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Wildlife face 'catastrophic' losses as France's forests burn

Some 42,000 hectares (103,000 acres) of forest west of Bordeaux has burned since Wednesday and authorities fear a heatwave forecast this week could breath fresh fury into the blaze.

Homes, farmland and vehicles have been incinerated in Gironde but wildlife has suffered "extremely significant losses" too, said France's ecology minister Monique Barbut on Monday.

It is too early to determine a precise toll "but it is clear that the figures will be catastrophic", Barbut warned.

In hard-hit co...

What are 'fire clouds', the ominous phenomenon seen in France?

Known as "fire clouds" or pyrocumulonimbus clouds, these ominous-looking thunderstorms are created by extreme wildfires and can exacerbate already extremely dangerous conditions.

This phenomenon, which is new to France, is yet another consequence of human-caused climate change, according to French researcher Jean-Baptiste Filippi, who studies wildfires.

As firefighters in southwest France struggle to bring a forest inferno under control before yet another heatwave descends on the country, ...

'Fresh' Evenepoel answers Tour de France questions

The 26-year-old Belgian has become the world's best time-triallist since bursting onto the professional scene as a precocious teenager in 2019.

He also enjoyed early success in week-long stage races and punchy one-day classics.

But despite winning the 2022 Vuelta a Espana, and finishing third at the Tour in 2024, many experts felt that Evenepoel lacked the climbing endurance to be a consistent challenger to the very best at the Tour de France.

Having won two stages and finished second ove...

France, Spain race to contain 'monster' fires ahead of new heatwave

The fires tearing through forests in southwest France, around the prized wine-making region of Bordeaux, and in central Spain around the capital Madrid have been some of the worst in decades and have hit at the height of the summer holiday season.

More than 325,000 people have fled their homes in the face of the blazes feeding on forests left super-dry by successive heatwaves and lack of rain since May.

"Everyone had to get out of the village quickly -- it was a critical situation and peo...

Del Toro, Seixas show glimpse into Tour de France future

After a close contest which begun right from the Grand Depart in Barcelona, Mexican Isaac Del Toro, 22, edged 19-year-old French prodigy Paul Seixas both to third place and the white jersey.

Pogacar may go on dominating the sport for many more years, but at the very least he is likely to face some stiffer opposition as younger rivals mature and progress.

Del Toro -- a close friend and team-mate of Pogacar's -- eventually finished just over two minutes ahead of Seixas but that gap belied ho...

How does Pogacar compare to other five-time Tour de France winners

The 27-year-old Slovenian made history on Sunday by joining an elite band of four other riders to have won the Grande Boucle five times.

So how does Pogacar compare to Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain?

Until Pogacar came along, there were few people involved in cycling who did not proclaim Merckx as the best ever.

Anquetil, Hinault and Indurain are much admired, but few would have claimed any of them were as great as Merckx.

When it comes to Pogacar, tha...

Pogacar wins record-equalling fifth Tour de France

Two-time world champion Pogacar joined Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the most successful riders in Tour history.

Pogacar had all but secured his historic title during the previous two mountain stages that finished on the iconic Alpe d'Huez climb.

The 27-year-old Slovenian won five stages and had been in yellow since his victory in the Pyrenean sixth stage.

He now has 26 stage victories in total, putting him fourth in the all-time list behind only Ma...

Pogacar wins record-equalling fifth Tour de France

Two-time world champion Pogacar joined Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the most successful riders in Tour history.

Pogacar had all but secured his historic title during the previous two mountain stages that finished on the iconic Alpe d'Huez climb.

The 27-year-old Slovenian won five stages and had been in yellow since his victory in the Pyrenean sixth stage.

He now has 26 stage victories in total, putting him fourth in the all-time list behind only Ma...

Wildfires overwhelm exhausted firefighters in France and Spain

France's southwestern city of Bordeaux, at the heart of a region of vineyards, was under threat, with a major highway and train lines cut.

In Spain more villages in the fire zone raging west of Madrid were emptied during the night -- and a new front opened near the coastal city of Valencia.

France was faced with "a historic situation", Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said late Saturday.

The fire in the southwest and resulting evacuation operation now rank among the biggest seen since W...

France fire situation 'remains very unfavourable': interior minister

"Another difficult night on the wildfire front," Nunez said on X. "The situation remains very unfavourable," he said, stressing the situation in the southwestern department of Gironde where Bordeaux is located was particularly difficult.

"In Gironde, the fire became extremely intense and unpredictable again at the start of the night, generating its own winds and advancing erratically toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area," Nunez said.

By the end of the night, the fire had become calmer, h...

'Amazing' Pogacar-Del Toro friendship lights up Tour de France

The UAE Emirates-XRG team-mates then raised their index fingers either side of their racing helmets to replicate Del Toro's signature "bull's horns" celebration.

Del Toro had spent most of the last three weeks helping Pogacar to the brink of a record-equalling fifth Tour crown, and the Slovenian had just returned the favour to ensure the Mexican will finish the race on Sunday in third place overall and with the best young rider's white jersey.

"It really was an epic day, because what Tadej...

Pogacar set to win Tour de France, Carapaz claims Queen stage

With Sunday's 21st and final stage of the 113th edition of the Tour likely to be the usual procession around Paris, Pogacar will need only to cross the finish line to secure a fifth Tour title in seven years.

"Let's arrive in Paris and then we can celebrate this yellow jersey," said Pogacar.

