Sunday Sport: Lycra and Cream

As reported yesterday, the Tour de France has kicked off in Brussels, to the acclaim of the thousands of fans who had turned out just to see the Tour.  Brussels has never looked batter, after the heat wave of the last few weeks broke, the city is ready to be out and about again, according to local reports.  
 

  

Stage one took place yesterday, an 192 jaunt through the Belgian Countryside to Charleroi, which also highlighted much of the Belgian capital. Mike Teunissen, the Dutch rider for Team Jumbo–Visma, won in a photo finish in Brussels, not far from the iconic Atomium, which serves as the finish spot today, also.  Teunissen beat Peter Sagan,  after much of the peloton was involved in a crash 1.5km from the finish. 

The crash included last year's  champion Geraint Thomas, whom some blamed for the crash.  Some of you will remember his statement after being crowned last year.  He was asked to say a few words from the podium, which he did, then he literally dropped the mike, in a very obvious way. Enough said.  

Today's the Tour continues with a 29 km Team Time Trial through the streets of Brussels.  

In other news, both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have advanced in the third round of the tournament at Wimbledon. 

 Nadal overcame a terrific challenge from Australian Phenom Nick Kyrgios on Thursday, in a match which quickly took on the flavor of a grudge match, with insulting words and gestures, and warnings of unsportsmanlike conduct. He handily defeated Frenchman J Tsonga yesterday, in Third Round play.  

Federer also handily triumphed over a Frenchman in yesterday's play, defeating Lucas Pouille in straight sets. 

Round of 16 play begins on Monday in the Men's Singles portion of the tournament.  The winners, of course, at Wimbledon, include all those who are able to consume the emblematic fresh strawberries, and lots of cream.  Happy viewing!  

Runners

Romain Barras, Florian Geffrouais, Nadir El Fassi

Devon Allen

Lauri Hassi

Nan Oliveras

 Ripp Baker

In the Gym

Gui Inacio

Scott Gardner

David Pereira

Alec Yoder

Alexander Naddour

Leszek Blanik

Seen in and around gymnasts... 

These floor shows are new to me.  Not the floor exercise you see in the Olympics, but razzle dazzle, with costumes and all the trimmings... 

Rexswimguy's Very Fit Henny Seroeyen

Model: Henny Seroeyen

Date of Birth: June 27, 1983 (Cancer)

Hometown: Lommel, Belgium

Height/Weight: 5'11"/165 lbs

Sunday Sport: NBA, NHL, LBL

 

While yesterday we concentrated on worldwide sport, today sports in the good old US of A catches our attention.  The NBA and NHL playoffs should provide abundant hours of viewing for even the most convinced fan.  A little European pro cycling completes the Sunday Sport picture. 

The National Basketball Association always seems to have an endless season, but now the endless playoffs have begun, framing the end in view.  Today, Eastern Conference Playoffs feature game four contests between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks, between the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards, and between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indianapolis Pacers.   

The Pacers surprised the Cavaliers in their last game.  The Cavs had an unusual streak going, of always winning when they led a game going into the fourth quarter.  The Pacers went out ahead, and managed to preserve their lead, blocking a shot in the last second.  One of the Cavs was completely open and could have made a two point shot, but the NBA is often  a combination of ego and hubris, and a three point shot was attempted and missed.  Congratulations Pacers!  

 The Western Conference is not completely neglected today, with Game Four between the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs.   Of all the games on the menu today, this is the only one which can have final consequences.  The Warriors are the only team up 3-0, and could secure their advancement with a win. 

The National Hockey Leagues is also amidst their playoffs, with a game today in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This will be game six between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers.  The Flyers lead the series 3-2, and could put away the competition with a win today.  What a shame, though, to leave behind favorite Penguin Sidney Crosby, well known to readers of this blog.  

 The NHL playoffs are less regimented than the NBA.  Some teams have already secured advancement to the second round, while others are just at the beginning of their first round playoff series.  Teams which have already secured second round spots include, in the Western Conference,  the Winnepeg Jets, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the San Jose Sharks.  In the Eastern Conference, only the Tampa Bay Lightening have definitively advanced. 

In Pro Cycling, Sunday marks the end of the Spring Classics season, with the Annual running of the Liege Bastogne Liege.  This year's Liège–Bastogne–Liège will be the 104th edition.  Run almost annually since 1892, with time out for wars, the race is nicknamed La Doyenne, and is considered one of the most challenging of the one day classics.   

The race takes place through the Ardennes, and includes terrain unseen in most of the other classics, and is long, over 250 km.  Favorites this year are Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, who has won three times before, and Frenchman Julien Alaphilippe. Allez!  Allez!  Allez!