Event of the Day: Tour de France Stage 1
Our event of the day is Stage 1 of the 2018 Tour de France. The 105th edition of cycling’s most prestigious race gets underway in Noirmoutier-en-l’Île. At a gruelling 201 kilometres, it is the fourth longest stage of the entire 3,351-kilometre tour. Being a flat stage, today’s race will be a battle of the sprinters for the yellow jersey. Favourites include Marcel Kittel, who notched up an impressive five stage victories at last year’s tour. However, the German is playing down his chances of repeating such a feat this time around, having only recently joined Katusha-Alpecin. Peter Sagan is going for a record equalling sixth green jersey at this year’s tour. He will be looking to lay down a marker in the sprint stages.
Widely considered by many as the greatest sprinter of all time, Mark Cavendish has had an injury plagued year. The Brit has 30 stage wins to his name, and is just 4 away from equalling the Tour de France record. With a coveted cycling record within touching distance, you cannot rule him out. Looking ahead to the tour, Chris Froome is the overwhelming favourite to win his fifth title. The Team Sky rider had an anti-doping case dropped just 4 days ago. However, Froome heads into the tour in good form following his strong Giro d’Italia victory. Riders looking to prevent Froome from making it four Tour de France wins in four years include Nairo Quintana, a former white jersey winner, and Vincenzo Nibali, who finished fourth in 2015. Let one of the highlights of the sporting calendar commence!
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the two FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. Fresh from their dramatic win over Colombia, England face Sweden at the Samara Arena. The Three Lions haven’t made a World Cup semi-final for 28 years. Sweden meanwhile, have been semi-finalists on four occasions, most recently in 1994. Hosts Russia face dark horses Croatia in the second quarter-final of the day at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi. Both sides required a penalty shootout to progress in gripping last 16 ties. Away from international football, Real Salt Lake take on FC Dallas at the Rio Tinto Stadium in MLS action. In cricket, New Zealand Women face England Women at Headingley in the first of three one-day internationals. Test cricket is on display at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium as the test match between the West Indies and Bangladesh continues. The European Tour progresses in Ireland where it’s Day 3 of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballyliffin Golf Club. It’s also Day 3 of the LPGA Thornberry Creek Classic and the PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic in the States. Qualifying for the highly anticipated Formula 1 British Grand Prix gets underway at Silverstone. Elsewhere in the UK, Day 4 of the Henley Royal Regatta commences, whilst it’s the Coral Eclipse Day at Sandown Park Racecourse. Globally, it’s a busy day for Rugby Union and League. In Union, the Glendale Raptors take on the Seattle Seawolves in the first ever Major League Rugby Final at the Torero Stadium in San Diego and there’s Super Rugby action across South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In Rugby League, Wakefield Trinity take on Catalans Dragons in the Super League and the Bulldogs play the Raiders in the NRL. At the T-Mobile Arena, Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier do battle in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Las Vegas. Additional sporting action in the United States comes from the MLB with a fixture between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park. In Australian Rules Football, Melbourne are at home to Fremantle. Grand Slam tennis of the highest calibre continues at the All England Club as Day 6 of Wimbledon gets underway.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Tour de France