The 27-year-old Slovenian will join cycling greats Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the only riders to have won the sport's greatest race five times.

But Pogacar w...

Pogacar set to win Tour de France, Carapaz claims Queen stage

With Sunday's 21st and final stage of the 113th edition of the Tour likely to be the usual procession around Paris, Pogacar will need only to cross the finish line to secure a fifth Tour title in seven years.

The 27-year-old Slovenian will join cycling greats Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the only riders to have won the sport's greatest race five times.

But Pogacar is the youngest to have done so.

He crossed the finishing line on Saturday in fourth,...

Pogacar lauds team spirit after 'rough' Tour de France days

Illness had been spreading through the UAE camp since the beginning of the week, with Adam Yates suffering particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday, Tim Wellens complaining of feeling ill, Florian Vermeersch saying he was carrying an injury, and Brandon McNulty pulling out of the race on Thursday with flu-like symptoms.

And yet, once again, world champion Pogacar did the business when it mattered most.

"Adam was really, really bad. In the TT (time-trial) day he was white like a wall, and then...

Pogacar breaks Alpe d'Huez record to extend Tour de France lead

Having launched his attack with 12km left, the reigning champion finally caught Richard Carapaz and Lenny Martinez inside the final two kilometres.

He then surged clear with 800m left and in doing so broke late Italian Marco Pantani's 31-year-old record for the Alpe d'Huez ascent.

"It's very cool to win up here -- it was a crazy atmosphere," said Pogacar.

"It was thanks to all the team that I could pull it off in the end.

"I was riding for the team-mates today and it was a great victory...

Pogacar extends Tour de France lead with Alpe d'Huez win

Having launched his attack with 12km left, the reigning champion finally caught Richard Carapaz and Lenny Martinez inside the final two kilometres and then dropped them with just 800m left.

It was a fifth stage victory this year for the 27-year-old Slovenian and a 26th in total since his Tour debut in 2020.

And, incredibly, it was Pogacar's first stage victory on Alpe d'Huez -- a remarkable statistic for a man who has dominated cycling for the last six years.

Martinez trailed home six sec...

Tens of thousands in France flee burning holiday haven, by road and sea

"It's a disaster, it's horrible," Jean Goncalves told AFP early Friday morning, a T-shirt tied around his face.

The 54-year-old, who has lived in Lege-Cap-Ferret for 30 years, fled his home after watching his neighbour's wooden house catch fire.

The streets were deserted, metal shutters drawn and houses closed up, as wildfires drove residents and tourists away during the peak summer season.

"There's not a soul around," Cecile Maumy said the the Cap-Ferret ferry terminal. "It feels like th...

Hundreds flee French peninsula by boat to escape wildfire

Boats have ferried more than 400 people so far from the Cap Ferret peninsula that stretches along France's Atlantic coast west of the city of Bordeaux, city authorities said.

The fire raging near one of France's prized wine regions has so far devoured an area roughly one and a half the size of Manhattan, and is just one of several blazes raging in the country in the middle of the summer vacation season.

French authorities have ordered thousands of tourists on the southwestern Atlantic coas...

Is 'superstar' Pogacar's Tour de France domination boring?

Former three-time world champion Peter Sagan said as much earlier this year, coming from a man who won a record seven green jerseys at the Tour.

The same such accusations were laid against Spaniard Miguel Indurain when he won the Grande Boucle five times in a row from 1991-95, or Briton Chris Froome when he won four out of five between 2013 and 2017.

They were 27 and 28 respectively when they won their first Tours.

In cycling terms, Pogacar should only now be starting to reach his peak ye...

Carapaz claims Tour de France stage as Pogacar loses key team-mate

Former Giro d'Italia winner Carapaz attacked his five breakaway companions with just over three kilometres to ride and cruised to his second Tour stage victory, with Swiss Mauro Schmid beating American Matteo Jorgenson to second place.

Pogacar finished safely alongside his main rivals around four-and-a-half minutes later but he was counting the cost of a couple of damaging days as Brandon McNulty was forced to pull out.

That came just a day after another team-mate, Adam Yates, struggled ho...

Carapaz climbs unopposed to Tour de France 18th stage win

The former Giro d'Italia winner attacked his breakaway companions with just over three kilometres to ride and cruised to his second Tour stage victory, with Swiss Mauro Schmid beating American Matteo Jorgenson to second place.

Carapaz also closed in on the polkadot jersey for the King of the Mountains competition -- which he won in 2024 when he earned his first stage win.

Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre came close to stripping race leader Tadej Pogacar of the polkadot jersey, but fell one...

Wildfires ravage parts of southern France, Italy and Spain

Temperatures topped 40C and gusts of hot wind fanned the flames in the southern Italian island, where wildfires have been raging for several days.

Some 6,000 firefighters, forest guards and civil protection officials were deployed to battle the flames with the help of water-bombing aircraft, the head of the region, Renato Schifani, said, adding that 50 fires were still raging.

Scientists agree that climate change caused by humans burning fossil fuels is making extreme weather events such a...

Philipsen snaps 'horrible' drought with Tour de France stage 17 victory

Set up by a strong lead-out from team-mate Mathieu van der Poel, Philipsen surged several bike lengths clear of Mauro Schmid and Olav Kooij, who had each already won a stage at the Tour.

This was an 11th Tour stage victory overall for the 28-year-old Belgian, who won the sprinters' green points jersey in 2023.

It meant that he has won at least one stage in each of the last five editions of the Tour.

