Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Monday 15 July 2019

From left, silver medalist Haley Anderson of the United
States, gold medalist Xin Xin of China, and bronze medalist
Rachele Bruni of Italy stand on the podium after the
women’s 10km open water swim at the World Swimming
Championships in Yeosu, South Korea, Sunday, July 14,
South Africa’s Daryl Impey celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the ninth stage of the Tour 2019.
de France cycling race over 170.5 kilometers (105.94 miles) with start in Saint Etienne and finish in Associated Press
Brioude, France, Sunday, July 14, 2019.
Associated Press Xin wins 10-kilometer
After a Tour on TV, Pinot open water swim at

now looms large in the picture world championships

By JOHN LEICESTER before the start of Stage overall title to build up the GWANGJU, South Korea Olympics, with Xin and
AP Sports Writer 9, a hilly trek through the biggest lead of any break- (AP) — Xin Xin of China Anderson surging ahead
BRIOUDE, France (AP) — Massif Central mountains away this year, as they won the women’s 10-ki- in the final 20 meters to
Like a lost love, the Tour de won by South African Daryl raced off far ahead for the lometer open water claim top spots on the
France gains in value for Impey, while Pinot and all stage win. Thomas is still fifth event Sunday, lifting Chi- podium.
riders who can’t race in it. the other top racers took overall, 72 seconds behind na to its fourth gold med- American Ashley Twichell
That was the lesson Thibaut it easy behind, saving their Alaphilippe and 19 sec- al of the world swimming finished seventh to join
Pinot learned last year strength. onds behind Pinot. championships. Anderson in qualifying
when the French rider, Pinot excelled with the Most striking about Pinot is Xin finished in a time of for Tokyo, as did reigning
who’d fallen sick at the Giro Groupama-FDJ squad in his seeming serenity. Since one hour, 54 minutes, Olympic champion Sha-
d’Italia in May, then missed the Stage 2 team time trial, a podium finish in 2014, 47:20 seconds. The 22- ron Van Rouwendaal of
the Tour and watched on losing just 12 seconds to de- he has sometimes looked year old, who finished the Netherlands who fin-
TV as others wrote history at fending champion Geraint as lost as a deer in head- fourth in the same event ished tenth.
cycling’s showcase race. Thomas and his teammates lights under the pressure of at the Rio Olympics, is “It was always my goal to
“It was no fun,” he recalls. “I at Ineos. That performance French hopes. This year, he now guaranteed a spot be on the podium here,
realized how important the raised French hopes that trained at altitude in Febru- at next year’s Olympics it wasn’t just about finish-
Tour is for a French rider.” Pinot might also be able to ary and is enjoying having in Tokyo. ing in the top 10 today,”
This year, he’s making also limit damage in the in- Alaphilippe around to soak Haley Anderson of the said Anderson, who
amends. With the race dividual time trial, upcom- up French attention as the U.S. took silver, 0.90 sec- won silver at the London
shifting its attention to the ing on Stage 13 and where race leader. Alaphilippe onds behind, and Italy’s Olympics in 2012.
toughest climbs to come in former track specialist knows his days in yellow are Rachele Bruni finished “I am really excited
the Pyrenees and Alps, Pi- Thomas should excel. numbered. Not a climber third to take bronze, 1.80 about how I finished, not
not is not only lighting up TV “Thomas will take back like Pinot, he’s expecting seconds behind Ander- just where I finished. This
screens but also is most def- time,” Pinot said. But it is to suffer on the Tourmalet son. is a great set up for me
initely in the picture among anyone’s guess as to which climb to be scaled on “My goal before this for the Olympics next
top pretenders for overall of them will get the upper Stage 14 in the Pyrenees. competition was to qual- summer.”
victory in Paris on July 28. hand on the climbs. On It “is going to be terrible for ify for the Olympics,” said On Saturday, Kristof Ra-
With no Tour winner for Stage 6, the first mountain everyone,” he said. “The Xia, who will compete in sovszky of Hungary won
French fans to cheer for stage, Thomas couldn’t se- rankings will change a lot.” her third Olympics at To- the men’s 5-kilometer
since Bernard Hinault in riously distance Pinot, who Understandable, then, that kyo. “I believe that I can open water event to
1985, Pinot is third overall rode in just two seconds Thomas, Pinot and others race better and better in claim the first medal
and heads into the Tour’s behind him. eyeing the podium in Paris the future.” of the world swimming
second week looking like On Stage 8, it was Pinot opted for a go-slow on “My strategy today was championships, before
France’s most credible who gained time, surging Sunday’s 170.5 kilometers to relax and save energy China completed a
contender in years. ahead with Alaphilippe (106 miles) of undulating in the first half, and to sweep of all three diving
Unlike Julian Alaphilippe, and frustrating Thomas, hills peppered with three keep clear in the mind events on the opening
the punchy, exciting yellow- who crashed and couldn’t just climbs of note be- and also to keep the day.
jersey wearer from France catch back up with them. tween the former coal min- confidence in myself.” Other open water races
who wowed in week one The gap between them ing center of Saint-Etienne In a frantic finish a large include a 5-kilometer
but who is dreading the didn’t change on Sunday’s and the agricultural town pack of swimmers jostled team relay on Thursday
high-altitude ascents, Pinot Stage 9. Top contenders of Brioude. Such days are for a top-ten placing and men’s and women’s
is looking forward to them. took a breather, allowing tailored for other riders not which would earn quali- races over 25 kilometers
“That’s where I get the most Impey and 14 other riders chasing the overall title to fication for next year’s next Friday.q
pleasure,” he said Sunday who aren’t threats for the shine.q