Sports Poets Society

Storia. In quest'abbraccio - fra l'ex padrone in giallo Primož Roglič e Tadej Pogačar - c'è tutto: il terzo grande Giro sfumato (dopo Tour '18 e Giro '19) per il 31-enne sloveno, e l'incredulità del suo giovane erede. Per di più, connazionale. Il Luka Dončić a pedali. Con una cronoscalata mostruosa l'esordiente secondo più giovane vincitore di sempre - 22 anni, li compirà lunedì 21 settembre - ha ribaltato il Tour, suo al debutto come solo sette grandissimi: Robic '47, Coppi '49, Koblet '51, Anquetil '57, Gimondi '65, Merckx 69 (sue tutte le maglie, quasi come Pogacar, cui è sfuggita solo la verde di Sam Bennett), fino a Hinault '78 e Fignon '83. Per 4 volte su 4 a La Planche des Belles Filles era cambiata la maglia gialla: da Cancellara a Wiggins 2012, da Gallopin a Nibali 2014, da Thomas a Froome 2017, da Alaphilippe a Ciccone 2019.  Ma forse nemmeno lui, Tadej, avrebbe scommesso contro i 57" che doveva recuperare a Roglic....

https://www.sport-e-cultura.com/2020/09/18/un-tour-2020-che-e-l83-houston-you-have-a-problem-osaka-mon-amour/?fbclid=IwAR2Euv0D55Sz8x4jCUtXVxqaGqYRxCia95fRbZiM1MX76UBkYspiTdQBIM8 di Simone Basso Sport e cultura, venerdì 18 settembre 2020 Pallini infuocati, visti dall’alto, nemmeno fossimo l’elicottero che riprende il Tour: come gli incendi in Oregon e in California, la Baviera che a inizio settimana era dodici gradi sopra (!) la sua temperatura media e il Polo Nord che si scioglie a una velocità imprevista. Troveremo comunque qualcuno che neghi l’evidenza, del pianeta Terra con il febbrone, e altri che chiedono di comprendere il voto a un coglione tipo Jair Bolsonaro. La vueltizzazion e della Grande Boucle procede spedita, a dispetto di un personale che – guardando oltre il presente – pare assicurare un decennio di lignaggio.  Il cercare la rampa, su un territorio che vive di montagne da un’ora di ascesa, e il ridurre il chilometraggio è un controsenso storico che regala un equili...

Il libro degli abbracci - al Tour - si arricchisce di un nuovo, esaltante capitolo. Ma un finale così nemmeno Eduardo Galeano avrebbe potuto inventarselo. Buona la terza, per il Team Ineos-Grenadiers che, il giorno dopo aver perso il suo capitano Egan Bernal, azzecca la fuga giusta con Michał Kwiatkowski e Richard Carapaz. Tappa al polacco iridato a Ponferrada 2014, maglia a pois all'ecuadoriano, vincitore del Giro 2019; e quello che - al suo primo Tour - forse più di tutti meritava il successo parziale, se non altro per averci provato due volte in altrettanti tapponi.  Finale scritto da ordini di scuderia, e di gerarchie: epilogo tutt'altro che inedito nella storia del ciclismo. Al Tour dei veleni '86, Bernard Hinault e Greg LeMond si fecero immortalare mano nella mano in cima all'Alpe d'Huez: tappone al bretone, Tour all'americano già in giallo, e ricambiato - controvoglia - dal Tasso per la Grande Boucle dell'anno prima. Volate - si fa per dire - quelle ...

Regalo migliore per il suoi 47 anni, al buon "Vino" - inteso come Alexandre Vinokourov, general manager dell'Astana, il suo capitano non poteva farglielo. Miguel Ángel López gliel'ha scartato tutto solo, di fronte a nientemeno che al presidente francese Emmanuel Macron, sul traguardo di Méribel, ai 2300 metri dell'inedito Col de la Loze. Arrampicata brutale di 4 km con punte del 22-24% e arrivo della tappa regina di questo Tour. Dietro il piccolo Superman colombiano, il duopolio sloveno della generale: a 15" la maglia gialla Primož Roglič, a 30" Tadej Pogačar, che resta secondo ma ora, per il gioco degli abbuoni, a 53" anziché i 40" del giorno prima. Proprio il giorno prima, con quello scattino nel finale di Villard-de-Lans s'era intuito che era lui, Lopez (e non Uran Uran e Quintana, l'unico colombiano credibile come terzo incomodo per il podio di Parigi. A maggior ragione dopo la mancata partenza da Grenoble, causa mal di schiena, di ...

