Arensman wins Tour de France's toughest stage after grueling solo effort

Arensman wins Tour de France's toughest stage after grueling solo effort

LUCHON-SUPERBAGNERES, France (AP) — Dutch rider Thymen Arensman won the Tour de France's toughest stage after a long solo effort over mammoth climbs and defending champion Tadej Pogačar increased his overall lead on Saturday. Arensman, who rides for the Ineos-Grenadiers team, posted the biggest victory of his career. After crossing the finish line in the deep fog enveloping the ski resort of Superbagnères, Arensman lay exhausted on the road with his head in his hands. "To be honest, I just wanted to experience the Tour, the biggest race in the world," he said. "Now, to win a stage in my first Tour, and to do it this way, it's unbelievable, crazy." He went solo with 37 kilometers (23 miles) left from a breakaway, and quickly opened a comfortable lead. He started the final ascent to Superbagnères, which is more than 12 kilometers long, on his own and resisted the return of the main contenders. It was Arensman's second Grand Tour stage win, having previously won a stage at the 2022 Spanish Vuelta. As Arensman posed no threat to the overall standings, Pogačar and his teammates controlled the race from the back, with the yellow jersey holder and his main challenger Jonas Vingegaard trailing by around three minutes with eight kilometers remaining. Vingegaard tried a move with four kilometers left and Pogačar responded with ease. The two rivals then watched each other closely and Arensman crossed first at the summit, more than one minute ahead of the duo. Having won the previous two stages in the Pyrenees, Pogačar settled for second place. He accelerated in the final section to gain more time on Vingegaard, who completed the stage podium. "We can be happy and satisfied with the Pyrenees," Pogačar said. "Today we did a super stage, riding at our own pace all day long." Overall, Pogačar increased his lead over Vingegaard to four minutes, 13 seconds, with Florian Lipowitz in third place, 7:53 off the pace after Remco Evenepoel abandoned. Evenepoel, who was third overall, struggled early on as the peloton faced another day of suffering on climbs that are part of the Tour's lore such as the Col du Tourmalet, the Col d'Aspin, Col de Peyresourde and Superbagnères. The Olympic champion was dropped on the ascent of the Tourmalet. Evenepoelwon the opening time trialbut suffered in the Pyrenees. After struggling during Friday's uphill race against the clock toPeyragudes, he managed to keep his third place in the general classification, more than seven minutes behind Pogačar. Sunday's stage Riders will exit high mountains during a 169-kilometer ride from Muret to the medieval city of Carcassonne. Although the route could favor sprinters, the Côte de Saint-Ferréol and then the Pas du Sant, a 2.9-kilometer climb at 10%, could provide opportunities for bold challengers seeking a breakaway. The race finishes next weekend in Paris. ___ AP sports:https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports

byLiam Oneel

in

July 19, 2025

Arensman wins Tour de France's toughest stage after grueling solo effort

Arensman wins Tour de France's toughest stage after grueling solo effort LUCHON-SUPERBAGNERES, France (AP) — Dutch rider Thymen Arensman...

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Olympic tennis champ Zheng says elbow surgery 'successful'

Olympic tennis champ Zheng says elbow surgery 'successful'

Sixth-ranked Zheng Qinwen of China has undergone arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow after experiencing "persistent pain" for several months. The 22-year-old Olympic champion, wholost in the first round at Wimbledonto Katerina Siniakova, said on Saturday the surgery was a success. "Over the past months, I've been dealing with persistent pain in my right elbow during training and matches. Despite trying various treatments to manage it, the discomfort never fully went away," the right-handed player said in an Instagram post. "After consulting with elbow specialists and discussing thoroughly with my team, we decided that arthroscopic surgery was the best option to fully resolve the issue. Yesterday, I underwent the procedure successfully, and I'm grateful to have it behind me." Zheng wrote she'll be recovering over the "next few weeks and months." ___ AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

byLiam Oneel

in

July 19, 2025

Olympic tennis champ Zheng says elbow surgery 'successful'

Olympic tennis champ Zheng says elbow surgery 'successful' Sixth-ranked Zheng Qinwen of China has undergone arthroscopic surgery on ...

