wales on Tuesday, September 2 with stages in Suffolk.

The Newport to Cardiff finale on Sunday is the ideal setting for Wales’s most successful cyclist’s nearly two-decade career.

Thomas expressed his excitement over it, “absolutely.”

It’s all I’ve done for 19 years, so coming home on Monday morning after the finish in Cardiff with no goals or targets racing-wise, is strange.

He will eventually pull off a race number for the final time after ten stage victories, three world championship victories, three Olympic victories, a Commonwealth gold medal, and numerous other successes.

You know when I’m finished and even more lucky to choose where as well, he continued, “I just feel so lucky to be able to call time on my career on my own terms.”

“It’s just unreal really is that the Tour of Britain is in September at the end of the season and that Cardiff will be the last stage.”

It’s going to be nice to say thanks to the fans as well because I believe there will be an event in Cardiff Castle afterwards.

The Welsh capital’s rich history has not been the first to honor the man who won both the BBC Wales award and the national BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2018.

The streets of the city that year were lined with people to welcome home their yellow-clad Tour-winning hero.

That homecoming in Cardiff, according to Thomas, is probably the highlight of everything I’ve done off the bike, really.

You don’t really get appreciation for the support you receive because I live abroad and have been a pro for a while.

“Obviously, I know it’s a lot, and I get a lot on the road,” he said, “but then to go back to Cardiff and have that amount just insane.”

Next week, similar scenes are anticipated, but Thomas is already planning more time with his wife Sara and son Macs once the heat has subsided and before he begins playing his new roles.

A skiing vacation for the first time ever, which was a possibility during his racing career, has been scheduled.

Just 886 kilometers (553 miles) to complete the race, six more days of sweating, and perhaps one or two more tears.

Thomas responded, “I believe so.”

“I was always winding up Sara because she’s quite emotional, and she’s much more emotional than I am, and I was the one who cried the entire time!”

It was obviously similar in the 2018 Tour de France victory. It was always about the day, but it always came to mind when I finally won the time trial, and it hit me.

Russell Martin described his vision of a footballing promised land, a future where Rangers would win games and score them in stunning clusters, while also talking about his dream of a footballing promised land. He declared, “It will be beautiful.” We’ll all be able to share it together, too.

The moonbeams had vanished when he appeared following this 6-0 second-leg belting in Belgium, and the words “pain, hurt, embarrassment, humiliation” were not meant to be in heaven but something more sinister. Bingo at Champions League.

When there appeared to be no reason for confidence, the Martin we saw in the hour before the deluge appeared confident. When Motherwell, Dundee, and St Mirren are not able to defeat, you have a 3-1 deficit to overcome. When your defense is populated by jittery players who leak like a sieve, miracles must be performed.

Two goals were scored by Alloa, a third-tier Scot, against Rangers a few weeks ago. Realists were aware of the damage limitation for the trip to Club Brugge. Martin attempted to sell it as a different thing.

Wait until these players understand the message’s genius, and then just keep going until the work’s full potential is realized.

His management’s promise of jam tomorrow appears to be the start, the end, and the halfway point.

The Martin, whom we later witnessed, apologised and promised to improve. He claimed that his board is “amazingly supportive.” They are aware that this may take some time.

Martin discussed how to deal with the suffering and loss and use it as fuel for Celtic’s Ibrox clash on Sunday.

Momentaneously, Martin cheerily repeated how he described how one of his staff said the Rangers tanker was being turned around on his watch, an assessment that came to mind a fortnight ago.

The tanker is unable to travel. It has so many holes in it that it is quickly disappearing from view and quickly becoming a rust bucket, which is a fitting description of the manager’s Ibrox project after this degrading, cataclysmic defeat.

The mercy was that Rangers wouldn’t have to endure it because it wasn’t even more bone-shudderingly embarrassing. They had Jack Butland to blame for some saves, two shots were slapped off their woodwork, and they conceded six shots. It could have been ten without even a hint of exaggeration.

It would have been simple to picture Rangers supporters supporting them in their quest for a higher score and, potentially, an irrecoverable mortification for Martin and his staff long before the end, amid their untrammelled fury. A manager being shown the door causes short-term pain.

Later, Martin stated to us that the board believed in him. He probably wouldn’t say anything else, but it’s probably true for the time being. With each passing mistake, it may not be as accurate as it should, but it will save Martin more time.

The new owners don’t live in the Glasgow football stadium, they don’t feel the emotion, and they don’t appear as likely to react to the fans’ cheer as their predecessors did.

