Archive August 3, 2025

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot won the Tour de France Femmes on stage nine, becoming the first Frenchwoman to do so in 36 years.

After crossing the finish line in Chatel, a teary-eyed Ferrand-Prevot lay on the ground as the magnitude of her accomplishments began to become apparent.

After seven seasons of disqualification, the Olympic mountain bike champion made a seven-year comeback to road racing with the intention of winning the yellow jersey.

With six kilometers to go on Sunday, Visma-Lease Bike rider Ferrand-Prevot soared top of the general classification after winning the queen stage on Saturday at the top of the Col de la Madeleine.

Since Bernard Hinault in 1985, no Frenchman has won the Tour de France.

Ferrand-Prevot launched her decisive move by leading by two minutes 37 seconds before the final stage, which included more than 2,800 meters of ascent.

In the final stages, she was able to win the support of the crowd before falling 20 seconds clear of Demi Vollering, who had won in 2023.

As Sarah Gigante dropped out of the podium spots on the final day, Ferrand-Prevot came out on top with a cushion of 3 minutes 42 seconds over Vollering, who had a cushion of 3 minutes 42 seconds.

After finishing third on the stage, Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney, who won last year’s race, placed third overall.

After winning the Olympic title, I returned to the field and promised to compete in the Tour de France in three more years, according to Ferrand-Prevot. “So here I am, the first one,” I say.

My team-mates worked extremely hard on me throughout the week. I just want to say thank you and congratulations to my entire team.

According to batter Joe Root, “a lot of things are still in England’s favor” as they try to get the 35 runs needed to win the fifth and final Test on Monday against India.”

After India took three wickets in the evening session before the early-morning bad weather put the hosts on a challenging 374 to win, play resumed at the Oval on 339-6.

Root and Jamie Smith struggled against India’s fired-up seamers in a stunning fourth-wicket partnership of 195 with Harry Brook, who added a 91-ball century of their own.

The conclusion of the series’ other half is quite fitting. This Test is exactly the same as it has flowed and ebbed and flowed, according to Root in a BBC Test Match Special.

“We are in for a cracker, and we are in a good position.” Another heavy roller is available.

“Something might happen more quickly with a new ball, and it might be simpler to score.”

Root reacted to his own dismissal, punching his own bat after nicking Prasidh Krishna, but said it was a result of his own error rather than the pair’tuscious exchange on day two.

“It was really disappointing not to be there tonight and get us over the line,” I said.

“But we are still in a really good position, have a lot of bats to play, and have two guys who are out there are very capable of getting us home.”

Despite their incredible partnership, Brook and Root’s counter-attacking knock stifled the pace after the tourists removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope early in the day.

But when both of them left, they both appeared to be looking a different side, which was understandable. As usual, Mohammed Siraj charged in, and Prasidh Krishna stayed on a probing length to sway England’s middle order.

India’s sudden and unlikely charge for victory was stopped by the delay, which started with bad light and then bad rain, after Krishna bowled Jacob Bethell for a scratchy five from 31 balls. Overton and Smith were unable to get the ball off the square.

On BBC Test Match Special, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook said, “It]the delay] greatly benefits England.

“It hits India like a hammer.” Tonight, India would have experienced an incredible atmosphere. Because of how dominant they were, only a leg-bye could England escape.

However, WinViz has an 84% chance of winning, which would give them a 3-1 series win and a significant boost in confidence heading into the winter Ashes.

Chris Woakes, an all-rounder, has “all in” to help England win the series against India, according to Joe Root.

On the fifth Test’s opening day, Woakes was attempting to avoid a boundary when he was injured.

England stated on Friday that “at this point, the injury has ruled him out of any further participation in the Test.”

With four wickets in hand, England will need 35 more runs in the final day of the series against England on Monday.

Woakes was seen wearing his whites in the England changing room late on Sunday, but he was still wearing a sling on his left arm.

Root responded, “I assume so,”’ when asked by BBC Test Match Special if Woakes would bat if necessary.” He is fervent about taking any chances.

