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☆ All Blacks tweak team with one change for World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

All Blacks coach Ian Foster changed his lock combination again with Brodie Retallick restored to the lineup and Sam Whitelock returning to the list of replacements in the only change to the starting team. New Zealand believe the 35-year-old Whitelock, playing his third World Cup final, is most effective coming off the bench, and could bring an injection of energy at a time when South Africa are refreshing their forwards. Six of New Zealand's matchday squad for the game are previous World Cup winners and the 23-man team has a collective total of 1,387 caps, making it the most experienced All Blacks squad for any of their record five World Cup finals appearances. "We've woken up this week to find ourselves in a World Cup final and we've worked to deal with all the distractions. They (South Africa) are great at their style, we want to be great at ours," added Foster.

Persons: Zealand's Brodie Retallick, Paul Childs, Ian Foster, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Whitelock, Retallick, Scott Barrett, Barrett, Nepo Lualua, Fletcher Newell, Foster, Sam Cane, We've, we've, Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Shannon Frizell, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Nepo Laulala, Dalton Papalii, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Groupama, REUTERS, Blacks, Kiwis, Saturday’s Rugby, South, Springboks, Ireland, Argentina, New, Foster . New Zealand, Brown, Thomson Locations: Zealand, Italy, Lyon, France, South Africa, MALMAISON, Foster . New

☆ American Kuss crowned Vuelta champion, Groves wins in Madrid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The 29-year-old ended 17 seconds ahead of Denmark's Tour de France winner Vingegaard with Slovenia's Giro d'Italia winner Roglic one minute and eight seconds behind in third place. There was a celebratory mood amongst the Dutch team on the 101km 21st stage that concluded on a street circuit around the landmarks of Madrid. But the battle for the stage victory was a high-octane thriller as a small lead group featuring Groves and Remco Evenepoel was caught by the peloton in the final 500m. While Kuss celebrated the overall victory, Groves secured the green jersey for the points category -- the first Australian to achieve that in the Vuelta. When Kuss took the red jersey from Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) on stage eight, most thought he was just keeping it warm for either Vingegaard or Roglic.

Persons: Jumbo –, Sepp Kuss, Jumbo – Visma's Jonas Vingegaard, Australian Kaden Groves, Kuss, Jonas Vingegaard, Chris Horner's, Vingegaard, Groves, Remco Evenepoel, Filippo Ganna, Germany's Nico Denz, Lenny Martinez, Marc Reef, Sepp, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Espana, Australian, de, Ineos, Giro, de France, Eurosport, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, MADRID, Espana, Bora, Australian, Evenepoel

☆ Vingegaard wins Vuelta stage 13 on terrible day for Evenepoel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sept 8 (Reuters) - Jonas Vingegaard tamed the Tourmalet to win stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana, on a dramatic day which saw last year's winner Remco Evenepoel's challenge wither in the Pyrenees on Friday. The relentless climbing and downhill racing took its toll on many, including last year's winner Evenepoel, who now finds himself out of contention. Any early attacks had all been reeled in by a Jumbo-Visma team looking to control the race. With the five-man group left to battle behind Vingegaard, it was Kuss who attacked in the final kilometre to close the gap. Saturday's stage 14 is another mountain stage, a 156.5 kilometre ride from Sauveterre-de-Bearn to Larra-Belagua.

Persons: Jonas Vingegaard, Remco, du Tourmalet, Evenepoel, Sepp Kuss, Primoz, Vingegaard, I'm, Kuss, d'Aubisque, Joao Almeida, Marc Soler, Juan Ayuso, Almeida, Robert Gesink, Wilco Kelderman, Lenny Martinez, Michael Storer, Enric Mas, Roglic, Visma, Dane, Trevor Stynes, Christian Radnedge, Toby Davis Organizations: UAE Team Emirates, de France, la, Belgian, Thomson Locations: Espana, Pyrenees, Formigal, Roglic, American, Vingegaard, Sauveterre, Bearn, Larra

☆ Frenchman Soupe surprise winner of Vuelta stage seven
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Geoffrey Soupe came out on top in the predicted sprint finish to win a crash-ridden stage seven of the Vuelta a Espana on Friday. "I didn't think it was possible to win a stage because it's really, really, really fast in the sprint," Soupe said. "Yet today it's really nervous in the final (sprint), we have a lot of roundabouts, a lot of wind also. Groves, winner of stages four and five, managed to win the intermediate sprint to maintain his grip on the Green jersey. An earlier crash saw Geraint Thomas and Kim Heiduk of Ineos Grenadiers involved, with the Welshman needing treatment before returning to the bunch.

