Over the past 10 years, Maryam Shojaei has been arrested by Iran’s morality police, helped change FIFA policy, and watched her brother captain Iran’s national team.
Spoke to her ahead of her memoir’s publication: ‘Azadi Means Freedom’. Free to read:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...
Tom Pidcock starts the Tour of the Alps today — less than four weeks after a terrifying crash in Catalunya, in which he "lost a life".
His recovery was meant to take double that time — he spoke exclusively to @theathletic.com about his return. Free to read:
Remco Evenepoel wins Amstel Gold, setting up vintage Liège-Bastogne-Liège next week.
What a victory for Paula Blasi too, who switched to cycling from triathlon just two years ago.
The bad? Nasty crash for Matteo Jorgenson leads to collarbone fears.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...
EXCLUSIVE: Tom Pidcock is back — and will ride the Tour of the Alps this week ahead of Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
Pidcock spoke for the first time in detail about his horror 60kph crash — and took @theathletic.com inside his remarkable recovery.
Free to read:
Saudi Arabia sack Herve Renard as manager just 59 days before their World Cup opener. A lot going on behind the scenes here.
Story with Guillermo Rai:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...
Two weeks after colliding with a car on a training ride, Caja-Rural’s Jaume Guardeno remains in a critical condition on Sabadell hospital's intensive care ward.
Team say further treatments are planned for the coming days, with his condition stabilised.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...
Some thoughts on Pogacar's Paris-Roubaix. For all his bad luck, without MvdP at the front, it may have been his best shot.
This is a capricious race he cannot rely on talent & training alone to win. There are no guarantees he will be this close again.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...
Good excuse to miss the game yesterday...
A piece I always wanted to write, but never knew if I would.
Wout Van Aert wins Paris-Roubaix, finally, thanks to absent friends, the scars that came before, and a nation that never stopped believing.
Free to read:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...
Wout van Aert wins Paris-Roubaix. The greatest one-day race of the decade? Certainly the most deserved result.
Fathers cry, Belgium erupts, Van Aert finally takes a cobbled Monument. Full analysis:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...
At l’Enfer du Nord, if hell has a soul, it can be found in the clubhouse of Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix.
These volunteers painstakingly restore and replace thousands of cobblestones ahead of cycling's toughest one-day race — with the help of a few goats:
Welcome to the Hell of the North. Paris-Roubaix is this weekend - with Tadej Pogacar one race away from completing his Monument set. But, the cobbles, the mechanicals, the lack of elevation….
Full preview:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...
On Seixas. I'd been against asking him to ride the Tour de France — but today was the first time I've seriously considered changing my mind.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...
Formal investigation launched by Belgian prosecutors into two-dozen riders including Pogacar & Evenepoel after peloton runs level crossing red light at Ronde van Vlaanderen.
“Such violations are unacceptable, even in a sporting context.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...
A remarkable attack from Paul Seixas. He's not just winning WorldTour races at 19 years old — but decimating the peloton in 30 seconds at Iztulia Basque Country today.
This was how he felt at the Dauphine less than a year ago — he's now already a top three climber in the world.
What a win for 19yo Paul Seixas in the Iztulia Basque Country yesterday. He's a special one.
Also, however, a major win for Decathlon-CMA CGM's time trial team. I spent time with them at last year's Tour de France — they've gone from an underperforming TT unit to one of the best.
Demi Vollering is more afraid of standing still than taking risks.
On Sunday, the Dutchwoman finally won the Ronde van Vlaanderen. This is what it looked like from behind the scenes with FDJ-Suez — the emotion, the tactics, the doubt.
Long read for @theathleticfc.bsky.social:
Friend and foes? Tadej Pogacar says he is glad Remco Evenepoel is racing at Flanders - and says he has told Jonas Vingegaard to join them at the Classics as well.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...
In Flanders for the Ronde van Vlaanderen. For the first time in years, Pogacar, Van der Poel, Van Aert and Evenepoel will start the same one-day race.
Can anyone stop Pogacar? Can anyone, for that matter, stop Kopecky?
Full preview of men's & women's races:
Caja-Rural's Jaume Guardeno in intensive care after collision with vehicle in training. A 23yo, impressive 14th on Vuelta debut, & set to lead team at Tour de France this summer.
It's so sad — and massively frustrating — that these events are so common.
Original story here. Christie also lost his best mate to suicide after suffering head injuries.
Spoke to their families about the answers that exist, and whether they're being introduced quickly enough.
Former rugby union player and brain injury activist Shane Christie posthumously diagnosed with CTE after taking his own life in August 2025.
His former partner says it means “his life was vindicated” — but that it was time “we listen and change”.
Graham Potter described it as an out of body experience.
Viktor Gyokeres’ last-minute winner sent Sweden to the World Cup - igniting a proud but underperforming footballing nation.
Report from a feverish Stockholm.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...
Original investigation from December 2024 here. Lack of marshals and fact that a tracking system had not been implemented both raised as issues:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/600...
New: Muriel Furrer investigation rules there will be no criminal charges into 18yo cyclist's death — but admits that 85 minutes passed before she was discovered.
Still major questions for organisers to answer. Family remain "particularly concerned".
www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...
Max Verstappen admits he is considering retirement. Stepping away at his peak? Read Borg, Luck, and Barry John.
He has lived like a professional driver since before he even reached his teenage years. Sometimes it is easier to empathise than understand.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...
Ha, no way!
Mathieu van der Poel is usually majesty made manifest on the bike.
He was pushed to the ragged edge of his form as he somehow won a thrilling edition of E3.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...
Good news from Italy as Debora Silvestri released from hospital.
She suffered a terrifying crash at Milan-Sanremo six days ago which left her needing respiratory assistance to treat severe chest trauma.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...
Exclusive: Russia have used chess as propaganda for decades — but a landmark CAS decision, released earlier today, challenges their claimed sovereignty over Ukraine.
Russia must either stop organising chess in its occupied territories — or be banned from the sport they hold dearest.