After Root and Harry Brook shared 195 for the fourth wicket, England were well on the verge of 374 at 301-3.

However, Root was bowled after Brook missed the target and fell behind, with England still needing 37 to win and finish their second-highest test chase.

Before the players’ day four was prematurely ended due to bad light, the players were forced off the field.

India had regained hope with three quick wickets, which also raised the possibility that Woakes would be required to bat.

He’s in, just like the rest of us, he said.

It’s been that kind of series where characters have had to sacrifice their bodies.

“Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but he did have some throwdowns at one point, so he’s prepared if necessary.”

Final leaderboard for the AIG Women’s Open 2025 final round

-11 Yamashita (Jpn), -9 Hull (Eng), Katsu (Jpn), -7 AL Kim (Kor), Takeda (Jpn)

others were screened.

-4 Woad (Eng), -2 M Lee (Aus), -1 Hall (Eng), Rhodes (Eng), + 1 Thitikul (Tha), + 3 Ko (NZ), Korda (US)

The Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl was won by Miyu Yamashita in an almost faultless final round that drew a blank on Charley Hull from England.

Following top-10 finishes in each of the previous two Women’s PGA Championships, the 24-year-old Japanese player has won his first major championship.

Yamashita finished two shots clear of 29-year-old Hull, who carded a three-under-par 69 to finish second in a major for the fourth time in her career.

At nine under, Japan’s Minami Katsu birdied the final shot to claim the championship from Hull.

With a seven-under-par round of 65 on Friday morning, Yamashita took control of the tournament and led from the beginning.

In the final round, she briefly shared the top spot with her playing partner A Lim Kim, but the South Korean’s birdie at the second-round quickly came after further bogeys.

Hull quickly emerged as the main rival to world number 15 Yamashita, who propelled herself into contention with a six-under-par 66 on Saturday.

Yamashita made it three shots clear of the turn after playing their first nine holes in three under par.

Hull continued to attack and close the gap to one shot until a costly trip to a fairway bunker on the 16th.

Yamashita stayed superbly composed and was able to limit the damage caused by her rare errors, superbly saving par with a lengthy putt at the 14th.

When Yamashita found the rough with her first two shots, knowing a bogey on the par-five 18th would be enough to win, a safe chip onto the green ensured she would become the third Japanese woman to win the Women’s Open.

She stated during the trophy presentation, “To win such a historic tournament in front of all these amazing fans is such an incredible feeling.”

At the halfway point, Yamashita had led by 11 shots before turning in her final two rounds, which she only managed to improve by a shot better than Katsu.

Hull, who finished second behind Lilia Vu at Walton Heath in 2023, said, “I really enjoyed it out there.”

I had such complete control over my game that I didn’t feel like I whiffed a shot or a drive. On 16, I had a good shot.

You know what I mean when I say that I don’t feel like I actually messed things up by hitting any shots, which I believe everyone else will probably agree with? I had a great time.

I didn’t think I would make the cut coming into this week, she continued. That is actually the case.

I wasn’t hitting it very well, I thought. Because I was weak, I was unable to prepare as well as I should. I obviously fell three times during the Evian round, but I hadn’t recovered until last Sunday.

Mimi Rhodes, an England player who has won three times in a row this year, finished one under par for the tournament and made an incredible hole-in-one on the par-three fifth to cap her Women’s Open debut.

Steph Kyriacou, her playing partner, hit her tee shot to the side just as it did at the eighth hole on Friday, who had already recorded an ace of her own.

Rhodes’ effort was headed just to the left of the cup shortly after, but her ball deflected into the hole after colliding with Kyriacou’s.

The 23-year-old said, “I hit a really good eight iron, right where I wanted it to go. I just picked up my tee and heard everyone going crazy because I didn’t expect it to go in.

I was aware that something had happened because the noise was louder than usual. The green was in the hole when we went up to it.

That’s unbelievable because I didn’t know it hit Steph’s ball until I watched the video.

At the conclusion of the third round, Rhodes was one of four English players who had a lead over Yamashita by six shots.