He had come close on several other sprint stages this year, finishing five times in the to...

Philipsen wins Tour de France 17th stage

Set up by a strong lead-out from his former world champion team-mate Mathieu van der Poel, Philipsen finished several bike lengths ahead of Mauro Schmid and Olav Kooij, who had each already won a stage at the Tour.

It was an 11th Tour stage victory overall for the 28-year-old Belgian, who won the sprinters' green points jersey in 2023.

He had come close on several other sprint stages at the Tour, finishing five times in the top five already.

The 50 points he earned for winning the stage a...

Designing a Tour de France route: a three-year labour of love

Work on each year's Tour route begins three years ahead of time, when Tour director Christian Prudhomme settles on the city that will host the Grand Depart for that edition.

After that, he decides which direction the race will set off in, and starts to pick the departure and arrival towns for each of the 21 stages from a list of 300 candidates -- including 50 foreign ones.

Several factors go into that decision-making process.

"If we only took sporting issues into consideration, every year...

France reintroduces 'bee-harming pesticides', environment minister to quit

"In my mind, I have no other option than to present my resignation," Monique Barbut told aides, adding she intended to submit it to President Emmanuel Macron by early Wednesday.

Proponents say French sugar beet, apple and hazelnut farmers need the insecticides -- forbidden in France since 2018 and 2019 respectively -- to help them compete with their European counterparts. The pesticides, acetamiprid and flupyradifurone, are allowed in the European Union.

Opponents argue they are dangerous ...

Lipowitz breaks collarbone in Tour de France crash

Lipowitz, who was third at the Tour last year, was sitting fifth overall ahead of Tuesday's 26.1km time-trial along the shores of Lake Geneva.

Although not a time-trial specialist, the 25-year-old was putting in an impressive performance before he crashed on a corner around 6km from the finish.

"After his outstanding performances and the many memorable moments he delivered over the past two weeks, this marks a bitter and far too early end to his 2026 Tour de France," Red Bull said in a sta...

Pogacar fired up by losing twice to Evenepoel at Tour de France

There was no surprise the Slovenian lost to the world and Olympic time-trial champion in a race against the clock, but Tuesday's stage 16 defeat came two days after the Belgian surprisingly beat Pogacar on a mountain-top finish.

With three mountain stages left in the 113th edition of the Grande Boucle, including two that finish on the iconic Alpe d'Huez, Pogacar said he wanted to restore the Tour's hierarchy.

"Obviously, I always race to win and today I'm not going to lie, I really wanted ...

Evenepoel wins 'special' Tour de France individual time-trial

Belgian Evenepoel, 26, blasted over the stage 16 course along the shores of Lake Geneva 28 seconds quicker than reigning champion Pogacar in second.

Everyone else finished more than a minute back, with Dane Mattias Skjelmose taking third at 1min 04sec on the course from Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains in the French Alps.

That performance by the world and Olympic time-trial champion -- on Belgium's national holiday -- cut four-time Tour winner Pogacar's overall lead to 4min 32sec.

"It'...

Evenepoel wins Tour de France individual time-trial

Belgian Evenepoel, 26, blasted over the stage 16 course along the shores of Lake Geneva 28 seconds quicker than reigning champion Pogacar in second.

Everyone else finished more than a minute back, with Dane Mattias Skjelmose taking third at 1min 04sec.

That performance by the world and Olympic time-trial champion -- on Belgium's national holiday -- cut four-time Tour winner Pogacar's overall lead to 4min 32sec.

It was Evenepoel's second successive stage victory after he triumphed on Sunda...

Tour de France hit by new wave of anti-doping tests

However, unlike those on Sunday targeting Tour leader Tadej Pogacar and former champion Jonas Vingegaard, these did not happen in the middle of the night.

Pogacar and Evenepoel had beeen amongst a number of riders to blast the night-time controls carried out by the International Testing Agency (ITA) as "inhumane" or disrespectful.

Evenepoel's Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, the Decathlon CMA CGM team of French teenage sensation Paul Seixas and French outfit Groupama-FDJ United were amongst the te...

French lawmakers expected to approve social media ban for under-15s

Parliamentarians from the upper and lower houses reached a compromise on the bill's text on Monday, paving the way for a vote on its final adoption, which is expected to pass despite criticism from parties on the left.

"Tomorrow, France will become the first country in Europe to introduce a digital age limit to better protect our children online," French Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff said on X.

President Emmanuel Macron has championed the law as a flagship reform of his final term in ...

Unnatural physique turns Evenepoel into a Tour de France contender

The accepted wisdom has long been that Tour contenders need to tackle one of June's week-long stage races to prepare -- either the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes or the Tour of Switzerland.

Instead, Evenepoel dedicated himself to training for the Tour, particularly the punishing mountain stages.

On the start line in Barcelona two weeks ago, a leaner, meaner Evenepoel showed up.

Previously, he had a weakness compared to the best climbers on longer ascents, or when mountain passes came one after...

Judge approved night-time Tour de France doping tests

The International Testing Agency (ITA) petitioned the "Paris judge specialising in liberty and detention matters ... to authorise the anti-doping tests that took place overnight between July 18 and 19," the prosecutor's office stated.

Both race leader Pogacar and Vingegaard -- the two men who have dominated the Tour for the last six years -- were visited overnight from Saturday to Sunday just hours before a crucial mountain stage.

Professional riders and anti-doping testers were at loggerh...

