Jacob Whitehead

Omloop Nieuwsblad: Van der Poel marks debut with dominant win, Vollering sprints to victory in women’s race Breaking down the key moments from the first cobbled race of the WorldTour season

It's the Omloop Het Niewsblad. And what does that mean? We are so back.

Mathieu van der Poel sets up battle with Tadej Pogacar after dominant win, while Demi Vollering edges the latest in a rivalry of her own...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Cycling’s suspicions about doping are rising again: ‘Questions need answering’ For cycling — probably the most scrutinised sport in the world given its history — the ghosts of the past never truly depart

Big signing for @theathletic.com. Very excited to have the dogged @cmbreports.bsky.social (his choice of adjective) writing for us during the upcoming season.

First up: why cycling’s doping ghosts appear to be rising once again:

In final Olympic race, Jessie Diggins says goodbye her way, with an all-out effort (Gift Article) Beyond her four Olympic medals, Diggins' legacy is in demonstrating to the winter sport community there is another way of excellence.

On Jessie Diggins' final Olympic race.

Undoubtedly, an athlete who left her sport in a better place than she found it, who redefined the sport's relationship with suffering, who was only ever bowing out one way.

Inside Johannes Høsflot Klæbo’s pursuit of the most dominant Winter Olympics ever (Gift Article) Before the Norwegian great won his record sixth gold at these Olympics, he sat with The Athletic for an exclusive interview.

EXCLUSIVE: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has just produced the most dominant Winter Olympic performance ever. Six golds, six events.

Two days ago before making history, the cross-country skier gave @theathletic.com access to his final preparations.

Free to read.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo wins sixth gold, most ever in a single Winter Olympics Klaebo became the winningest athlete at a single Winter Olympics, sweeping the men's cross-country golds in Italy.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo makes history. Six events. Six golds.

Victory in the 50km confirms the 29-year-old Norwegian as the greatest Winter Olympian of all time:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

What’s on an Olympic ski jumper’s mind as they sit on the bar, waiting for their turn? What runs through their mind in the moments before jumping? Spoiler: for many of them, nothing.

Below them is 100m of runway and up to 250m of air. What’s on a ski-jumper’s mind when they sit on the bar?

Nothing, mostly.

Team USA wins silver, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo claims another gold in Olympic cross-country skiing Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher won silver in the team sprint relay on Wednesday while Italy took bronze.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo continues his march towards a clean sweep of the six Olympics golds — he has just one to go after victory in the team sprint.

What a day as well for the USA — a first men's medal in this event through Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

What’s it like being your nation’s only Olympian? Multiple jobs, passport issues and vodka Some countries send teams of more than 100 athletes to the Winter Olympics. Others send one person. These are their stories.

What’s it like being your nation’s only Olympic athlete?

They’ve worked multiple jobs, received baffled looks from their countrymen, and relied on the kindness of strangers.

What is the Olympics truly about? Their stories are a key strand in the fabric.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Snowstorm brings early end, shakes up medals in Olympic ski jumping super team The decision was great for Poland, which looked to have slipped off the medal stand in the canceled final round and ended up with silver.

Final round of team ski-jumping cancelled with just three jumpers left amidst snowstorm.

Austria win deserved gold… but Poland catapulted from fifth to silver.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Thank you Richard, very kind!!

Their town was destroyed 40 years ago. Now, the Olympics have arrived (Gift Article) In 1985, a dam failed and a lethal wave consumed the Stava valley, killing 268 just a few miles from where the Olympics are now unfolding.

40 years ago, their town was destroyed by a failed dam. Clemente dug his brother from the mud. 268 died, including his father.

Now, the Olympics have arrived. The disaster's survivors see this as a rebirth — but also something more.

Free to read below.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

In Olympic debut of women’s large hill ski jumping, Anna Odine Strøm makes history The Norwegian became the first woman to win two individual ski jumping golds in the same Olympics.

In the women’s large hill debut, Anna Odine Strøm makes ski-jump history.

The Norwegian does the individual gold double at the first time of asking. Just the fourth jumper ever to complete the feat, she joins the greats.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

How Johannes Høsflot Klæbo went from ‘average Joe’ to world’s best cross-country skier An "average Joe" as a teen, Klæbo will one day retire as the best cross-country skier ever. It just took work and a little "friluftsliv."

With his ninth gold medal, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo becomes the most decorated Winter Olympian in history.

Story from when he was just an 'average Joe', throwing snowballs in frustration in the woods:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Domen Prevc, ski jumping star, delivers a signature Olympic moment and eyes history After his second gold of these Games, Prevc has a shot to tie Matti Nykänen's record of three in a single Olympics.

There’s something about an athlete being under the greatest pressure of their career and transcending it.

A piece on Domen Prevc delivering on his promise, eying history, and providing Olympic ski-jumping with a signature moment. What a thrill.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo made Olympic history: We watched it with his family Watching the Norwegian cross-country great's record-tying eighth gold medal, with his father nervously checking split times.

It was awesome to watch Johannes Høsflot Klæbo make history today, tying for the most Winter Olympic golds of all time.

What was even more of a privilege? Being invited to watch the race alongside his family.

“Who’s that?”