Tanta la rabbia venerdì al Puy Mary, quanta - e forse più - la gioia martedì ai 1152 metri di Villard-de-Lans. Qui trent'anni fa cominciò la favola - poi senza lieto fine giallo - di Claudio Chiappucci (che strappò la leadership a Ronan Pensec). Qui, Lennard Kämna è riuscito, da solo, alla 16-esima tappa, nel colpaccio fallito, alla 13-esima, con Maximilian Schachmann, quando il duo della nella Bora si fece infilare in contropiede dal colombiano Daniel Martínez. Stavolta, dai 23 scappati ai -70 km (con dentro gli italiani Daniel Oss, Alberto Bettiol e Matteo Trentin), sul penultimo GPM prima li ha scremati a quattro (con lui l'ecuadoriano Richard Carapaz, tornato almeno a somigliare al signore del Giro 2019, lo svizzero Sébastien Reichenbach e i francesi Julian Alaphilippe e Quentin Pacher); poi, sull'ultima rampa, due chilometri con punte al 10%, il tedescone - cronoman iridato da junior, e da Under 23 bronzo in linea e argento contro il tempo - li ha sal...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/212 At the age of 13 Melker Hallberg made his first appearance in senior football whilst playing for his first club, More BK , sparking interest in him from Kalmar FF who he joined in 2010. He went on to do well for the club, making his debut in 2012 at the age of 16 and becoming the Allsvenskan's fourth youngest scorer of all-time. His performances caught the eye of Udinese, joining the Serie A side in August 2014. Whilst he maybe did not make as big an impression in Italy as he would have like, Melker spent time on loan with Valerenga, Hammerby, Ascoli and Kalmar FF, with his stints at this clubs once again highlighting the talent the midfielder has at his disposal. He spent last season at Vejle BK in Denmark , but left to continue his development in football, which the box-to-box midfielder believes he can do at Easter Road Stadium. Melker has been capped at under-17, under-19, and under-21 caps for Sweden , as well a...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/166 Stevie Mallan became Hibernian's third signing of the 2018-19 summer window, joining from Barnsley for an undisclosed fee. The dynamic attacking midfielder made his name at St Mirren , making his debut in 2014 and going on to appear over 100 times for the Paisley side. He marked his competitive debut with Hibernian by scoring twice in the 6-1 win over NSI Runavik.

