![]() "They played at Wembley without him and they gave a very good account of themselves," he said. The Bayern Munich man was injured when Poland lost 2-1 at Wembley in March but is fit and firing for this latest encounter between Group I's top two teams.īut while acknowledging Lewandowski's quality in front of goal, Southgate insists there is more to Poland than just one player, as Paulo Sousa's men showed in the reverse fixture six months ago. He has scored in all six matches he has played for club and country, and netted 10 times in total to strengthen his status as arguably the finest striker on the planet. Picking up from where he left off in 2020-21, when setting a new record for the most goals ever scored in a single Bundesliga campaign (41), the prolific striker has been in fine form this term. ![]() Lewandowski scored three times across Poland's victories over Albania and San Marino last week to make it 72 goals for his country in 124 caps. ‘Perhaps a teammate that can act as a relay after the first two climbs.England cannot just focus on Robert Lewandowski in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier with Poland, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has warned his players. ‘We’re hoping to have a breakaway,’ Maire says before the riders roll out. The day will see the riders tackling three Category 1 climbs over 127km, starting with the Petit Ballon, straight onto the Col du Platzerwasel before the final 13.5km slog aptly named the Grand Ballon. Stage 7 from Sélestat to Le Markstein Fellering is the first of back-to-back mountain stages that will round off the 2022 Tour de France Femmes and settle the fight for the general classification. Everyone on the side of the road keeps cheering for us.’ The big push ‘Losing Marta back on Stage 2 was disappointing, but Cecilie winning has been such good motivation for us to keep fighting. ‘I’m learning as a rider.’ she says afterwards. She digs deep to crest the Côte de Boersch summit first, earning mountain points and the combativity award.ĭespite her courageous efforts and the shouts of encouragement over the radio, Le Net is reabsorbed into the peloton with 5km remaining, but the day is not quite a write-off for the team as Guazzini sprints to sixth place, her third top ten finish. Le Net finds herself ahead of the race, riding with two Brits, Anna Henderson and Joss Lowden, before eventually dropping both on the final ascent of the day. Her DS’s words ringing in her ears, Brown grits her teeth and splits the peloton in a monstrous display of acceleration. With Uttrup Ludwig and Muzic in tenth and 12th place respectively, aggression from the rest of team is key now, says Maire, adding that ‘Uttrup Ludwig and Muzic don’t have so much freedom due to their GC positions, but Grace Brown and Marie Le Net do’. ![]() The Dutch rider looks imperious, but can it last? Chief aggressorsĪ hilly Stage 6 sees four energy-sapping climbs condensed into 129km of riding into Rosheim. Wiebes claims her second stage win, while Vos takes the third podium step and retains the yellow jersey for a fourth consecutive day. A huge crash with 45km to go sees Movistar’s Emma Norsgaard abandon, and though FDJ’s riders emerge unscathed, it’s all Guazzini can do to manage tenth in a hotly contested sprint. The team and its French fans are of course delighted, but the next day, Stage 5, is altogether more forgettable. We will see what this week brings, but for sure it will mean good things for women’s cycling.’ ‘The Tour is the biggest event in the world and the fact we finally get to have one is unbelievable. ‘I think it’s a new start,’ says FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope’s green jersey hope Vittoria Guazzini. Yes, in years past there have been women’s stage races in France, but not since 1989 has there been an official women’s Tour de France – that is, one backed by Tour organiser ASO. Tomorrow, 144 riders will line up in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower for the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes, 33 years after women’s cycling last had its own Grand Boucle. ‘It’s a dream come true.’Īnd what a long dream it has been. ‘We’ve been waiting for this for so long,’ says FDJ’s Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, her anticipation visible despite the Covid mask covering half her face. It’s Saturday afternoon and teams pile into the Théâtre Luxembourg the room is alive with chatter, the gathered throng a mass of excited energy.
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