Five things to know from what happened in the world of sport last week. September 29-October 5, 2020.
- Disabled. Too much happened in Horse Racing. Enable (ENG) was not able to take a historic third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Frankie Dettori (ITA). They only managed a 6th place. The race was dominated by French horses including the winner, Sottsass, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. Aidan O’Brien had initially retired other-favorite Love (IRL) due to changing weather conditions and then his four other entries (Mogul, Japan, Serpentine and Sovereign), after they were found positive to a banned substance, presumably for contaminated food (BBC). Also in Longchamp, One Master (ENG) became the first triple winner of the Group 1 Prix de la Forêt, all under Pierre-Charles Boudot (FRA). In America, Luis Sáez (PAN) mounted three Grade I winners, at the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, and the Darley Alcibiades Stakes. In Japan,
Gran Alegria (JAP) won the Sprinters Stakes, a third Grade I title. In New Zealand, Melody Belle (NZL) won the Windsor Park Plate and took her 11th Group 1 victory, second of all-time for a New Zealander horse. The Preakness Stakes had an upset winner in Swiss Skydiver (USA), mounted by Robby Albarado (USA), who had not won a major race in three years. This was the sixth win for a filly and the second fastest time in Preakness ever, in the current distance. The Beyer Speed was 105. Not among the best ever, but fast. (DRF).
- Upset. Another upset in Europe was that Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) was defeated for the first time since 2013, having been defeated by Shura Kitata (ETH) in the London Marathon, which was held in St. James Park and only with elite athletes. Kipchoge said he suffered of cramps and a blocked ear. The women’s race was comfortable won by World-Record holder Brigid Kosgei (KEN). World Champion Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) was defeated by Sara Hall (USA) on the last sprint for second place. Brent Lakatos (CAN) and Nikita Den Boer (NED) won the wheelchair races. Track legend, Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), pulled out of racing in the last moment due to an injury (AllAfrica).
- Two-peat. That was the case for Nick Catsburg (NED), who had won the 24 Hours of Nurburgring last week and now won the Intercontinental GT Challenge’s inaugural Indianapolis 8 Hours, with Augusto Farfus (BRA) Connor De Philippi (USA). BMW took that overall victory and also the GT4 class win, with Bill Auberlen (USA), Chandler Hull (USA) and James Clay (USA). The GT World Challenge America race within the race (3 Hours in) was won by George Kurtz (USA) and Colin Braun (USA), followed by Martín Fuentes (MEX) -who clinched the Pro-Am Championship- and Alessandro Balzan (ITA). Trent Hindman and Shelby Blackstock (USA) were third and took the SIlver Championship. In IndyCar it was also a two-peat, as Penske took both races, also in Indianapolis, with Will Power (AUS) and Josef Newgarden (USA), respectively. Read ESPN’s report
- Don’t celebrate before winning. Newly-crowned World Champion Julian Alaphilipe (FRA) threw away the Liège-Bastogne-Liège (World Tour) Classic win by celebrating before crossing the line and being passed by Primož Roglič (SLO). The Frenchman was demoted to fifth due to a dangerous move on the final sprint, anyway. Lizzie Deignan (ENG) took the women’s race, and Mathieu van der Poel (NED) rode to an impressive 6th 24 hours after having won the BinckBank (World Tour) with a solo 50 kilometer run. Marc Hirschi (SUI) took the men’s Flèche Wallone. The Giro D’Italia has started and favorites Geraint Thomas (ENG) and Adam Yates (ENG) are virtually out of contention after a poor stage 3 concluding in Mount Etna – read (Cyclingnews).
- Good news on the dirt. The FIM Flat Track World Championship started after the long break but things are as familiar as always: Francesco Cecchini (ITA) won. He has not been beaten on FIM competitions since 2016. In Speedway, Max Fricke (AUS) took his first win on race 1 in Torun as Bartosz Zmarzlik (POL) took the World Championship and race 2. In Superbike, Jonathan Rea (NIR) won two of three races but Scott Redding (ENG) took race 3 in Magny-Cours, France, to make sure the World Championship goes to the wire in Estoril, Portugal. In Motocross, Antonio Cairoli won a Grand Prix race for a 78th time but Tim Gajser (SLO) took the Grand Prix of Europe. Meanwhile, Arminas Jasikonis (LIT) was woken up from his coma and was able to talk in Lithuanian and English, and was without pain, after his accident last week. (Cycle News)
