Demi Vollering sprinted to victory on a dramatically shortened penultimate stage of the women’s Giro d’Italia on Saturday after an avalanche threat forced organisers to move the finish line.

The eighth stage was originally scheduled to conclude with a gruelling summit finish in Sestriere.

However, race officials reduced the route by 28 kilometres as an unstable slab of ice threatened to fall onto the course in the Italian Alps.

Road crews had already been forced to clear debris from an earlier avalanche shortly before the peloton passed through the region.

Avalanche threat forces hasty finish

The finish line was hastily relocated to one kilometre below the Colle delle Finestre.

In a tightly contested four-way sprint, the 29-year-old FDJ United-Suez rider edged out Isabella Holmgren, Antonia Niedermaier and overall race leader Anna van der Breggen.

This success marks the second stage victory of the current tour for the Dutch pre-race favourite.

“It was strange because the Finestre was suddenly the final climb. It was the weirdest finish line of my life, but I’m very happy to take the win.”

Van der Breggen defends pink jersey

Despite missing out on the stage win, Van der Breggen successfully retained the coveted maglia rosa heading into Sunday’s finale.

The four-time Giro winner now holds a slender 49-second advantage over her compatriot at the top of the general classification.

The 145km final stage will take the riders around Saluzzo at the foot of the Alps.

“We hoped that we could get closer to the maglia rosa today. Tomorrow’s stage is not as hard as today’s, but we will make a plan and think about how to try to win the Giro.”

Stage eight results

General classification

Iraq forward Aymen Hussein was held and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after arriving for the 2026 World Cup.

The 30-year-old was eventually permitted to enter the United States on Saturday morning, but the national team’s photographer was turned away.

An Iraqi sporting official confirmed that mobile devices were inspected during the prolonged border checks.

“National team photographer Talal Salah was held for more than 10 hours, underwent similar phone checks, and was ultimately denied entry into the United States.”

A formal statement from the Middle Eastern nation regarding the incident has not yet been released.

Visa issues disrupt tournament preparations

The airport delay highlights broader logistical and diplomatic challenges facing participating nations just days before the global tournament begins.

Stringent travel policies have already forced Iran to relocate their planned training camp from Arizona to Mexico.

South Africa recently convened an emergency meeting after members of their delegation were denied Mexican visas, while Swiss forward Breel Embolo has also been blocked from entering the US.

Crucial figure for returning nation

The talismanic attacker is a vital asset for his country, currently ranking as their fifth all-time leading goalscorer.

He secured his place in national folklore by netting the decisive goal that booked their spot at the upcoming finals.

The Lions of Mesopotamia are preparing to make their first appearance on football’s biggest stage since their tournament debut 40 years ago.

A dedicated group of supporters had gathered at the Chicago terminal in the early hours to welcome the squad before the lengthy detentions began.

Group stage challenges await

The squad must now refocus their efforts ahead of their opening Group I fixture against Norway in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on 16 June.

Demanding encounters against reigning world champions France and Senegal will follow in the preliminary stage.

Tottenham Hotspur have opened negotiations with Bayern Munich to sign midfielder Joao Palhinha on a permanent deal following his successful loan spell in north London.

The Portugal international has prioritised a stay in the Premier League despite already agreeing personal terms over a return to former club Sporting CP.

Spurs opted against triggering a £25.9m purchase clause but are now hoping to agree a reduced fee with the German giants.

The Bavarian club are highly motivated to offload the 30-year-old permanently during the current transfer window.

De Zerbi drives ambitious rebuild

Manager Roberto De Zerbi is eager to retain the combative midfielder after he played a crucial role in avoiding relegation last season.

He is one of the best.

Roberto De Zerbi

The experienced anchor scored several vital goals during his temporary stint, including a dramatic final-day winner against Everton to secure top-flight safety.

Wider squad overhaul expected

Securing the Portuguese star would continue an aggressive summer of recruitment for the north London outfit.