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Denise Richards' Estranged Husband Claims She Was Cheating on Him

Denise Richards' Estranged Husband Claims She Was Cheating on Him

Denise Richards' estranged husband is revealing what ignited their explosive July 4 fight, and subsequent divorce -- he claims he caught her cheating, and has text messages to back that up. In an exclusive interview,Aaron Phyperstells TMZ ... he first learned of Denise's alleged hookup with another man at the beginning of the year, when he found text messages between them on Denise's laptop. Phypers claims the texts include several selfies shared between Denise and the other man, and sweet messages like her wishing him "sweet dreams." He also alleges other messages indicated they were trying to set up a rendezvous at a hotel, where she would try to sneak him into her room. He tells us he confronted Denise about the alleged affair, and, ultimately, they decided to stay together -- that is, until a huge fight over the July 4th weekend prompted Phypers to file for divorce. As we reported, Denise has claimed the fight started with Aaron verbally abusing her and demanding his phone. He says that's partially true ... Phypers says his phone was missing for more than a day, and when he questioned Denise about it, he claims she hit and scratched him -- and he later found the phone smashed to pieces in the recycling bin. He goes on to say he thinks she smashed his phone, because it contained photos of the texts proving she carried on the alleged affair. Aaron says Denise texted his mom that weekend to say she was going to divorce him -- so, he decided to beat her to court and file first. As you know ... hefiled for divorceMonday, July 7, citing irreconcilable differences. Denise has yet to respond in court to his petition -- which includes a demand for spousal support -- but, she did level serious allegations of abuse at Aaron's hands in a restraining order request. In the docs, she claimed Phypers owns several unregistered guns, and accused him of slamming her head into a towel rack, leaving her with agruesome black eye. He has denied laying a hand on her, and told us she sustained the eye injury when she showed up drunk at his office and fell. A judge granted a domestic violence restraining order against Aaron ... who was served with the document whilestanding shirtlessoutside his Calabasas home. Phypers says she got the DVRO in order to make him look like the bad guy -- 'cause she knows she'd look a whole lot worse if people found out about the alleged affair. It appears there were other issues, though, in the marriage. For instance, Aaron shared photos he says were taken inside the house they shared together ... and the place is a total mess, littered with a ton of different items. He claims he and his family were also burdened with taking care of her properties and animals. Phypers hasdenied all claimsof physical and emotional abuse against him ... insisting he always treated Denise with the utmost love and respect. He reiterated those denials in the interview. All that being said, Aaron told us he still loves Denise, and hopes she gets help, because she's in a bad way these days. We've reached out to Denise and her team ... so far, no word back.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 19, 2025

Denise Richards' Estranged Husband Claims She Was Cheating on Him

Denise Richards' Estranged Husband Claims She Was Cheating on Him Denise Richards' estranged husband is revealing what ignited their...

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King Charles shatters 100 year-old royal tradition to usher in modern monarchy: experts

King Charles shatters 100 year-old royal tradition to usher in modern monarchy: experts