The chairman, Andrew Cavenagh, was not mentioned in the past’s stories of Rangers heroes. Nor was Paraag Marathe, a second major decision-maker for the club, Vice-chairman of 49ers Enterprises.

They tend to stay away from Glasgow, but Marathe’s work as Leeds United chairman gives rise to a man who firmly believes in keeping his nerve. His appearance would appear to include patience.

Daniel Farke had a turbulent start when he took over as Leeds manager in the summer of 2023. He won three of his first nine Championship games and one of his final nine that year, which Martin’s Southampton cost him in the play-off final.

Martin may appear doomed inside the goldfish bowl. Every fan of the Rangers is blaring blue murder. Without any ambiguity, they are calling for him to be fired.

There are toxicity and venom present. How is it possible for him to survive this and this and this?

Even though there aren’t any discernible improvements under Martin, including any scraps, he will still have the chance to rebuild the team.

You won’t recognize Cavenagh and Marathe as having itchy trigger fingers. At any rate, not yet.

They can’t be silent about the protests that occur; if they watch the Old Firm game on Sunday, they will be informed of them, but there is little evidence that suggests that their supporters are ready to spontaneously ignite their anger.

So you have a board that will wait, a support team that sees no point in waiting, and a manager who attempts to appear as though he has this under control when all the evidence suggests otherwise. a sluggish beverage.

This is the mess and Martin’s team. It’s getting worse than it already is, not to mention not working. No amount of quick talk can at this point conceal that, and no three-card trick attempt can fool a single fan.

The first Brugge goal, a Martin signing, was attributed to Nasser Djiga, who was also at fault. Another Martin adage, Max Aarons, sent himself off in eight minutes.

Every single one of his newcomers was destroyed. He took three of them to Brugge at the time of the break and replaced them with players he had inherited, winning 5-0, with the rest.

Later, as he sifted through the rubble, Captain James Tavernier, one of his substitutes, received some applause. He claimed it was strange that the veteran full-back showed leadership and that he was proud of it.

Why didn’t Tavernier start him ahead of the hapless Aarons if he is so good? How come Martin benched him against St Mirren last Sunday, Brugge last Tuesday, Alloa before that, and Dundee before that if he was made of the right stuff?

Martin’s decision-making is currently being portrayed in many ways, and some of it includes the sudden praise for a captain he has dropped.

Rangers are unable to defend under Martin, and Aarons’ throwing of his team under the bus in Bruges prevented the flow of blood.

When Motherwell, Dundee, St. Mirren, and Alloa are playing against the ball in their box, they turn into jelly right away.

Not just about Brugge, either. not just. Like the tanker of his imagination, it’s about a manager who a large portion of the supporters never wanted in the first place and fails to turn things around.

It’s about confusion and chaos, about obscene language and startling acting. It’s between supporters who appear to believe and those who, by extension, don’t.

Is it time to leave Cole Palmer behind? How can Bukayo Saka be replaced? And the perennial dissent between Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland?

Before gameweek three, Fantasy Premier League players will have plenty to think about, but our Free Hit team is a source of inspiration.

After analyzing the statistics, I’m confident this side will help me finish off on a high as I wrap up my final week of work for Thomas Woods, a regular BBC Sport FPL expert.

As if you were playing a Free Hit, the team of the week is chosen based on the current FPL prices to fit within a £100m budget.

The Free Hit team received 48 points for a blank from captain Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer, who were both not even playing.

Jean-Philippe Mateta and Joao Pedro were arguing 50-50 last week, as I reported. Mateta won the game and won two points later. One more goal would have been given to Pedro, who had scored one and assisted two.

Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez, £5 million Fulham (h)

Sanchez, a top stopper for Chelsea, is a good starting choice. In six of Fulham’s previous seven games at Stamford Bridge, Sanchez kept a clean sheet in Chelsea’s opener against Crystal Palace. Without Lucas Paqueta’s incredible goal in West Ham’s 5-1 win in Gameweek 2, he would have had another chance.

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, £6. 1 million (h)

Cucurella is quickly gaining popularity as a FPL essential. He scored an assist for Chelsea’s opener against the BBC Sport Free Hit team last week. Expect more attacking contributions this weekend, and hopefully a clean sheet from him.

Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic, West Ham (h) for £5.5 million (h)

With Forest’s “Mr. Reliable,” who collected a whopping 145 points in 2024 and 25 respectively, we’re turning to a favorite from last season. Although the centre-back hasn’t really started to dominate the FPL this year, a home match against West Ham, who have already scored one and given up eight goals so far this season, seems appealing.