Agreements are already in place to sign Liverpool defender Andy Robertson on a free transfer alongside Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi.

Significant outgoings are also anticipated, with key defensive figures such as Cristian Romero and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario expected to depart.

The club hierarchy are acutely aware they must act swiftly to finalise the midfield addition before rival suitors attempt to hijack the negotiations.

Serena Williams will make her return to professional tennis alongside teenager Victoria Mboko against third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in the first round of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club next week.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is making a highly anticipated comeback to the professional game at the age of 44.

Her opening assignment in London pairs the American great with her young Canadian partner against a formidable seeded duo.

This tournament marks the beginning of a newly scheduled grass-court swing for the returning sporting icon.

Raducanu and Boulter form British duo

Elsewhere in the draw, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu will feature in both the singles and doubles competitions.

The British player has been drawn against a qualifier in her opening singles match and avoids top seed Elena Rybakina’s half of the draw.

She will also team up with compatriot Katie Boulter for a high-profile home partnership in the doubles event.

The home pair are scheduled to face Storm Hunter and Shuai Zhang in their first-round grass-court encounter.

Building match fitness for the summer

The legendary American has also added the Berlin Tennis Open to her upcoming schedule as she builds crucial match fitness.

Fans and pundits will be watching closely to see how the veteran handles the physical demands of the tour following her initial retirement.

Her performance at Queen’s will serve as a vital indicator of her readiness for the rigorous grass-court season ahead.

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward has reiterated his commitment to the franchise following the blockbuster trade of defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams.

Ward, who now becomes the longest-tenured player on the roster, addressed his future during a celebrity softball game in Ohio on Saturday.

The 29-year-old insisted he has no desire to leave Cleveland despite the sudden departure of a key defensive pillar.

“I definitely still want to be here,” said the five-time Pro Bowler.

Adjusting to life without Garrett

The Browns sent their star pass-rusher to Los Angeles on Monday in a massive exchange involving Jared Verse and three future draft picks.

Garrett’s exit prompted immediate speculation regarding a wider defensive rebuild.

However, the former fourth overall pick remains resolute in his determination to deliver success for his home state.

“Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren’t lost,” Ward added.

“It’s Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we’re going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city.”

Front office backs star defender

Cleveland management has also moved swiftly to quash any lingering trade rumours surrounding their premier defensive back.

General manager Andrew Berry confirmed on Tuesday that the organisation has no intention of moving the Ohio native.

“[Ward is] a big part of the team, and we like him a lot,” Berry stated.

“He’s still playing at a really high level. That doesn’t change with this transaction.”

Contractual situation moving forward

Ward originally signed a five-year extension worth $100m (£79m) back in April 2022.

While he has two years remaining on that lucrative agreement, there is no guaranteed salary left on the deal.

Despite this financial uncertainty, the veteran cornerback appears fully focused on leading the Cleveland secondary into a new era.

“Crazy trade, definitely a crazy trade,” Ward reflected regarding the roster changes.

“I believe that either you’re with us or against us, and as you see, he’s not with us. Crazy trade, but hey, that’s the nature of this game.”

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu will miss Saturday’s WNBA matchup against the Indiana Fever after experiencing a flare-up of back soreness following team practice.

The franchise star had participated in Friday’s training session, which marked the first time this season the New York roster was fully available.

However, Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco confirmed the dynamic playmaker felt significant discomfort shortly after leaving the court.

Frustrating start to the WNBA season

This latest setback prolongs a highly disruptive start to the campaign for the American international.

A preseason ankle injury previously forced her to sit out the first five contests of the current schedule.

She has managed just one appearance so far this year, taking to the court against the Dallas Wings on 24 May where the back issue originated.

“After the game I played in, it was pretty evident that I needed to get the treatment. Take some time to make sure it feels good.”

Ionescu explained to reporters regarding her cautious approach to the ongoing recovery.