After more than 100 years,King Charlesis changing the rules at Buckingham Palace. For the first time, players on the royal family's outdoor tennis court no longer have to follow the strict "almost entirely white" dress code,The Sunday Timesreported. According to the outlet, the 76-year-old has relaxed the protocol, making tennis whites now "preferred" but "not essential" for players, including members of the royal family, household staff and their guests. Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. Kate Middleton Rewrites Royal Playbook, Puts Herself First In Unprecedented Move: Experts Shannon Felton Spence, a former British public affairs official, told Fox News Digital that the king has been determined to modernize the monarchy, making it fresh and relevant for today's public. "King Charles is a very progressive-thinking man," said Felton Spence. "He has been his entire life, always looking forward and trying to build for the future. He has made ithis mission to reshape a monarchyfit for the purpose today and tomorrow, while keeping the cultural relevancy that grounds the institution. These initiatives are good news and should be celebrated." Read On The Fox News App British royals expert Hilary Fordwichtold Fox News Digital that it's one of many changes the busy king has been making. She pointed out that Buckingham Palace announced on July 3 that the Royal Train, whose history dates back to Queen Victoria, would end 156 years of service. The palace shared it's too costly to operate and would require a significant upgrade to accommodate more advanced rail systems. "The Royal Train is no longer," said Fordwich. "Other changes have included lowering the temperature of the palace swimming pool to reduce energy consumption and other updates to palace amenities." "King Charles has previously broken many royal customs, including changes to ceremonial duties, the public displays of affection, and, in general, many public engagement styles," she shared. "His direct engagement in political lobbying has not been well received and has been most ill-advised." The dress code upgrade is significant for the king, who is known for his formal wear. According to the outlet, Charles is rarely seen in jeans or sneakers. However, he wanted his staff and guests, in particular, to "feel less restricted by protocol." Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter "While the end of the all-white tennis dress code at Buckingham Palace might seem somewhat minor, it's a significant and rather symbolic step by King Charles to modernize the monarchy, making royal life more approachable and less bound by rigid traditions," Fordwich explained. Fordwich noted thatthe fashion rulewas originally put in place when the court was built in 1919 during King George V's reign. According to theRoyal Collection Trust, it's recognized as "London's most exclusive tennis court." The Sunday Times noted that it's located in "a shady area of the palace's 40-acre garden." "It has always been a hallmark of royal sporting etiquette," Fordwich shared. "Players, including royals, staff and guests, may not wear colored clothing... It's so sad to see yet another tradition abandoned." It's noted that for Charles's ancestors, sweat was considered unsightly, and colorful clothing showed it off more than white ensembles. Felton Spence noted that we can expect the king to continue bending the rules. "Protocol are simply unofficial rules adopted through tradition. They started somewhere," she said. Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News Royal commentator Amanda Matta also told Fox News Digital that Charles's latest move may have been a quiet one, but its message was loud and clear. "It might seem like a minor change, but in royal circles, even a small dress code modification says a lot," Matta explained. "By easing up on the all-white rule for tennis at Buckingham Palace, King Charles is continuing his quiet push to modernize the monarchy. This modernization will not be through big pronouncements, but with subtle shifts." "The all-white rule dates back to Victorian ideas about formality and appearance, and changing it shows that Charles is willing to let go of traditions that feel outdated," she shared. "It's also a practical move. This isn't Wimbledon, after all, and the court is used by family, guests, and even palace staff, so relaxing the rules makes sense. I'm expecting (and excited for) more of these small tweaks throughout Charles' reign!" Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that Charles isn't the only one looking to dust off the monarchy's rigid rules. Kate Middleton made her fashion first by wearing Christian Dior on July 8 for the start of the French state visit. According to the outlet, the 43-year-old's style choice was aimed at showing sartorial diplomacy. Her late mother-in-law,Princess Diana,was known to be a muse for the French fashion brand. "There have been many arguments recently allegedly about fashion styles," said Turner. "It is known that as soon as she is seen in a new outfit, it is sold out in minutes. Such is the demand to emulate her." Royal photographer Chris Jackson, author of"Charles III: A King and His Queen,"previously told Fox News Digital that Charles's personal style has always shared important messages about his prized causes. "He's got this beautiful Aston Martinthat runs on biofuel, which is surplus wine and cheese whey, which is pretty incredible," Jackson said. "He's obviously very passionate about the environment, [and] he's got this beautiful car, a DB6 Volante Aston Martin, that's environmentally friendly." The king, who has been a longtime advocate of sustainable living, bought the car in 1970. He converted it to run on biofuels, which use ethanol created from cheese-making whey and wine. He loaned his beloved vehicle to his sonPrince William,who used it to drive Kate from their nuptials in 2011. WATCH: KING CHARLES' ASTON MARTIN, WHICH RUNS ON 'WINE AND CHEESE,' PAYS HOMAGE TO JAMES BOND: ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHER The king's cousin, Lord Snowdon, once joked, "How does [the former] Prince Charles drive his Aston Martin? Caerphilly." Daily Mail reporter Robert Hardman, author of"The Making of a King,"also previously told Fox News Digital that Charles is known for sharing "coded messages" by using his ties. "His favorite has a little T-Rex motif on it," said Hardman. "I thought, 'That's a bit odd. I keep seeing this tie with a dinosaur on it… Of course, his cipher says, C. Rex, Charles Rex. So, I think he's having a little joke about being king with his tie. But he's in a good place. He's a happy monarch." Original article source:King Charles shatters 100 year-old royal tradition to usher in modern monarchy: experts