Brentford defender Sepp van den Berg, £4.5 million, Sunderland (a)

Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Salah, £14.5 million (captain) – Arsenal (h)

This weekend, Salah will serve as our captain. Arsenal may have a very difficult home match against Liverpool, but Arne Slot’s gung-ho attacking style has been successful so far this season. Salah has already scored once and assisted in three of his previous four games against the Gunners.

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, $ 9 million – Burnley (h)

In this entire week, is there a Manchester United player? The underlying statistics suggest Ruben Amorim’s side will perform well away from Burnley, putting their midweek woes to the side. Expect Fernandes to make a comedic appearance if that’s the case. The Portuguese is playing more aggressively these days, but if he had scored his penalty at Fulham, he would still have scored 12 points thanks to defensive contribution tallies. After scoring two in United’s shootout defeat of Grimsby in the Carabao Cup, Fernandes will likely continue to score from the spot.

Newcastle midfielder Harvey Barnes, £6.5 million- Leeds (a)

If you need a differential, winger Barnes might be a wise choice if your ownership is only 0.7%. He hasn’t been as successful this season due to his string of ricky away matches against Aston Villa and at home against Liverpool. The Englishman will however play Leeds, who last conceded five at Arsenal, in a more visually appealing game this weekend. With teammate Anthony Gordon currently serving a three-game suspension, he can expect plenty of minutes. Barnes started just 17 of his 33 Premier League starts last year, contributing 14 goals.

Brentford midfielder Dango Ouattara, £6 million – Sunderland (a)

Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood, West Ham (h) for $7.7 million

To the strikers, Chris Wood is the only thing that can be overlooked. The Forest legend will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing West Ham, who shipped five goals last week, after scoring two goals in his side’s final home game against Brentford.

Joao Pedro, Chelsea, forward, £7.6m – Fulham (h)

This week, I hope I’m not having the same problem with Joao Pedro. The Brazilian faces a Fulham side that hasn’t kept a clean sheet in either of their two matches this season, following his goal and two assists at West Ham. He is a member of the team.

Aston Villa, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Crystal Palace, forward, £7.5 million (a)

Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr, £5 million Bournemouth (h)

Everton defender Michael Keane, £4.5 million – Wolves (a)

Sunderland defender Omar Alderete, £4 million (h)

Ireland vs. Spain: Pool C of the Women’s Rugby World Cup

Date: Sunday, August 31; Kick-off: 12:00 BST

After all the build-up and talk of slow starts and injuries, seeing Ireland return to the World Cup stage last weekend was encouraging.

There were many positive aspects to take away from Japan’s performance, especially given that it was a 42-14 victory. The large Irish support enjoyed some memorable moments, the bonus point was secured before half-time, and the tries came early.

Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon, two returning stars with significant shifts, both contributed to the success. Sam, who had been missing for 13 months, ran herself into the ground for 80 minutes before getting up again.

In other instances, Dannah O’Brien showed great control at fly-half, was flawless from the kick tee, and the scrum developed into the game. Beibhinn Parsons and Amee-Leigh Costigan each scored a try.

A further bonus-point victory on Sunday will set the stage for a promising season, and reaching the quarter-finals would be a significant step in the direction of this team.

After the sacrifices these players have made and the work they have put in to alter the course of this team, it would be gratifying to see their performance back.

Even being on a World Cup pitch last weekend made it clear how significant it was to everyone who has experienced the upheaval of the past four or five years, not just to those playing against Japan.

However, the players and coaches won’t be getting too excited just yet as the excitement around the team is growing. Before the anticipated pool decider against New Zealand in a fortnight, Japan will know there are issues to be resolved before the expected pool winner.

This week’s training will be focused on the line-out. It occasionally provided a strong starting point for attacks on Japan, but it was inconsistent.

Although Japan’s ability to really punish Ireland in this area is lacking, a different story will emerge when the top teams compete. Ireland needs their line-out as an exit tool inside their own 22 because New Zealand, France, and England can be absolutely ruthless in this area.

Ireland’s phase play occasionally lost enough territory, and it will be recognized that gaining just 10 meters in three, four, or five phases will consume too much energy when facing the strongest teams.

It’s always possible to change a successful formula, but Ireland needs to develop depth, so it wouldn’t surprise to see some adjustments for Spain. It is too much to expect nines and 10s to play 80 minutes per week, but Danah O’Brien and Aoibheann Reilly both did well in the half-backs against Japan.