Vingegaard to undergo collarbone surgery after Tour de France crash

The 29-year-old Dane, who was sitting second overall, went down hard on a bend as his Visma-Lease a Bike team were setting a fierce pace to chase down the day's breakaway.

"Jonas sustained a fractured collarbone and multiple abrasions," his team said in a statement.

"Due to the severity of the collarbone fracture, surgical intervention has been recommended and will be performed in the coming days.

"Join us in wishing Jonas a smooth recovery."

Vingegaard was visibly in pain following the ...

Tour de France rivals Pogacar, Vingegaard given night-time doping controls

French newspaper Le Parisien had said that both four-time winner Pogacar and two-time former champion Vingegaard, were targeted by International Testing Agency (ITA) officials at their hotels during the night.

"I got four hours of sleep today. Not (at) 2:00 am in the morning, because they were (there at) 5:00 in the morning," he said before the start of Sunday's 15th stage from Champagnole in the Jura to Plateau de Solaison in the Alps when asked about the report.

"But I always go to sleep...

Wembanyama to make France team return after two years away

Wembanyama has been named in the squad for the first two matches of the main qualifying round for the 2027 World Cup, which will take place at the end of August against Slovenia and then Sweden.

Wembanyama will also take part in two warm-up matches against Serbia one week before the qualifiers.

The 22-year-old had been forced to withdraw from Euro 2025, having not fully recovered from the venous thrombosis in his right shoulder that brought his 2024/25 season to a premature end.

French n...

Teenage talent Seixas delighted after 'marvellously tough' Tour de France stage

Seixas has been in the top 10 overall since the opening stage in Barcelona two weeks ago, but he has gradually snared a few seconds here and there from his rivals for a podium finish in Paris.

And on Saturday, his third place finish on the mountainous 155km stage from Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering allowed him to leapfrog Juan Ayuso into fourth, and snatch the best young rider's white jersey from the Spanish 23-year-old.

"It's incredible, it was marvellously tough, another very diffic...

Pogacar wins Tour de France 14th stage to extend overall lead

It was the world champion's fourth stage win in this 113th edition of the Grande Boucle as his team-mate Isaac Del Toro pipped teenager Paul Seixas to second place, with Vingegaard fourth at the end of the 155km stage from Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering.

Four-time winner Pogacar had already stamped his authority on this Tour in the previous mountain stages but once again he emphasised his superiority with another devastating late attack.

This was his 25th Tour stage victory in total si...

Jones says Japan making 'good progress' despite France defeat

Japan were outclassed by the Six Nations champions but showed flashes of their talent, scoring first-half tries through Kippei Ishida and Sojiro Otsuka.

The result meant Japan finished their first three Nations Championship matches with one win and two defeats, having beaten Italy in Tokyo and lost to Ireland in Newcastle, Australia.

Jones said playing France had been "a great lesson for us".

"We're working through how we can be the most effective attacking team, and that's a work in prog...

Galthie hails France 'energy and commitment' after Japan rout

France scored six tries against a gritty Japan who were ultimately outclassed by the Six Nations champions.

France finished their three July Tests with wins over Australia and Japan after a narrow defeat to New Zealand.

Galthie said his players "responded so well" to the long journeys for the Tests, which came at the end of a long and tiring season.

"Everything went smoothly, and above all the energy and commitment of the players were magnificent," he said.

"They were rewarded with the w...

France cruise past Japan 42-15 in Nations Championship

France scored six tries against a Japan side that never gave in but were ultimately outclassed by the Six Nations champions.

The result meant France finished their three games with wins over Australia and Japan and a loss to New Zealand, while Japan beat Italy and lost to both Ireland and France.

"We know the World Cup is a year away and we had that in our minds," said France captain Maxime Lucu.

"We've played three big matches against southern hemisphere teams and we have three more in N...

Deschamps set for bittersweet ending to France reign as Zidane waits

Waiting in the wings is Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps' former teammate and one of the all-time great French players.

Deschamps, 57, had been determined to sign off by leading Les Bleus to a third World Cup triumph after a glittering career as a player and coach.

France justified their billing as favourites for the 2026 tournament with a series of swaggering attacking displays but came unstuck against Spain in the semi-finals.

The painful 2-0 reverse in Arlington, Texas, denied them the chanc...

No tears as Deschamps prepares for final France match

The 57-year-old coach has enjoyed a successful reign, winning the World Cup in 2018 and reaching the final in Qatar four years ago, having also won it as a player in 1998.

His talented team were favourites to win a third World Cup for France at the 2026 tournament but lost 2-0 to European champions Spain in the semi-finals.

That means Les Bleus will face England in Miami on Saturday after the Three Lions lost to defending champions Argentina.

"I know that the final curtain falls tomorrow...

Swiss rider Schmid cramps up but wins Tour de France stage 13

Briton Tom Pidcock, who finished third two seconds back, was the big winner of the day as he climbed up the standings from 10th to fourth overall.

The Olympic mountain bike champion is now just 4min 15sec behind race leader Tadej Pogacar, and nine seconds off Remco Evenepoel in the final podium spot.

Jayco AlUla's Schmid and Astana's Tejada had broken clear of a 10-man group at the head of the race with 16km to ride and they held off their charging former breakaway companions to contest th...

France, Germany plan 'roadmap' to tackle China trade imbalances

The European Union is grappling with how to deal with China's growing flood of exports, which critics say are supported by generous states subsidies, as well as an allegedly undervalued currency that makes its products cheaper.