byLiam Oneel

in

July 19, 2025

King Charles shatters 100 year-old royal tradition to usher in modern monarchy: experts

King Charles shatters 100 year-old royal tradition to usher in modern monarchy: experts After more than 100 years,King Charlesis changing th...

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Playing the All-Star Game at home creates special feeling for Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever players

Playing the All-Star Game at home creates special feeling for Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever players

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell spent last weektamping down the All-Star excitement. First, she had to play some crucial games. On Friday, she finally had a chance to show how she felt about playing Saturday's game on her home court. Mitchell's eyes opened wide, the trademark grin stretched across her face and the words started flying out of her mouth. "I feel grateful," she said. "I feel happy that my family and friends are able to come. It's close for us because I'm from Cincinnati, so a lot of us get to connect, reconnect through basketball. It's just fun, it's a good experience and I'm grateful, I'm grateful I'm here." Mitchell is making her third straight All-Star trip, this one just down the street from home, and is joined by two teammates —guard Caitlin Clarkand center Aliyah Boston — for the second straight year. Nothing about this is routine, though. Indianapolis is the 13th city to host All-Star weekend, which was played primarily in the New York to Washington corridor during its first decade of existence and has moved West more recently. Last year's game was in Phoenix, and Las Vegas hosted three of the previous five and could be in the mix next summer, too. If things go as well Saturday as they did Thursday and Friday, perhaps Indianapolis will find itself in the regular rotation. Friday night's festivities drew an estimated 15,000 fans to the arena. "The last time I did the 3-point shootout in Vegas, it didn't feel sold out,"3-point champion Sabrina Ionescu."The last time (Stephen Curry) beat me when we were here in Indy. So really happy to be able to be here and put on a good show." Most players in town such as Atlanta guard Allisha Gray know "Hoosiers" both as the Indiana University nickname and as the popular movie title and appreciate playing in a state with so much basketball history. But not everyone has had the same hometown experience for home All-Star Games. "Playing in front of home fans is definitely fun, though it brings in a mix of everything," said four-time All-Star Kelsey Plum, who played six seasons with Las Vegas before joining Los Angeles this year. "At the time, I was in Vegas (where) we had a lot of visitors in town, so it didn't feel super homey. It felt kind of like everyone was cheering for their person." That's unlikely to be the case Saturday night. While Clark and Boston, the last two WNBA Rookies of the Year, possess more star power, Mitchell is revered locally for her scoring prowess, upbeat personality and resilience. The eight-year veteran finally got her first taste of playoff basketball last year, which explains why Clark expects Saturday to be an emotional game for Mitchell. But it's not just the hometowns with drawing power. Former Fever guard Erica Wheeler, now a teammate of 34-year-old Skylar Diggins in Seattle, drew a loud ovation when she was reintroduced during Friday's skills challenge. Diggins, a seven-time All-Star, was Indiana's 2009 Miss Basketball Award winner before leading her hometown Notre Dame Fighting Irish to three consecutive Final Four appearances, one in the very same fieldhouse hosting Saturday's game. "It's always love when I come here," Diggins said, callingThursday's orange carpet presentation the best she's seen."The fans are amazing. This is a great host city. It makes sense that it's here and I'm happy because like I said, I get to see a lot of my family and friends, and I've already seen people around town that I haven't seen in years." The Indianapolis experience already has others making pitches for their cities to play host. "It'll be nice, but I feel like tonight we'll represented by a lot of Atlanta Dream fans, so I can't wait," Gray said. "The league needs to put its All-Star (Game) in Atlanta — soon." Mitchell might endorse that idea, too, given that it would give her another chance to eat at Wheeler's restaurant in Atlanta. For now, though, Mitchell intends to savor this rare moment with her family, friends, teammates and, yes, even competitors. "For us as people, it's an opportunity to connect on different levels and for us, I think, basketball is a way to do that," Mitchell said. "And I think it's fun for the city, I think it's fun for our families. It's just fun for the world, considering everything that's happening." ___ AP WNBA:https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