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/98 A lifelong Hibernian support and a Leither , Darren McGregor has made sure he has enjoyed his time at Easter Road. Initially joining on a two-year contract, which was extended in May 2017 by another two-years, the former Cowdenbeath, Arniston Rangers, St Mirren and Rangers defender made an instant impact with his lionhearted performances at the centre of the defence. Quick and strong with great ability in the air, the combative centre-half has made sure of his name being the first on the team-sheet under the tenure of both Alan Stubbs and Neil Lennon . Darren's first goal was one to treasure, the 1,000th goal in Hibernian's Scottish Cup history, which also lit the long fuse towards success in the competition for the first time in 114 years. During the 2016/17 season, his performance levels rose once more, which saw him win the Club's Player of the Year award, and he also wore the captain's armband in the absenc...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/14 A home-grown talent, Lewis Stevenson has enshrined his name in Club legend, thanks to more than tens years of service, which has brought about two pieces of silverware. Lewis is a left-sided player who can operate at left-back or in the midfield, and he made his debut in 2005 away to Ayr United in the League Cup - a competition that would make his name two years later. In the thumping 5-1 win against Kilmarnock, a 19-year old Lewis won Man of the Match after an impressive midfield showing. Since then, his consistent performances have seen him included in the plans of every manager he has played under, with his dogged determination and willingness to succeed helping the Club to victory. His maiden Hibernian goal arrived in 2011 against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, with his strikes proving to be a rarity , with only six more to his name since then. Lewis' battling qualities were influential in the 2015/16 season, which ...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/57 Also commonly known as 'Sir David Gray' or simply 'SDG'. At a time when Hibernian was looking to rebuild after relegation to Scottish football's second tier , there was little fanfare for the free transfer of a right-back from Burton Albion - becoming Alan Stubbs' first signing in the process. Who could predict that David would go on to become one of the most important figures in the history of the club? Quickly impressing with his consistency, determination and leadership qualities, he was appointed club captain in the summer of 2015. Primarily known for his dogged defensive work, he would go on to carve a unique place in the club's history with a moment of inspiration at the other end of the park. On May 21, 2016, David settled a rollercoaster Scottish Cup Final with his winning header two minutes into stoppage time. That 3-2 win over Rangers ended 114 years of hurt in the Scottish Cup a...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/219 Jack Ross was appointed Head Coach in November 2019. After a thorough process, Jack was identified as the stand-out choice to succeed Paul Heckingbottom . Though he has long been regarded as one of the brightest up and coming touchline talents in Scotland, Jack initially made his name as a player. Starting off in the youth ranks at Dundee and Forfar Athletic, he cut his teeth as a first team player during a successful stint with Camelon Juniors. Clyde spotted his potential and Jack would go on to wear the captain's armband before he opted for a switch to Hartlepool United. Falkirk tempted him back north, where he played under former Hibernian captain and manager John Hughes, before subsequent spells with St Mirren, Hamilton Academical and Dunfermline Athletic. Forced into early retirement by a debilitating knee injury, Jack can also look back with pride on an appearance for the Scotland B team in a 3-0 win over ...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/204 After his release from Bristol Rovers' youth academy , Christian Doidge has worked hard to climb up the football pyramid. The striker from Newport joined Southampton's youth set-up before joining Bristol Rovers, but faced a setback to his chosen career path when he was released. His next club were Cwmbran Celtic in the fourth tier of Welsh football , then to fellow fourth division side Croesyceiliog in 2010, before moving up a division in 2011 to play for Barry Town. He made an instant impression by scoring 16 goals in 16 games in his first season and by January he had netted a further ten times and helped the side to their first Welsh Cup Semi-Final in over a decade. His form prompted interest from Carmarthen Town of the Welsh Premier League, who he joined in January 2013, and he helped his new team to lift the Welsh League Cup. In August 2014 he made his move back into the English football pyramid with Dagenham ...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/203 Wide midfielder Joe Newell has played a majority of his career in both the Championship and League One before opting to move north of the border in the summer of 2019. Coming through the youth ranks at Birmingham City and Peterborough United . After a loan spell at St Albans City , Joe made his first team debut for the Posh in April 2012 and gradually played his way to prominence with the side. In 2011/12 he played 15 times as they retained their place in the Championship and made 33 appearances the following campaign when they were relegated. He played 39 times in 2014/15, 42 in all competitions, and won the Player of the Year award for that campaign from the club, the supporters and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, before joining Rotherham United on a three-year deal. His contributions to their cause in the Championship helped the Yorkshire side to avoid relegation as he chipped in with five goals in 35 matches and the following...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/81 Martin Boyle joined Hibernian on loan from Dundee until the end of the 2014/15 season and then agreed a two year contract in the summer of 2015. Since then, Martin has won both the William Hill Scottish Cup and Ladbrokes Championship with Hibernian, as well as playing a key role in our first season back in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/8 Paul Hanlon is a product of Hibernian's Academy set-up and made his debut in 2009's Scottish Cup win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The defender, who won Hibernian's Player of the Year in the 2010/11 and 2013/14 campaigns , started out as a left-back, before becoming an accomplished centre-half. With over 300 appearances to his name, Paul has been a virtual ever-present with many of the managers he has played under at Easter Road Stadium. His favourite memory in a Hibernian jersey will have been scoring in the final seconds of the William Hill Scottish Cup match at Tynecastle against Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle, which saw Hibernian dramatically come from 2-0 down in the last 10 minutes . Hibernian then ended the much-documented wait to lift the trophy once again that season, with Paul playing the final. The centre-back, who has captained Hibernian on occasion, played his part with Hibernian last season ...

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/135 Ryan Porteous is a product of the Hibernian Academy. He spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Edinburgh City, winning the Players' Player of the Year Award despite his tender age. He impressed with the first team during pre-season for 2017-18, and scored twice in a 6-1 win over Arbroath in the Betfred Cup.

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/team/125 Israel international goalkeeper Ofir Marciano has been a commanding presence between the sticks since he first arrived at Easter Road Stadium in August 2016. A firm favourite with the Hibernian support, Ofir initially moved to Edinburgh on loan for the 2016-17 season and was an important figure in the push for promotion back to the Premiership. In June 2017 he secured a permanent switch to the Hibees after putting pen to paper on a four-year contract . Though he has faced competition for his first-team spot, Ofir has time and time again risen to the challenge. He worked his way through the ranks at FC Ashdod and also enjoyed a season-long loan with Belgian outfit Royal Excel Mouscron .