The bloc has been struggling to come up with a clear position, with France long pushing for a tougher approach while Germany -- whose businesses are more heavily invested in China -- has traditionally taken a more cautious posture.

Speaking at a joint press conferen...

Swiss rider Schmid wins Tour de France stage 13

Briton Tom Pidcock, who finished third two seconds back, was the big winner of the day as he climbed up the standings from 10th at the start of the day to fourth overall.

The Olympic mountain bike champion is now just 4min 15sec behind race leader Tadej Pogacar, and nine seconds off Remco Evenepoel in the final podium spot.

Jayco AlUla's Schmid and Astana's Tejada had broken clear of a 10-man group at the head of the race with 16km to ride and they held off their charging former breakaway ...

Merlier claims hat-trick of Tour de France stage wins

The Soudal-Quick Step rider edged out Dutchman Olav Kooij and fellow Belgian Jasper Philipsen to claim his third stage win of this year's Tour, and sixth overall.

And he said this win was a bit more special because his partner Cameron and three-year-old son Jules were at the finish line to watch him.

"It gave me some motivation," said Merlier, who brought his son with him to the winner's podium.

"He's still young, but maybe he's going to remember this one later on also. We can show it lat...

Merlier claims hat-trick of Tour de France stage wins

The Soudal-Quick Step rider edged out Dutchman Olav Kooij and fellow Belgian Jasper Philipsen to claim his third stage win of this year's Tour, and sixth overall.

It was yet another disorganised sprint made even worse when Colombian Fernando Gaviria hit the deck, bringing down several other riders, including the stage 11 winner Soren Waerenskjold.

Alpecin Premier Tech once again tried to set up Philipsen for the victory but Merlier, as he had done twice before in this 113th edition of the ...

French PM pledges deeper ties on Morocco visit

But the high-level visit came as a media consortium published fresh reports that Morocco used the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to target French officials when tensions were high between the nations, after allegations first emerged in 2021.

During his visit, Lecornu praised the diplomatic advances Paris and Rabat achieved since President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco's sovereignty claim over the disputed Western Sahara in 2024.

Lecornu described the two countries' ties as being at a "turni...

Rosenior ready for Paris FC challenge after 'learning lessons' at Chelsea

Rosenior, 42, took over at Chelsea in January but oversaw just 23 matches before being sacked in April by the Premier League giants.

"We joined the club in the middle of a season and a difficult moment, and I have many lessons I've learned," Rosenior told reporters at his first press conference since being named PFC boss.

"There are things that I definitely could have done better and things I could have taken accountability for but there are also good things in what we did as well."

Howev...

France overhaul front row to face Japan in Nations Championship

France blew Australia away 42-26 last week in the Nations Championship in Brisbane but Galthie has shaken up his pack for Saturday's game, bringing in Regis Montagne, Maxime Lamothe and Jefferson Poirot.

Alexandre Roumat replaces the injured Oscar Jegou in the back row in the only other change to the starting line-up, with scrum-half Paul Graou in line to make his debut from the bench.

Galthie said there were two reasons for the revamped front row.

"The first is that we're not completely ...

Waerenskjold wins fastest ever Tour de France stage

Dutchman Olav Kooij, who won the fifth stage, took second at the end of the 161km 11th stage from Vichy to Nevers with Belgian Jasper Philipsen third.

At an average speed of 50.91kph, it was the fastest ever road stage in the 113 editions of the Tour.

"It means everything, it's my biggest win so far," said the 26-year-old who was second in the seventh stage to Bordeaux and last year won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad one-day classic.

"When I came here, I knew that there are two or three guys ...

Waerenskjold wins fastest ever Tour de France stage

Dutchman Olav Kooij took second ahead of Belgian Jasper Philipsen at the end of the 161km 11th stage from Vichy to Nevers.

At an average speed of 50.91kph, it was the fastest ever road stage in the 113 editions of the Tour.

Once again, there was a fairly disjointed sprint finish with none of the teams able to organise a sprint train to set up their fast man.

Kooij's lead-out rider Cees Bol launched off the front as the main sprinters hesitated, but Waerenskjold was the first to chase afte...

Deschamps says France 'devastated' by defeat, questions referee

Deschamps' free-flowing French team had dazzled the competition en route to the last four, rattling in 16 goals in six games to earn comparisons to some of the greatest teams in World Cup history.

But France's dreams of a third World Cup title were left in tatters after a dominant Spanish performance that left Deschamps, who is stepping down after the tournament, struggling for answers.

"Of course, there is a lot of disappointment," Deschamps said immediately after the defeat at the AT&T S...

Pogacar inspired by Djokovic after Tour de France jeers

Pogacar stormed to another dominant stage victory on France's Bastille Day national holiday to extend his overall lead to more than three and a half minutes.

It was his 24th stage win since his debut Tour in 2020 and leaves the four-time overall winner with his largest ever lead at this stage of the three-week race.

But he faced some boos on the mountainous roads around the central Cantal region.

"Haters gonna hate, it's always like this, even though (in) cycling (there) is not as much as...

Pogacar wins Tour de France 10th stage on Bastille Day

World champion Pogacar won his third stage at this year's Tour -- and for the third time on Bastille Day -- to extend his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to more than three and a half minutes.

It is the largest gap Pogacar has ever had over his rivals at this stage of the race.

It was also the four-time champion's 24th stage victory at the Tour, moving him to within one win of Frenchman Andre Leducq -- who twice won the Tour in the 1930s -- in fourth in that list.

