CYCLING: Geraint Thomas has become the first person from Wales to win the Tour de France.
Twelve years after finishing 140th in his debut Tour, Thomas was standing on the Champs Elysees podium this morning as the champion of the world’s biggest bike race.
Thomas took the yellow jersey* in the first summit finish of the race — Stage 11 — and didn’t let it go. The 32-year-old finished 1min51sec ahead of Dutchman Tom Dumoulin and 2min24sec up on Sky teammate Chris Froome who finished third.
NRL: Five weeks out from the finals and the Dragons are in danger of losing their standing as the only team to have stayed in the top four all season.
St George Illawarra’s 36-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters yesterday has left coach Paul McGregor admitting “it’s a bit deflating* isn’t it”
“Every team at different stages of the year are playing their best footy and I think the Roosters right now are getting close to their best,” McGregor said.
“We were not at our best, so we paid the price.”
FORMULA 1: Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo has snatched fourth place at the Hungarian GP despite a late collision, while Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has won from front position to go into the August break with a 24-point lead over rival Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel who was runner-up, 17.1 seconds behind, also survived a late collision with Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas on a very hot afternoon at the Hungaroring outside Budapest yesterday. But it was Red Bull’s Ricciardo, starting from back in 12th position on the grid, who was the star performer as he worked his way close to the leaders with only a few laps to go.
SOCCER: In the race to sign the fastest man in history, A-League team Central Coast Mariners are facing a tough competitor from the US.
A new Texas team wants to make Bolt their star player, ahead of entering the second-tier United Soccer League competition next season.
The team has held talks with Bolt’s agent Ricky Simms for several months, offering him a long-term contract unlike the Mariners’ deal which involves a trial period.
According to Austin’s general manager Roberto Silva, “The Australian team is in a better position than we are,” primarily due to a stronger financial package offered by the Mariners.
GLOSSARY
yellow jersey: overall leader wears a yellow top
deflating: losing confidence
QUICK QUIZ
1. Which country is TDF winner Geraint Thomas from?
2. How many points did the Roosters win by?
3. In which position did Daniel Ricciardo start on the grid?
4. A team from which US state is now in the race to sign Usain Bolt as a soccer player?
VCOP ACTIVITY
After reading the article, with a partner, highlight as many wow words or ambitious pieces of vocabulary that you can find in yellow. Discuss the meanings of these words and see if you can use them orally in another sentence.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you admire Geraint Thomas for his perseverance over 11 years to win the Tour de France bike race?
No one-word answers. Explain your thinking in full sentences.
