BELGIAN RECORD | THIBAUT COURTOUS

 

DEBUTANT EVENEPOEL TO LEAD SOUDAL-QUICK STEP AT TOUR DE FRANCE

Remco Evenepoel finished second at this year's Paris-Nice (Thomas SAMSON

 Former Vuelta a Espana champion Remco Evenepoel will lead Soudal-Quick Step as the Tour de France starting this weekend, the Belgian team announced on Tuesday.

Evenepoel, 24, will be supported by Basque rider Mikel Landa in the mountains of the three-week race which begins on Saturday in Florence as well as Czech veteran Jan Hirt.

The Belgian will make his first appearance on the Tour, having won the 2022 Vuelta and finished 12th in last year's edition of the Spanish race.

"Riding the Tour de France is the dream of every kid who falls in love with cycling," Evenepoel said in a team statement.

"It's something I too have dreamed about since the moment I rode my bike.

"I would like to have a good Tour and get some nice results, but let’s not forget it’s my debut in this hard and beautiful event which is unlike any other, so the plan is to discover the race, take it one day at a time and see where this leads us," the 2022 world road race champion added.

Evenepoel is also joined in the team by compatriots Louis Vervaeke, Yves Lampaert and Ilan Van Wilder as well as Italian Gianni Moscon and Dane Casper Pedersen.

Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe misses out to focus on the Paris Olympics.

French team Arkea-B&B Hotels also announced their team for the Grand Tour with sprinter Arnaud Demare leading their hopes for a stage win on home soil.

Demare's fellow Frenchmen Kevin Vauquelin and Clement Champoussin are also in the team as well as Spaniards Crisitan Rodriguez and Raul Pierna Garcia, Italian Luca Mozzato, Belgian Amaury Capiot and Briton Daniel McLay.

The Tour begins in Florence before ending in Nice on July 21, with Paris, the regular location for the final stage, unavailable due to the Games.

- AFP

FRENCH OPEN GOES DRY WITH ALCOHOL BAN TO STOP DISRUPTIVE FANS

USA TODAY Sports 

 As rain suspended play on the outer courts at the French Open again on Thursday, fans were in for more disappointment when organisers announced they would not be able to drink alcohol in the stands after unruly behaviour came under scrutiny.

Belgian David Goffin had accused partisan fans at the French Open of "total disrespect" after he played a Frenchman in the first round while world number one Iga Swiatek urged them not to scream during rallies, especially in high-pressure games.

"First of all, we are happy people are very enthusiastic about watching tennis and being part of the matches, showing feeling and emotions," tournament director Amelie Mauresmo told reporters.

"But there are definitely steps which shouldn't go further. A few things have needed to be put in place.

"Alcohol was allowed until now in the stands, but that's over... If they exceed the limit, if they don't behave well or if they throw things at the players, that's it."

Mauresmo said umpires have been asked to become more strict and intervene to ensure players are respected while security would step in if fans overstepped their boundaries.

"Let's see how it goes with the (umpires) being a little bit more strict. Let's see how it goes with the security being also a little bit more strict," she added.

"I don't want to be negative and I'm an optimist. I'm really trying to see that people are going to react in a good way and that it's going to be OK. If it's not, we will take other measures."

- Reuters 

ZVEREV SEES OFF GOFFIN | ROLLAND GARROS 2024

Reuters 

 World number four Alexander Zverev reached the French Open third round with a 7-6 (4) 6-2 6-2 victory over experienced Belgian David Goffin on Thursday.

The German, who ousted 14-times champion Rafael Nadal in the opening round, had to work hard to win the first-set tiebreak but broke early in the second.

Former quarter-finalist Goffin nearly broke Zverev's serve in the fourth game but the German held firm, mixing up his game well to close out the match.

"I was happy that I ran away with it but also happy that I played well," said Zverev, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the 2022 French Open semi-finals.

Zverev will next face Italian Luciano Darderi or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

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