Persons: Geoffrey Soupe, Aular, Edward Theuns, Kaden Groves, it's, Soupe, Sepp Kuss, Thymen Arensman, Oliva, Ander Okamika, Jose Herrada, Herrada, Okamika, Groves, Frenchman Lenny Martinez, Marc Soler, Geraint Thomas, Kim Heiduk, Trevor Stynes, Ken Ferris Organizations: Ineos Grenadiers, Thomson Locations: Utiel, Burgos, Denia, Xorret

☆ United States and Netherlands face off in repeat of 2019 final
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Soccer Football - Women's World Cup Final - United States v Netherlands - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - July 7, 2019 Lindsey Horan, Alex Morgan and Allie Long of the U.S. celebrate winning the Women's World Cup with their medals REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File PhotoAUCKLAND, July 27 (Reuters) - The United States and the Netherlands will renew their rivalry in the Women's World Cup when they meet in their second group stage encounter on Thursday, four years after the Americans triumphed over the Oranje in the final to win a fourth crown. "Their experience may be an advantage or people may look at it as an advantage. But the unknowns and unpredictability that comes with our squad could be an advantage," Andonovski said. Portugal play Vietnam in the other Group E encounter which gives the two World Cup debutants their best chance to register a first win. "It's how the rest of the squad bounces back and performs in a high-pressure situation in the biggest games."

Persons: Lindsey Horan, Alex Morgan, Allie Long, Denis Balibouse, Vivianne Miedema, Vlatko Andonovski, Andonovski, They're, Rose Lavelle, Andries Jonker, Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Aivi Luik, Steph Catley, Rohith Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Soccer, Groupama, REUTERS, Oranje, Australia, Thomson Locations: States, Netherlands, Lyon, France, AUCKLAND, United States, Wellington, Portugal, Vietnam, Nigeria, Bengaluru

☆ Vingegaard poised for Tour de France title as Pogacar wins stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LE MARKSTEIN, France, July 22 (Reuters) - Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark was set to win his second Tour de France title after keeping a close tab on his main rival and 20th stage winner Tadej Pogacar in the final mountain ride of the race on Saturday. Overall, Jumbo-Visma rider Vingegaard leads Pogacar by seven minutes and 29 seconds with his United Arab Emirates team mate, Briton Adam Yates, in third position, 10:56 off the pace. Pogacar attacked on the last climb of the day, the Col du Platzerwazel (7.1km at 8.4%), and was followed by Vingegaard and Gall. Enormously popular local boy Pinot, riding his last Tour on his training roads with thousands of fans gathered with flags, beers and flares to support him one last time. Pinot went solo on the ascent to the Petit Ballon, riding as stage leader through a sea of roaring fans like a man possessed.

Persons: MARKSTEIN, Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar, Pogacar, Austrian Felix Gall, Vingegaard, Briton Adam Yates, Giulio Ciccone, Belgian Jasper Philipsen, du Platzerwazel, Gall, Thibaut, Warren Barguil, Tom Pidcock, Yates, Simon, Adam, Pinot, Petit Ballon, Julien Pretot, Andrew Cawthorne, Hugh Lawson Organizations: de France, United Arab Emirates, Lombardia, Thomson Locations: France, Denmark, Belfort, Austrian, Belgian, Paris

TUA Assicurazioni, a non-life company founded in 2003, is valued at around 300 million euros ($335 million), according to the sources. Two sources mentioned German insurance heavyweight Allianz (ALVG.DE), fellow German insurer Talanx (TLXGn.DE) and France's Groupama as potential bidders. One of them also named Italy's Itas as one of up to five parties that could bid in the second round. Talanx has expressed interest in ICCREA's non-life business and is competing with Swiss Helvetia Group (HELN.S), Groupama and Italian cooperative insurer Assimoco. ($1 = 0.8946 euros)Additional reporting by Gianluca Semarero in Milan, writing by Keith Weir Editing by Keith Weir and Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: TUA, TUA Assicurazioni, Italy's, ICCREA, Talanx, Rothschild, Mediobanca, Groupama, Gianluca Semarero, Keith Weir, Louise Heavens Organizations: Generali, Cattolica, Allianz, Swiss Helvetia Group, Itas, Thomson Locations: MILAN, Generali, Mediobanca, Talanx, Milan

