Archive June 6, 2025

Canada’s Mara Roldan won stage two of the Lloyd’s Tour of Britain Women as Kristen Faulkner of the United States took the leader’s green jersey.

Roldan, 21, of Team Picnic-Post NL broke away with 14km to go on the short steep climbs into Saltburn.

Britain’s 19-year-old Cat Ferguson finished fifth for the second day in a row to move up to fourth in the general classification, just 14 seconds down.

Ferguson, who rides for the Movistar World Tour team, and is considered one of the brightest talents in the sport, remains in the white young rider’s jersey.

Rolden finished the stage just ahead of pursuer Riejanne Markus of Lidl-Trek and a small group, including Ferguson, after the peloton split on the final circuit, which included the gruelling category one climbs on Saltburn bank.

Olympic road race champion Faulkner, of EF Education-Oatly, leads Markus by four seconds overall.

After just one kilometre of a frantic official start in sodden conditions at Hartlepool Docks, the green jersey wearer Kim le Court of AG Insurance-Soudal hit the tarmac with two other riders, and took several minutes to gingerly return to the peloton.

Thursday’s winner of stage one now sits 21st in the GC after finishing nearly three minutes down in Saltburn.

There were several sketchy moments as the weather started to improve as the race moved down the coast, including a busy day for the British continental CJ O’Shea team, who experienced a bike change, and separate front and rear punctures for their riders.

Stage two result

1. Mara Roldan (Can/Team Picnic-PostNL) 2hrs 57mins 38secs

2. Riejanne Markus (Ned/Lidl-Trek) +12secs

3. Ally Wollaston (Aus/FDJ-Suez) +18secs

4. Megan Jastrab (USA/Team Picnic-PostNL) Same time

5. Cat Ferguson (GB/Movistar Team)

6. Karlijn Swinkels (Ned/UAE-Team ADQ)

7. Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig (Den/Canyon Sram-Zondacrypto)

8. Sarah Van Dam (Can/Ceratizit)

9. Kristen Faulkner (USA/EF Education-Oatly)

10, Quinty Ton (Ned/Liv AlUla-Jayco) +22secs

General classification after stage two

1. Kristen Faulkner (USA/EF Education-Oatly) 4hrs 57mins 3secs

2. Riejanne Markus (Ned/Lidl-Trek) +4secs

3. Ally Wollaston (Aus/FDJ-Suez) +12secs

4. Cat Ferguson (GB/Movistar Team) +14secs

5. Karlijn Swinkels (Ned/UAE Team ADQ) +14secs

6. Megan Jastrab (USA/Team Picnic-PostNL) +16secs

7. Sarah Van Dam (Can/Ceratizit) Same time

8. Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig (Den/Canyon Sram-Zondacrypto)

9. Quinty Ton (Ned/Liv AlUla-Jayco) +20secs

10. Anna Henderson (GB/Lidl-Trek) Same time

West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein and batter Jyd Goolie have been unable to travel to the UK for the upcoming matches against England and Ireland because of visa issues.

Both remain in Trinidad having failed to gain visas after UK entry requirements were updated for Trinidad and Tobago citizens on 23 April.

Hosein, 32, second in the global T20 bowling rankings, was set to play in the first T20 against England at Chester-le-Street on Friday.

The updated requirements mean both players had to attend mandatory in-person appointments in Trinidad before being granted permission to travel but Hosein has been unable to do so in time, given he was playing in the Pakistan Super League.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) is hopeful of resolving the matter but it is unlikely to be done in time for Hosein, whose passport remains with the authorities, to feature against England.

The second T20 against England is on Sunday in Bristol and the third on Tuesday in Southampton.

Uncapped Goolie, 28, was a late addition to the squad for the three-match T20 series against Ireland that follow, as a replacement for Roston Chase after he was named West Indies Test captain last month.

Chase is returning to the Caribbean to prepare for a Test series against Australia later this month, ruling him out of the T20s against Ireland, which are being played at Bready Cricket Club in Northern Ireland. Hosein is also in the squad to play Ireland.

“As soon as the updated visa requirements were announced, CWI began the necessary application processes. This was only possible after Akeal returned to Trinidad, and following the confirmation of Jyd’s selection to the Ireland squad”, said CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe.

A CWI statement added: “CWI made formal efforts to expedite the visa process for Akeal and applied for a visa waiver for Jyd.

” However, these processes are ultimately governed by UK immigration authorities and remain outside of CWI’s control.

“CWI remains optimistic that the matter will be resolved in the coming days, allowing Hosein to join the squad for the remaining matches”.

The UK Home Office has been approached for comment.

French Open 2025

Location: Roland Garros, May 25 – June

Christian Harrison and Evan King defeated British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in the French Open men’s doubles final from set-down.

The eighth seeds, who only paired up at the start of the season, beat the American duo 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (10-7).

For the first time in Paris, Salisbury or Skupski have advanced past the quarter-finals.

Harrison and King broke a tie-break to win the opening set, but the British duo made a crucial early break in the third set to sway a decision.

After the Americans served the match at 5-3, Salisbury and Skupski had to come back from a break in the third set to force parity.

In the decisive tie-break, Salisbury and Skupski fought back to take the final place before Harrison and King fought back.

French Open 2025

Location: Roland Garros, May 25 – June

Christian Harrison and Evan King defeated British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in the French Open men’s doubles final from set-down.

The eighth seeds, who only paired up at the start of the season, beat the American duo 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (10-7).

For the first time in Paris, Salisbury or Skupski have advanced past the quarter-finals.

Harrison and King broke a tie-break to win the opening set, but the British duo made a crucial early break in the third set to sway a decision.

After the Americans served the match at 5-3, Salisbury and Skupski had to come back from a break in the third set to force parity.

In the decisive tie-break, Salisbury and Skupski fought back to take the final place before Harrison and King fought back.