byLiam Oneel

in

July 19, 2025

Playing the All-Star Game at home creates special feeling for Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever players

Playing the All-Star Game at home creates special feeling for Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever players INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever guard...

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Wallabies' second-half surge gives Schmidt confidence they can level the series against the Lions

Wallabies' second-half surge gives Schmidt confidence they can level the series against the Lions

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Joe Schmidt saw enough spirit in a second-half comeback by his young Wallabies lineup to feel confident they can level the series next week despite losing the first test to the British and Irish Lions. "This time last year we would have melted," Schmidt said after the27-19 losson Saturday, "but I love the way this team is developing." The Lions overpowered the Australians in the early exchanges and led 24-5 just after halftime. The Lions, coming off a series of five wins in tour games, had all the momentum for the first 50 minutes and the ball was bouncing their way. But late tries to replacements Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott cut the final margin to eight points. "Very proud of the way the players fought their way back," Schmidt said. "A comparatively young side ... still finding their way. "There was enough demonstration that we're already desperate, but we've got to be more accurate." The Wallabies have been a work in progress since Schmidt was hired in the wake of Australia's failure to make the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup in 2023. The Wallabies had six wins in 13 tests in a2024 season that ended in a 22-19 loss to Irelandin Dublin to earn back some credibility, and opened this international season with a narrow21-18 win over Fijitwo weeks ago. Another week together and the return of forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini from injury will help the Wallabies next week in Melbourne, where they need a win to ensure the series is alive going into the third and final test in Sydney. The team is "desperate to keep the series alive," Schmidt said. "Melbourne is going to be massive for both teams." Blindside flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny made his test debut in Brisbane and 22-year-oldTom Lynagh, son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, started a test for the first time at No. 10. Lynagh made some good runs, kicked well and defended bravely but, as Schmidt noted, the young flyhalf was forced to be more reactive than proactive in attack because of the way the Lions were dominating the first half. He was tackled in the air by Tom Curry as he leaped to take a high ball just before the break but continued until midway through the second half to help claw back some momentum for the home team. Replacement scumhalf McDermott had an immediate impact off the bench, creating a try for Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i that was disallowed and then scoring one of the two late tries for Australia. British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell is expecting the Australians to be more cohesive and more dangerous in the second test, and he has cautioned his players to look at history. In 2001, the Lions won the first test in Brisbane and then lost in Melbourne and Sydney as Australia rallied for an historic series victory. In 2013, the Lions narrowly won in Brisbane before losing the second test in Melbourne. They needed a big lift in Sydney to clinch that series. "We know what's coming," Farrell said. "We know what happened in the second half here and we roll into the second game knowing full well what happened in 2013." "When an Australia team becomes desperate, it is difficult to handle, so we expect a different game next weekend," he added. "We need to make sure we are ready for them to be at their best (because) it'll take a better performance than what we've shown here to make sure we get a win next week." ___ AP rugby:https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

byLiam Oneel

in

July 19, 2025

Wallabies' second-half surge gives Schmidt confidence they can level the series against the Lions

Wallabies' second-half surge gives Schmidt confidence they can level the series against the Lions BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Joe Schmidt...

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