And even some jeers from the ...

Pogacar wins Tour de France 10th stage on Bastille Day

World champion Pogacar won his third stage at this year's Tour -- and for the third time on Bastille Day -- to extend his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to more than three and a half minutes.

It was also the four-time champion's 24th stage victory at the Tour, moving him to within one win of Frenchman Andre Leducq -- who twice won the Tour in the 1930s -- in fourth in that list.

The reigning champion attacked 15.5km from the finish of the 166.6km stage in the Cantal mountains and quickly opene...

Fire ravages historic forest outside Paris

The sprawling Fontainebleau forest some 60 kilometres (40 miles) southeast of the capital, is a former royal hunting ground now hugely popular with hikers and a magnet for climbers who come from around the world to tackle its famous boulders.

The fires that erupted Sunday have now scorched some 2,050 hectares (5,000 acres) -- an area roughly three times the size of Gibraltar, firefighters said on Tuesday.

With some 850 firefighters battling the flames with the help of specialised Canadair ...

Birthday boy Yamal stands by 'no fear' comment ahead of France clash

The Barcelona prodigy raised eyebrows following Spain's 2-1 quarter-final defeat of Belgium last week after being quoted as saying that France rather than Spain ought to be "afraid" given recent defeats against La Roja.

A relaxed-looking Yamal addressed those comments as he spoke to reporters on Monday at a press conference.

"I was asked if I was afraid of France, and I said no," Yamal explained. "We are European champions. It's simply football," the teenager explained.

Yamal said he had ...

Mbappe paradox stirs club v country debate as France face Spain

It is one of the puzzling paradoxes of this World Cup: France captain Mbappe is shining as brightly as ever for Les Bleus ahead of Tuesday's semi-final against Spain in Dallas.

Mbappe's superb form in the United States comes just weeks after ending a mixed second season at Real Madrid that combined individual brilliance with collective failure.

Real Madrid have won not a major trophy in the two years since Mbappe signed for the club in 2024.

Yet the Spanish giants have just set a new tou...

Commander of Ukraine's French-trained brigade arrested in murder probe

It is the latest scandal to hit the unit, which was supposed to be a flagship fighting force and symbol of French support for Ukraine, but has been rocked by mass desertions, low morale and equipment shortages since it was formed in 2024.

The arrest was revealed as Zelensky landed in Paris for a meeting with European backers on pressuring Russia to end the war and delivering air defence systems to Kyiv.

Ukrainian police say the unit's commander, Stanislav Luchanov, is implicated in the ki...

Only 'superstars' win Tour de France stages: French champ

Gregoire, who is a punchy racer but not a pure climber, won the French title a week before the Tour began in what had been the 23-year-old's best season to date, including top four finishes in major one-day classics such as Strade Bianche and the Amstel Gold race.

But he wilted under the intense heat and breakneck pace of the Tour's opening week and already finds himself an hour and a quarter down on race leader Tadej Pogacar in 60th place.

He finished Thursday's Pyrenean mountain stage in...

Planes fight fire in Fontainebleau forest near Paris

The fire erupted Sunday in the sprawling Fontainebleau forest, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) southeast of the capital, a onetime royal hunting preserve that today is dotted with quiet villages. It quickly spread disrupting rail and road traffic.

The rare forest fire in the north of the country had raced across 800 hectares (2,000 acres) -- an area larger than Gibraltar -- by early Monday.

"I have never seen this before" in three decades, Didier Buguinet, a deputy mayor in Le Vaudoue, said...

French yachtswoman set to break new barriers in Route du Rhum

"I'm going to be the first woman to race in the Ultim class at the Route du Rhum," the 46-year-old told a video press conference on Thursday.

The Ultim class —- an elite fleet of giant multihulls established in 2018 —- comprises the world's fastest trimarans, measuring 32 metres in length and 23 metres in width.

In January, Barrier achieved the first non-stop round-the-world voyage in a maxi-trimaran with an all-female crew.

For her latest challenge, Barrier will set off solo aboard 'Id...

Tour de France yellow jersey protocol: 90 minutes of 'stress'

But for the third year running, Pogacar lost the jersey the very next day.

In 2024 and 2025 he would take it back and claim overall victory on the Champs Elysees, and this year he remains the overwhelming favourite to win a record-equalling fifth Tour crown.

But the questions begs: why did the world champion and his UAE Emirates-XRG team not work harder to try to keep hold of the jersey, instead rolling over the finish line in Foix on Tuesday 13 minutes behind the stage winner Mads Pederse...

Playmaker Jalibert moves to fullback as France swing axe for Australia clash

The Six Nations champions meet the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday, still smarting from an agonising 34-32 loss to New Zealand in Christchurch last week.

Galthie swung the axe and intriguingly moved Bordeaux magician Jalibert into a position he has never played for France before. Romain Ntamack will occupy his fly-half role instead.

But there are injury concerns over Jalibert who missed training sessions this week with a calf niggle.

"He'll have a full test tomorrow during the captain'...

Fly-half Meredith to make Australia debut against France

The 27-year-old ACT Brumbies playmaker was called into the Australia squad for the first time before the Nations Championship opener against Ireland last week.

He failed to make the Wallabies bench, but now finds himself as the leading No.10 for Saturday's encounter, with Gordon and Donaldson, who both played last week, sidelined by calf strains.

Gordon will also miss the July 18 clash with Italy. The long-term prognosis for Donaldson, who fluffed two crucial late penalties in their demora...

