Simon Wear and Mia Walter, the original founders of Play Sports Network, have heroically (or perhaps masochistically) bought back their brainchild from the corporate labyrinth of Warner Bros. Discovery. This thrilling episode aired on June 12, 2024, and like any good cliffhanger, it comes with the dramatic release of 20 employees. Let’s rewind. Warner Bros. Discovery, that omnipresent media behemoth, gobbled up a majority stake in Play Sports Network back in 2019. They’d already dipped their toes in the water with a minority share in 2017, but like any good megacorporation, they couldn’t resist diving in headfirst. Fast forward to…
Author: Emily Taylor
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has raised alarms about a potent new painkiller that could potentially be misused by professional cyclists to mask fatigue during races. The governing body has reportedly informed representatives of pro cycling teams about the drug, described as “ten times more powerful than tramadol.” According to the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, the drug in question is tapentadol, a powerful painkiller typically prescribed for severe osteoarthritis or bone cancer. The UCI’s concerns have been escalating over recent months, leading to a request for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to monitor the substance since the end of 2023,…
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced a series of rule changes aimed at improving safety in professional cycling. In light of numerous crashes involving top riders during the spring season, the governing body is taking steps to prevent similar incidents for the remainder of the year. The changes include the introduction of a yellow card system, restrictions on the use of earpieces during races, modifications to the three-kilometre rule, and a simplified method for calculating time gaps in stages with a bunch sprint finish. These new rules will be tested in upcoming races until the end of the season,…
Report Primož Roglič executed a flawless performance on the climb to the Collet d’Allevard, securing victory in stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné and taking the yellow jersey. This stage marked the first of three consecutive mountain top finishes, and Roglič’s win sets him up as the race leader heading into the final challenging weekend. Roglič and his team exhibited remarkable teamwork throughout the stage. Reflecting on the victory, Roglič said, “As a team, we worked hard right from the first day. During the second stage we worked all day, but it didn’t work out. Yesterday every single one…
Report Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step delivered a career-defining performance in the individual time trial (ITT) on Wednesday afternoon, claiming a commanding victory and seizing the Critérium du Dauphiné yellow jersey with four stages left in the race. Stage four, stretching from Saint-Germain-Laval to Neulise, marked the longest ITT at the Dauphiné since 2011. The 34.4-kilometer course, featuring a challenging 500-meter climb at a 5% gradient near the finish, reshuffled the general classification, creating substantial gaps among the race favorites ahead of the upcoming mountain stages. From the moment Evenepoel launched off the start ramp, he adopted his signature “aero…
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Report The Critérium du Dauphiné kicked off with a bang as Danish powerhouse Mads Pedersen clinched the opening stage, securing the first yellow jersey of the race in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule. Pedersen, backed by a meticulously executed lead-out from his Lidl-Trek teammates, demonstrated his sprinting prowess and strategic brilliance. From the start, Lidl-Trek’s strategy was crystal clear: go all-in for Pedersen. The team controlled the race from the get-go, with Carlos Verona managing the peloton’s pace once a manageable two-rider breakaway was established. Verona, with support from Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale, kept the breakaway in check, ensuring the race came back together with…
Report The Giro d’Italia 2024 concluded with a thrilling final stage in Rome, where Tim Merlier demonstrated his sprinting prowess to claim victory. Despite a tough day on Monte Grappa previously, Merlier executed a perfect sprint on the 9.5km circuit, navigating tricky corners and a cobblestone stretch to finish first near the Colosseum. His victory in Rome marked his third sprint win in this Giro, making him the first Belgian in 46 years to achieve such a feat. Meanwhile, Tadej Pogačar secured his first Giro d’Italia overall title with a commanding lead. The Slovenian cyclist finished the race with an…