☆ US players taking nothing for granted against 'wildcard' Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Americans are seeking an unprecedented third consecutive title in Australia and New Zealand and, on paper, are in a totally different league to tournament debutants Vietnam, who are ranked 32nd in the world. "We've got to get through this game before we even consider talking about the second game," said Dunn. U.S. forward Lynn Williams said they would need to be prepared for "a different style of play". "Vietnam is a little bit of a wildcard," she told reporters. Reporting by Amy Tennery in Auckland; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ashlyn Harris, Crystal Dunn, Denis Balibouse, We've, Dunn, Lynn Williams, It's, Amy Tennery, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer, Groupama, United, Vietnam, Thomson Locations: States, Netherlands, Lyon, France, AUCKLAND, United States, Eden, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Auckland

☆ Experience gap no hurdle to World Cup ambitions, say US players
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Americans are pursuing an unprecedented third consecutive title with Sullivan among 14 World Cup first-timers, nearly twice as many as in the U.S. team that competed in 2015. But veteran defender O'Hara believes experience on the World Cup stage does not necessarily translate to impact on the field and pointed to Sullivan, who was sharing the stage with her at a news conference on Tuesday, as a prime example. "Andy is bringing something very different than I was bringing as a player in my first World Cup," said O'Hara, who is competing in her fourth. Rapinoe, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2019, announced recently that this would be her last World Cup. The United States open against Vietnam on Saturday.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, Denis Balibouse, Kelley O'Hara, Andi Sullivan, Sullivan, O'Hara, Andy, that's, Alex Morgan, Alyssa Naeher, Julie Ertz, Rapinoe, Alyssa Thompson, they're, Amy Tennery, Nathan Frandino, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Soccer, Groupama, REUTERS, United, U.S ., Vietnam, Thomson Locations: States, Netherlands, Lyon, France, AUCKLAND, United States, New Zealand, Auckland

☆ Mix of calm and concern as cycling's Tour heads into riot-hit France
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After a start in Bilbao, Spain, the Tour heads to France on Monday with visits to Bayonne, Dax, Pau and Bordeaux during the week. Foreign team members have confessed not knowing much about the situation in France, arguing they are in a 'bubble' on the Tour de France. Tour de France organisers say they are ready to adjust to any situation. "I don't really have any comment on it, that's one for the authorities who are working very hard," Rod Ellingworth, the racing director of the Ineos-Grenadiers team, told Reuters. "The organisers did not even mention it at the team meeting (before the start of the race).

Persons: Prudhomme, Rod Ellingworth, Philippe Mauduit, Adrien Petit, Julien Pretot, Christian Radnedge Organizations: SEBASTIAN, Tour de, Tour de France, de France, State, Grenadiers, Reuters, Citroen, Thomson Locations: Spain, Bilbao, France, Bayonne, Dax, Pau, Bordeaux, North

MILAN, April 26 (Reuters) - Italian unlisted cooperative banking group ICCREA is awaiting by the end of May offers for its insurance business which it values at up to 950 million euros ($1.05 billion) in total, sources with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. ICCREA bought out its partner Cattolica, an Italian insurer now owned by bigger peer Generali (GASI.MI), after their accord expired at the end of last year and was not renewed, the three sources said. Cattolica and ICCREA had agreed in 2019 to extend until the end of 2022 their partnership under a deal that saw Cattolica raise to 70% its ownership of their insurance joint-ventures BCC Vita and BCC Assicurazioni. Now in possession of 100% of its insurance business, ICCREA is working with adviser KPMG to select new partners for both its life- and non-life divisions, the sources said. ICCREA Director General Mauro Pastore said in February the bank expected to select one or more partners for its insurance business by the end of the year.

☆ Marseille go second as Gusto own goal deals bitter blow to Lyon
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, April 23 (Reuters) - A last-gasp own goal by Malo Gusto earned Olympique de Marseille a 2-1 win at Olympique Lyonnais and lifted them back up to second in Ligue 1 with six games left on Sunday. Alexandre Lacazette netted after the break to cancel out Cengiz Under's first-half opener for Marseille, only for Gusto to deflect a poor clearance into his own net two minutes into stoppage time. After a series of half chances for both sides in a lively start, Marseille went ahead one minute before the interval when Under slotted the ball home after Alexis Sanchez's attempt was parried into his path by Anthony Lopes. Lyon, however, hit back in the 68th minute with Lacazette latching onto a cross from Corentin Tolisso to score his 20th league goal of the season to delight the Groupama Stadium crowd. They were eventually rewarded when Gusto got in the way of Johann Lepenant's attempt to clear Issa Kabore's cross, as Marseille claimed their first away win against Lyon in all competitions since 2007.

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