Lidl-Trek celebrate 'perfect' day at Tour de France

Pedersen led home a Lidl-Trek one-two with US champion Quinn Simmons finishing second, while Vacek finished 10th having been part of the same breakaway group which contested the stage victory.

Those results were enough to also move Pedersen into the green points jersey, while Vacek took the lead in the young rider's white jersey competition.

"Everything was so perfect today, it couldn't be better," said the 24-year-old after the 182km run from Carcassonne to Foix in scorching heat in south...

Nordic joy as Traeen takes yellow, Pedersen wins Tour de France 4th stage

Traeen stripped reigning champion Tadej Pogacar of the jersey just two days after Norway stunned five-time winners Brazil at the World Cup thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland.

"Football is pretty big and I've seen how they are rowing in front of the castle and everything... it's a big public party and we're obviously doing pretty well," Traeen said about the football team's success.

"So all I'm dreaming about now is to have a Norway jersey with my name on the back so I can wear it for th...

Traeen takes yellow, Pedersen wins Tour de France 4th stage

Traeen stripped reigning champion Tadej Pogacar of the jersey just two days after Norway stunned five-time winners Brazil at the World Cup thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland.

Pedersen, who was world champion in 2019, stormed to victory in a sprint finish ahead of Lidl-Trek team-mate Quinn Simmons in second with Spaniard Raul Garcia taking third at the end of the 182km stage from Carcassonne to Foix in scorching temperatures which topped 40C at one point.

It was Pedersen's third stage vi...

Bomb attacks wound 18 in Damascus as Macron visits

The president was not inside the hotel when the blasts hit, having already left for Syria's presidential palace, where an AFP team saw him arrive for a meeting with counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa.

AFP journalists heard at least one blast echo through Damascus before seeing a plume of smoke rising near the Four Seasons Hotel, with security forces closing a road and ambulances rushing to the scene.

Syria's interior ministry said one bomb had been placed inside a car parked on the side of a road...

Paris FC confirm Rosenior taking over as coach

"The English manager has signed a contract with the club until June 2028 and will take up his post on Thursday 9 July, when team training resumes," said a club statement.

Rosenior replaces Antoine Kombouare, who joined the Parisian side, owned by the LVMH luxury group, in February and steered them clear of the relegation battle to finish 11th, with notable wins over Monaco and champions Paris Saint-Germain.

"Following this season and after discussions between all parties involved, it was d...

France's Le Pen faces pivotal ruling in race for president

A lower court last year sentenced Le Pen, 57, to a five-year ban from public office and two years in prison over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament.

If the appeals court upholds that ruling, it will be a devastating blow to the three-time presidential candidate's hopes to replace outgoing centrist President Emmanuel Macron.

The decision, expected to be read out from 1:30 pm (1130 GMT), could also find her guilty but include a shorter ban from public office and some form of house a...

Paraguay govt slams lawmaker for racially abusing France's Mbappe

"The remarks made by Senator Celeste Amarilla, directed at the captain of the French national team, Kylian Mbappe, are contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity, which our country promotes," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"They in no way represent the position of the government of the Republic of Paraguay or the Paraguayan people," the ministry added.

Amarilla, a member of the leading opposition Liberal Party, called Mb...

Macron in Syria on first post-Assad visit by West European head of state

Macron, who will depart on Tuesday, will advocate for "a free, pluralist Syria that respects each of its components" and plays a role in moderating Middle East tensions, the French presidency told journalists ahead of the visit.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed Macron upon arrival, according to an AFP journalist.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been rebooting Syria's international credentials and seeking to revive his struggling country after toppling longtime ruler Bashar ...

Tour de France stage record still 'far away' for Pogacar

In Tuesday's 182km hilly fourth stage from Carcassonne to Foix, the 27-year-old will wear the yellow jersey for the 55th time -- although his lead over arch rival Jonas Vingegaard is razor thin.

Pogacar won the 196km third stage from Granollers in Spain to Les Angles by just two seconds from the Dane, but gained four more bonus seconds than his rival on the line.

The two riders are tied on overall time but Slovenian Pogacar leads by virtue of his better stage placings.

Many people were su...

EU tells France to amend social media ban law

European Union member states have the right to introduce laws, but they must not encroach on the powers given to the executive based in Brussels.

"We fully share the objective of the French authorities: minors must be better protected online," EU spokesman Thomas Regnier told AFP. "France has been an important driver of this debate."

But the European Commission, the bloc's executive, said in a formal written opinion that the French draft law overlaps with the EU's online content law known ...

Pogacar back in 'special' yellow after Tour de France stage three victory

The world champion and Vingegaard are dead level on time but Pogacar took over the race lead by virtue of his better finishing positions in the opening three stages.

It was Pogacar's 22nd Tour stage victory and his 10th in the Pyrenees.

The 27-year-old Slovenian finished two seconds ahead of the Dane and also earned four more bonus seconds than Vingegaard to wipe out his six-second deficit from the start of the day.

"Of course, to take the yellow jersey is the dream for any cyclist of any...

Pogacar wins Tour de France 3rd stage, takes yellow

The world champion and Vingegaard are dead level on time but Pogacar took over the race lead by virtue of his better finishing positions in the opening three stages.

The Slovenian finished two seconds ahead of the Dane and also earned four more bonus seconds than Vingegaard to wipe out his six-second deficit from the start of the day.