http://ilcalcioscozzese.it/2020-21-che-premiership-ci-aspetta/ Ci eravamo lasciati in un freddo mercoledì sera a Paisley, quell’11 marzo in cui il St Mirren, battendo gli Hearts per 1-0, si è garantito un altro anno di permanenza in Premiership, facendo “retrocedere” di fatto i Jambos in Championship : una vittoria degli Hearts invece avrebbe “prodotto” l’esito opposto. QUALI NOVITA’? La più grande novità di questa stagione è che, calcisticamente parlando e soprattutto nelle zone di vetta, non ci saranno grandissime… novità. Il coronavirus ha, di fatto, reso il mercato quasi nullo: ad oggi infatti non sono state molte le operazioni, sia in uscita che in entrata. Le novità sono sostanzialmente due: si giocherà fino ad ottobre a porte chiuse e la Scozia potrà portare dalla prossima stagione 5 squadre nelle coppe europee, anziché 4. Per quanto riguarda la prima novità, i club si sono organizzati garantendo ai propri abbonati la visione delle partite casalinghe, ovv...

Altro che - molto presunte - alleanze. Tappa all'allievo Tadej Pogačar, piatto grosso al maestro Primož Roglič. E tanti saluti ai due colombiani più illustri, Nairo Quintana e Egan Bernal, saltati sulle rampe - cattivissime - del Grand Colombier.  Come al campionato nazionale sloveno (ma in ordine inverso), come domenica scorsa al Tour. Stesso epilogo della pirenaica Laruns alla sesta, ma stavolta a sud del Massiccio del Giura, alla 15-esima. Arrivo inedito ma già per tre volte passaggio della Grande Boucle (domato da Thomas Voeckler nel 2012, Rafał Majka nel 2016 e Warren Barguil nel 2017), il terzo e ultimo GPM ha scritto la parola fine al Tour - mai davvero iniziato - del campione uscente: con 7'20" all'arrivo e 8'25" nella generale, al 23-enne capitano della Ineos non basterebbe nemmeno un ribaltone simil-Froome-Colle delle Finestre al Giro 2018. Oltre al Bernal che scuote la testa davanti - anzi dietro - al verdetto della strada, l'a...

"Il mio Tour comincia adesso", l'aveva buttata lì Egan Bernal. Non lo avesse mai detto. Terzo arrivo in salita, e prima vera crisi per il colombiano. Sin qui - fra mal di schiena e preparazione complicata dal covid-19 - ancora lontano dal fuoriclasse un anno fa. Negli ultimi tre dei 191 km e mezzo da Chatel-Guyon al Puy Mary Cantal, passaggio classico sul Massiccio Centrale ma inedito come traguardo, si saliva a oltre il 12% con punta del 15% negli ultimi mille metri. Lì, anziché finire a fette nella forbice dei due tedeschi Bora-Hansgrohe (Kaemna e Schachmann), se n'è andato un altro colombiano Daniel Martínez. Quarta vittoria stagionale e prima in carriera al Tour, per il 24-enne (bi)campione nazionale a cronometro che nel 2020 ha già conquistato maglia bianca e classifica al Delfinato e due tappe al Giro di Colombia. Dietro, fra i big saltano i francesi Romain Bardet (caduta con commozione cerebrale, Tour finito) e Guillaume Martin. ...

By Nikhil Vinodh on September 11, 2020 THE 4TH OFFICIAL https://the4thofficial.net/2020/09/edouard-to-return-duffy-makes-his-debut-predicted-4-2-3-1-celtic-lineup-vs-ross-county/ Reigning Premiership champions will be looking to make it three wins on the trot in the league when they travel to Global Energy Stadium to take on Ross County.  The Celts seemed quite comfortable in their last league outing, where they ran out 3-0 winners against Motherwell at Celtic Park. James Forrest, Albian Ajeti and Christopher Jullien were all on the scoresheet that evening , but repeating that feat on the back of a frustratingly timed international break will not be an easy task by any stretch of the imagination. The Hoops currently find themselves in third place on the league table, with six points separating them from leaders Rangers . Although the situation does seem grim on paper, the fact that they have two games in hand due to prior postponements must be taken into co...

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/ross-county/2251694/new-staggies-chief-executive-ferguson-excited-by-fresh-chapter/ Ross County will began a new chapter with Steven Ferguson becoming the Staggies’ chief executive to leave Stuart Kettlewell in sole charge at Victoria Park . Ferguson, who has jointly held the reins alongside Kettlewell for two-and-a-half years, has opted to step aside after helping steer County to 10th place in the Premiership last season. Ferguson will remain with the Staggies however, with the 43-year-old moving upstairs in a newly-created position. The move will see Kettlewell become manager in his own right, with Richie Brittain stepping in as assistant and Don Cowie becoming first team coach. As part of his move into senior coaching, vastly-experienced midfielder Cowie will retire from playing at the age of 37. It marks an end to the co-manager structure which was implemented by County chairman Roy MacGregor fo...