“That’s your son.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Johannes Klæbo wins eighth gold, ties all-time Winter Olympics record after thrilling 10km free victory Klæbo joins cross-country skiers Marit Bjørgen and Bjørn Dæhlie and biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen on the all-time list.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo wins his eighth Olympic gold in thrilling circumstances — tying the record for most Winter Olympic gold medals in history.

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

One week at the Winter Olympics: some snaps from the mountains. Honestly, a huge part of the buzz has just been how overjoyed the fans are (and the pasta).

Johannes Klaebo of Team Norway competes in Men's Sprint Classic. Headline: How Johannes Klaebo Became the World’s Best Cross-Country Skier

From @theathletic.com: Johannes Klaebo of Norway won another gold medal on Tuesday, on his quest to become the most decorated men's cross-country skiing Olympian. He is an athlete who transcends the conventional wisdom of his sport, like Alex Honnold or Shohei Ohtani. nyti.ms/4rM6RgU

Nordic combined gives out first medals at what might be its last Olympics Nordic combined crowned its first medalists on Wednesday as the fight over the sport's Olympic future rages on.

Jens Luraas Oftebro won Nordic combined gold today despite getting his ski stuck in a fence… to think we may not have this sport at the next Olympics.

Amid its uncertain future, medalists reiterate call for women to compete in 2030.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Why Slovenia, a nation of 2 million, is one of sport’s biggest overperformers From the ski jumping sensations at the Winter Olympics to Luka Dončić, Slovenia is punching above its weight with sports stars.

Tonight, Domen Prevc could follow his sister Nika and win Slovenia’s second ski-jumping medal.

Like compatriots Tadej Pogacar, Luka Doncic, Janja Garnbret, and Benjamin Sesko, they sit atop world sport.

How does the tiny nation of two million do it?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

How Johannes Høsflot Klæbo went from ‘average Joe’ to world’s best cross-country skier An "average Joe" as a teen, Klæbo will one day retire as the best cross-country skier ever. It just took work and a little "friluftsliv."

One down, five to go. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo wins gold in the men’s skiathlon, beginning his quest for an unprecedented six medals perfectly.

Spoke to his family and coaches last week to discover what made the world’s most dominant skier:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

New beat for a few weeks - in Val di Fiemme covering the Winter Olympics.

First up - a shock result in the women’s ski jumping, as 20yo phenom Nika Prevc is denied gold by Norway.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Ah thank you! Rookie error... will learn more over the next two weeks!

How Johannes Høsflot Klæbo went from ‘average Joe’ to world’s best cross-country skier (Gift Article) An "average Joe" as a teen, Klæbo will one day retire as the best cross-country skier ever. It just took work and a little "friluftsliv."

Johannes Klaebo is possibly the biggest sports star in the world that you've never heard of.

The Norwegian cross country skier is looking to sweep the medals from the sprint to skiathlon in Milan-Cortina. This is his story.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

U.S. WorldTour team EF Pro Cycling to sell naming rights as part of plan to win Tour de France The organisation aims to compete with mega-budget teams such as UAE Team Emirates, INEOS Grenadiers and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

EF are to sell their naming rights as the American squad bid to win the Tour de France.

Jonathan Vaughters: “To remain relevant in professional cycling, you need to be in that very top tier.”

Scoop from Andy McGrath for @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Russian athletes are back for the Winter Olympics, again in a stateless existence After a chaotic winter, a handful of Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed pathways to qualify for Milan Cortina.

No country for cold men? Russian and Belarusian competitors are set to compete in next month's Winter Olympics as independent neutral athletes — but they face a stateless existence.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

FIFA’s Infantino, UEFA’s Ceferin intervene to save local soccer pitch in West Bank from destruction The IDF had been scheduled to demolish the pitch this week but that has been suspended after negotiations, sources said.

UEFA spokesperson tells @theathleticfc.bsky.social: "We can confirm the UEFA President has been in contact with the IFA regarding the preservation of a football pitch in a refugee camp in the West Bank.

"We hope the pitch can continue to serve the local community."

www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

FIFA’s Infantino, UEFA’s Ceferin intervene to save local soccer pitch in West Bank from destruction The IDF had been scheduled to demolish the pitch this week but that has been suspended after negotiations, sources said.

NEW: Infantino and Ceferin personally intervene in bid to save football pitch in the West Bank from destruction by IDF.

UEFA and FIFA leaders directly petitioned Israeli FA and ambassadors. Planned demolition understood to be suspended.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

Giro D’Italia champion Simon Yates announces shock retirement from cycling Yates has called time on his career at the age of 33 and after his most successful season as a professional.

Shock news on a Wednesday afternoon. Simon Yates announces his immediate retirement from cycling.

Timing is a surprise — but on reflection, after the Colle delle Finestre, he had summitted his greatest mountaintop.

News & analysis with @oilysailor.bsky.social:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

Derek Gee-West joins Lidl-Trek on three-year deal after Israel Premier-Tech transfer saga The climber sent his previous cycling team a notice of termination due to “serious concerns from a safety and personal-belief standpoint".

Derek Gee-West has a new name and a new team. Five-month transfer saga finally at an end as the Canadian climber adds to hefty firepower at Lidl-Trek.

Gee-West previously sought to terminate his contract at Israel-Premier Tech over "personal beliefs".

www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...