分类： sports

ADELAIDE, Australia — Australian cyclist Jay Vine secured a remarkable victory at the Tour Down Under on Sunday, overcoming an extraordinary mid-race collision with a kangaroo that forced three riders to abandon the competition. The incident occurred during the final 169.8-kilometer stage through Adelaide’s hills, marking a dramatic conclusion to the opening event of the 2026 World Tour.

With approximately 96 kilometers remaining, two large kangaroos unexpectedly bounded onto the road during a high-speed section. Vine was knocked from his bicycle upon impact, while riders Menno Huising, Lucas Stevenson, and Alberto Dainese were compelled to withdraw due to injuries sustained in the collision. The kangaroo involved also suffered injuries.

Despite entering the final stage with a substantial 1-minute, 3-second lead on general classification, Vine faced significant challenges beyond the wildlife encounter. His UAE Team Emirates squad had been reduced to just three members following Saturday’s fourth stage, where defending champion Jhonatan Narvaez and another teammate crashed out. The team was further diminished when Juan Sebastian Molano withdrew due to fatigue before Sunday’s stage.

Demonracing exceptional resilience, Vine immediately remounted after the kangaroo incident, changing bicycles twice before rejoining the peloton with 92 kilometers remaining. He maintained a strategic position near the front throughout the remainder of the stage, ultimately preserving his overall lead.

The Australian champion finished 1:03 ahead of Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco Alula), with Australian Harry Sweeny (EF Education-Easypost) trailing by an additional nine seconds. Britain’s Matthew Brennan (Team Visma) claimed the stage victory in a sprint finish ahead of New Zealand’s Finn Fisher-Black (Bora Hansgrohe) and Denmark’s Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon).

Vine, who secured his second Tour Down Under victory in three years, humorously remarked on the incident: ‘Everyone asks me what’s the most dangerous thing in Australia and I always tell them it’s kangaroos. They wait and they hide in the bushes until you can’t stop and they jump out in front of you. Point proven today.’

The champion described the mechanics of the collision: ‘Two of them blasted through the peloton when we were doing probably 50 kph (30 mph) and one of them stopped and went left, right, left right, left right and I ended up hitting its backside.’

Reflecting on his team’s challenging week, Vine noted: ‘This year we started off really positive and we just had more and more bad luck as the race went on. Today was never going to be easy and I’ve been saying all week it’s not over until it’s over. But it’s proven to be not over till it’s over in this race for us.’

The stage featured eight laps of a circuit incorporating a slow, steep climb to the finish in Stirling township, with two breakaways occurring during the race, the final one being reeled in with just one kilometer remaining.

In a breathtaking display of human endurance and skill, renowned American rock climber Alex Honnold successfully scaled Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, without ropes or protective equipment on Sunday. The daring ascent of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower captivated spectators and raised questions about the ethics of broadcasting high-risk athletic endeavors.

Honnold, celebrated for his unprecedented free solo climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan, commenced his vertical journey using the building’s horizontal metal beams as handholds. Clad in a distinctive red short-sleeve shirt, the climber periodically paused during his ascent to acknowledge the cheering crowd below, creating dramatic moments during the live broadcast on Netflix, which employed a 10-second delay for safety considerations.

The architectural complexity of Taipei 101 presented unique challenges, particularly the middle section comprising 64 floors known as ‘bamboo boxes’—the building’s signature feature. This segment required navigating eight distinct phases, each featuring eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balcony areas where Honnold took strategic rests.

While French climber Alain Robert previously ascended the building during its 2004 inauguration using safety equipment, Honnold’s achievement marks the first completely unprotected climb of the Taipei landmark. The event, originally scheduled for Saturday, was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, adding another layer of anticipation to the already dramatic feat.

Patrick Reed seized commanding control of the Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday, firing a five-under-par 67 to establish a formidable four-shot advantage heading into the tournament’s final round. The American veteran’s stellar performance at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course propelled him to a 14-under total, distancing himself from the chasing pack.

Spanish rising star David Puig emerged as Reed’s closest challenger, carding an impressive 66 to reach 10-under par. The 24-year-old sensation, who claimed victory at last December’s Australian PGA Championship, demonstrated his growing prowess with seven birdies against a single bogey.

Norway’s Viktor Hovland, the 2022 tournament champion, ignited his title hopes with the day’s lowest round—a spectacular 65 that featured seven birdies without dropping a shot. His remarkable surge positioned him just five strokes behind the leader, setting the stage for a compelling final-round showdown.