Given that Nicole Fowley hasn’t played in any recent matchday squads, Scott Bemand has two other talented scrum-halves, Emily Lane and Molly Scuffil-McCabe, in case he wants to switch at nine.

It is obvious from their match against New Zealand that Spain are quick and ferocious. It will be a fascinating battle because, like Ireland, their backline is full of Sevens players.

After also falling to the Black Ferns, Spain will be full of rivalries. No one really anticipated them defeating New Zealand, but they will be pushed to prove their point against Ireland.

Ireland will not underestimate them. With a win in each of the two 2021 World Cup qualifiers, Ireland should not be reminded of how competitive Spain can be in big games. Both the 2023 WXV3 game and the qualifier both went down to the wire.

Finally, let’s talk about the tournament as a whole, and why this World Cup is so popular.

With 42, 723 fans, England’s victory over the United States established a new record for women’s rugby world cup attendance. Given their modest funding, England showed why they are tournament favorites while Canada maintained their outstanding form. This is even more impressive.

I have reservations about France, even though they are not lacking in world-class talent in their win over Italy. In the same way that England and Canada left a negative impression of New Zealand, but I anticipate that they will continue to advance into the tournament and reach their peak, perhaps unforeseeably for the Irish.

Ireland vs. Spain: Pool C of the Women’s Rugby World Cup

Date: Sunday, August 31; Kick-off: 12:00 BST

After all the build-up and talk of slow starts and injuries, seeing Ireland return to the World Cup stage last weekend was encouraging.

There were many positive aspects to take away from Japan’s performance, especially given that it was a 42-14 victory. The large Irish support enjoyed some memorable moments, the bonus point was secured before half-time, and the tries came early.

Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon, two returning stars with significant shifts, both contributed to the success. Sam, who had been missing for 13 months, ran herself into the ground for 80 minutes before getting up again.

In other instances, Dannah O’Brien showed great control at fly-half, was flawless from the kick tee, and the scrum developed into the game. Beibhinn Parsons and Amee-Leigh Costigan each scored a try.

A further bonus-point victory on Sunday will set the stage for a promising season, and reaching the quarter-finals would be a significant step in the direction of this team.

After the sacrifices these players have made and the work they have put in to alter the course of this team, it would be gratifying to see their performance back.

Even being on a World Cup pitch last weekend made it clear how significant it was to everyone who has experienced the upheaval of the past four or five years, not just to those playing against Japan.

However, the players and coaches won’t be getting too excited just yet as the excitement around the team is growing. Before the anticipated pool decider against New Zealand in a fortnight, Japan will know there are issues to be resolved before the expected pool winner.

This week’s training will be focused on the line-out. It occasionally provided a strong starting point for attacks on Japan, but it was inconsistent.

Although Japan’s ability to really punish Ireland in this area is lacking, a different story will emerge when the top teams compete. Ireland needs their line-out as an exit tool inside their own 22 because New Zealand, France, and England can be absolutely ruthless in this area.

Ireland’s phase play occasionally lost enough territory, and it will be recognized that gaining just 10 meters in three, four, or five phases will consume too much energy when facing the strongest teams.

It’s always possible to change a successful formula, but Ireland needs to develop depth, so it wouldn’t surprise to see some adjustments for Spain. It is too much to expect nines and 10s to play 80 minutes per week, but Danah O’Brien and Aoibheann Reilly both did well in the half-backs against Japan.

Given that Nicole Fowley hasn’t played in any recent matchday squads, Scott Bemand has two other talented scrum-halves, Emily Lane and Molly Scuffil-McCabe, in case he wants to switch at nine.

It is obvious from their match against New Zealand that Spain are quick and ferocious. It will be a fascinating battle because, like Ireland, their backline is full of Sevens players.

After also falling to the Black Ferns, Spain will be full of rivalries. No one really anticipated them defeating New Zealand, but they will be pushed to prove their point against Ireland.

Ireland will not underestimate them. With a win in each of the two 2021 World Cup qualifiers, Ireland should not be reminded of how competitive Spain can be in big games. Both the 2023 WXV3 game and the qualifier both went down to the wire.

Finally, let’s talk about the tournament as a whole, and why this World Cup is so popular.

With 42, 723 fans, England’s victory over the United States established a new record for women’s rugby world cup attendance. Given their modest funding, England showed why they are tournament favorites while Canada maintained their outstanding form. This is even more impressive.

I have reservations about France, even though they are not lacking in world-class talent in their win over Italy. In the same way that England and Canada left a negative impression of New Zealand, but I anticipate that they will continue to advance into the tournament and reach their peak, perhaps unforeseeably for the Irish.