“See how I feel, taking every day in stride and see how it responds to what I do. It is what it is, I haven’t really tried to think too much into it.”

Rookie Astier steps up for New York

In her absence, rookie prospect Pauline Astier has been drafted into the starting lineup with consistently impressive results.

The first-year professional has capitalised on the opportunity, averaging 11.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game.

DeMarco remains optimistic about his primary ball-handler’s return timeline as the team prepares to travel.

“She wants to be out there, and she’s trying her best and she’s getting better. Hopefully we’ll have her on a road trip.”

New York currently holds a 6-4 record as they look to conclude a seven-game homestand against an Indiana outfit sitting at 5-4.

Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Brayden McNabb is a major doubt for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final after taking a puck to the face during an overtime defeat by the Carolina Hurricanes.

The veteran blue-liner was struck around the visor by an 87mph shot from Nik Ehlers during Game 2, forcing him to drop to the ice.

He was subsequently taken to a local hospital for evaluation as Carolina secured a 4-3 victory to level the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Tortorella tight-lipped on fitness

Vegas head coach John Tortorella refused to provide a medical update on his player ahead of the crucial third encounter.

Shea Theodore, who normally partners the injured defenceman, confirmed he saw his team-mate at the practice facility on Saturday morning but declined to elaborate on his condition.

“All year, we’ve battled. We’ve had guys come out, we’ve had guys come in,” said Theodore.
“We have guys that are capable of doing it and it’s just a matter of that now is the time.”

Korczak poised to step in

Should the Knights be forced into a change, Kaedan Korczak appears the most likely candidate to enter the lineup.

The 6ft 3in reserve skated briefly before leaving the ice early during practice, heavily hinting at a potential promotion.

Korczak has made 12 postseason appearances for Vegas this year, most recently featuring in the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche.

Alternatively, a defensive reshuffle could see Dylan Coghlan reunited with Theodore on the back end.

That specific pairing has proven impenetrable during the current playoffs, successfully keeping opponents off the scoreboard during their 37 minutes of shared ice time.

“He’s a pretty amazing player,” said Coghlan of Theodore.
“I think anybody that goes in there would play well with him.”

Exeter Chiefs secured a Premiership play-off semi-final against Bath after beating Saracens 32-12 to bring down the curtain on Mark McCall’s long reign.

The decisive victory elevates the Devon outfit to third place in the final league standings.

Rob Baxter’s side leapfrog Leicester Tigers, who drop to fourth, setting up a crucial knockout clash at the Recreation Ground next weekend.

Capitalising on indiscipline

A tense opening half initially favoured the visitors, with Tobias Elliott scoring an early try to silence the home crowd.

Henry Slade responded with a penalty to keep the deficit narrow before Rotimi Segun had a potential try disallowed for the Londoners.

The match’s turning point arrived deep into first-half stoppage time when visiting scrum-half Charlie Bracken was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.

The hosts immediately punished the indiscretion as Max Norey crashed over from a cleverly worked lineout to snatch a slender half-time lead.

Chiefs dominate the second half

Still exploiting their numerical advantage after the interval, the 31-year-old Slade finished off a sweeping break to score his team’s second try.

The England international quickly added another penalty to firmly establish control of the scoreboard.

Italian lock Andrea Zambonin secured the result with 16 minutes remaining, guaranteeing his team’s first post-season appearance since 2021.

While Nick Isiekwe managed a late consolation score for the visitors, Stephen Varney crossed moments later to earn a stylish bonus-point victory.

The end of an era

The final whistle confirmed the exit of long-serving boss McCall, ending one of the most successful managerial eras in English rugby.

He leaves behind a complex legacy after previously guiding the club through massive and unprecedented off-field turbulence.

The unity we showed during the salary scandal remains my proudest time.

There was to be no fairy-tale departure for the Northern Irishman as his traditional rivals marched confidently towards another title tilt.