Meanwhile, world number two Rory McIlroy’s title defense effectively ended with a disappointing 71 that left him languishing at three-under overall. The four-time Dubai champion managed only two birdies against one bogey, finding himself tied for 27th position and facing an insurmountable 11-shot deficit.

Reed’s round showcased both resilience and technical mastery. After an uncharacteristic bogey on the opening hole, the 35-year-old found his rhythm with a crucial drive on the eighth hole that sparked his charge. Though he narrowly missed birdie opportunities on the 15th through 17th holes, his overall performance demonstrated the composure of a seasoned champion.

Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton’s hopes evaporated with a disappointing 76 that dropped him into a tie for 42nd place, while Reed positioned himself to claim his first full-field title in the $9 million event—adding another chapter to his three-win DP World Tour legacy.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India, concluding weeks of tense negotiations with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). This unprecedented decision follows Bangladesh’s refusal to participate in the tournament citing security concerns for its players.

According to ESPNcricinfo reports, the ICC notified BCB officials via email on Friday evening after the Bangladeshi board confirmed it had not received government permission to travel to India. The decision comes after three weeks of intensive discussions between cricket’s global governing body and BCB representatives.

Scotland secured the tournament slot based on their current ICC rankings and extensive T20 World Cup experience, having participated in six of the nine editions since the tournament’s inception in 2007. The European team brings established competitive credentials to the event.

The conflict escalated when BCB requested relocating Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka, citing player safety concerns. This followed the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) instruction to IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 season amid reported violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

The ICC subsequently rejected BCB’s venue change request during a specially convened video conference. BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul maintained the board’s position against playing in India following this rejection. Reports indicate BCB pursued the matter through the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee, though official outcomes remain undisclosed.

Renowned American free solo climber Alex Honnold has postponed his highly anticipated rope-free ascent of Taipei 101 due to unfavorable weather conditions. The 508-meter (1,667-foot) skyscraper, among the world’s tallest structures, presented wet surface conditions that forced a 24-hour delay for safety reasons.

Honnold, who achieved global recognition for his unprecedented rope-free climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan in 2017, expressed disappointment but emphasized safety considerations. ‘Sadly it’s raining in Taipei right now so I don’t get to go climbing,’ the 40-year-old climber stated on Saturday.

The architectural marvel features eight distinct sections designed to resemble bamboo segments, creating unique climbing challenges with slight overhangs. Netflix, which will stream the event live, has implemented a 10-second delay protocol as a precautionary measure. ‘We’ll cut away. Nobody expects or wants to see anything like that to happen,’ explained Netflix executive Jeff Gaspin.

The climb, now rescheduled for Sunday, represents a lifelong ambition for Honnold, who is married with two children. His historic El Capitan ascent was documented in the Academy Award-winning film ‘Free Solo,’ showcasing his extraordinary climbing prowess on the 915-meter granite face.

This attempt follows French climber Alain Robert’s 2004 ascent using safety equipment, which required four hours to complete. Honnold’s approach will involve three distinct phases: navigating an initial 113-meter section of sloping steel and glass, conquering the eight bamboo-inspired segments, and finally scaling the tower’s spire.

Netflix officials confirmed that ‘safety remains our top priority’ while acknowledging the significance of this athletic achievement in the mountaineering world.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In an unprecedented last-minute decision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming T20 World Cup following a contentious security dispute. The dramatic roster change comes after weeks of failed negotiations between cricket’s governing body and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The conflict originated from BCB’s formal request to relocate its matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing unspecified security apprehensions. Despite multiple high-level discussions conducted both virtually and in-person over three weeks, the ICC remained unconvinced by Bangladesh’s security claims.

In an official statement released Saturday, the ICC revealed it had conducted thorough security assessments and found “no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team in India” for the month-long tournament commencing February 7. The governing body emphasized that modifying the published event schedule so close to the tournament’s opening was not justified.

The situation reached its climax when BCB failed to confirm its participation by the ICC’s stipulated deadline. This procedural failure triggered the ICC’s established governance protocols, resulting in Scotland’s selection as the replacement team based on their ranking as the highest-tier T20 team not initially qualified.

Complicating matters further, the Bangladesh government cited strained political relations with India as the underlying reason for their security concerns. The tension reportedly stems from the recent removal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League by order of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The dispute has garnered international attention, with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi publicly criticizing the ICC for alleged “double standards” and expressing solidarity with Bangladesh. Naqvi revealed that Pakistan’s own participation remains contingent on government approval, indicating potential further disruptions to the tournament lineup.

Scotland now prepares to enter Group C, where they will assume Bangladesh’s original schedule of three matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, adding an unexpected dynamic to the tournament’s competitive landscape.