Former Giro d'Italia winner Richard Carapaz came past French teenage prodigy Paul Seixas to take third in the same time as Vingegaard at the end of a 196km s...

'Privileged' Del Toro wins Tour de France stage, Pogacar up to 2nd

Del Toro led home his UAE team leader Pogacar on the short, steep climb to the finish at Montjuic, with Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel taking third just ahead of Vingegaard.

"It means really everything," said Del Toro, who is making his Tour debut having finished second at the Giro d'Italia last year.

"I'm a very privileged guy. You cannot believe how much work it took to get here," added the 22-year-old.

Pogacar took six bonus seconds at the finish to move up to second in the yellow je...

Tour de France yellow gives Vingegaard crash closure

Vingegaard darted up the final climb on the 19.6km opening team time-trial at the Tour in Barcelona to give his Visma-Lease a Bike team the stage victory and himself the overall lead at the Grand Boucle.

Two years ago he thought he was going to die after a crashing heavily on a rapid descent at the Tour of the Basque Country.

He spent two weeks recovering in hospital from a broken collarbone, broken ribs, a collapsed lung and blood in his lung tissue.

"It's been a few hard years for me fo...

Vingegaard takes Tour de France lead with 'perfect start'

Vingegaard will wear the yellow jersey on Sunday for the first time since he last won the Grand Boucle in 2023.

"It's the perfect start, still a long Tour obviously, but it's the perfect start," said the 29-year-old Dane, who has won all three of his previous races this season.

"My teammates did an amazing job today, they were so strong, I didn't have to do much to be honest, they just drove me all the way to the finish to take the stage win for us and to take the yellow jersey.

"For me, ...

Vingegaard takes Tour de France lead as Visma win opening stage

Vingegaard will wear the yellow jersey on Sunday for the first time since he last won the Grand Boucle in 2023.

He finished the 19.6km course eight seconds quicker than Filippo Ganna for Netcompany Ineos, with reigning champion Tadej Pogacar earning third place for UAE Team Emirates at 12sec.

Throughout the stage, Visma had been almost neck-and-neck with Netcompany and the Lidl-Trek team of Spaniard Juan Ayuso.

But Visma went quicker over the second half and Vingegaard made the difference...

French Open champ Zverev into Wimbledon last 16

Zverev, seeded second, has failed to go beyond the fourth round in his past nine visits to the All England Club.

But the 29-year-old German is on course to end that frustrating streak this year.

Fresh from finally winning his maiden Grand Slam title on clay at Roland Garros in June, Zverev is looking more comfortable than ever on the grass courts of south-west London.

He dispatched 92-ranked Giron 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 on Court One and will face Czech 13th seed Jiri Lehecka in the last 16.
...

Pogacar expects Vingegaard Tour de France battle to last 'years'

The pair have won the last six editions of the Tour de France between them, and have finished first and second in each of the last five -- something which had never happened before.

Slovenian Pogacar has four Tour wins to Vingegaard's two but the Dane has won all three of cycling's Grand Tours following his Giro d'Italia victory in May.

World champion Pogacar has yet to win the Vuelta a Espana, where he finished third in his only appearance in 2019.

And the 27-year-old insisted that the T...

Ruben Love earns All Blacks fly-half jersey for France Test

French Open champ Andreeva stunned by Krejcikova at Wimbledon

Andreeva arrived at the All England Club hailed as one of the sport's rising stars after winning her maiden Grand Slam crown in Paris in June.

But the Russian teenager was unable to maintain the momentum from Roland Garros as Krejcikova recaptured the magic that inspired her unexpected Wimbledon title triumph two years ago.

The 30-year-old Czech, who also won the French Open in 2021, fought back for a dramatic 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory in two hours and 47 minutes on Centre Court.

Krejcikova w...

Swim star Marchand limps out of French nationals as Europeans loom

During the 200m breaststroke heats on Monday, Marchand felt sharp pain in the adductor muscle of his right leg, his team said.

"To avoid any aggravation and to protect his health, Leon has decided in consultation with his technical and medical staff not to continue competing," a team statement added.

It was not specified whether the injury would jeopardise his participation in the European Championships from August 10–16, a competition which would mark his return to Paris two years after ...

French Open champ Andreeva sails into Wimbledon second round

Andreeva, seeded fifth, will face 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in a fascinating last-64 clash.

The 19-year-old reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year -- her best run in three appearances at the All England Club.

Long touted as a rising star on the women's tour, Andreev crushed Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska to clinch her maiden Grand Slam title at the recent French Open.

Andreev, coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, was the youngest woman to win ...

Bromell upsets Lyles, Duplantis shines at Paris Diamond League

Lyles, the reigning Olympic champion, suffered a disastrous start and could not make up the difference as Bromell, a two-time world bronze medallist, stormed to the win in 9.91 seconds from lane eight.

"I'm good. The feeling at the start was not what I expected," said Lyles, who finished second, a hundredth of a second off Bromell.

Switzerland's Audrey Werro continued her dominant form over 800m as she scorched to another victory, in a Diamond League record of 1min 53.80sec.

Femke Broeder...

French Open champs head to Wimbledon wrestling with new-found status

Zverev finally secured his long-awaited major triumph with a tense five-set victory over Flavio Cobolli at Roland Garros earlier in June.

Long regarded as the most talented player never to win a Grand Slam, the 29-year-old German exorcised the ghosts of three previous major final defeats.

Zverev had been tipped to dominate since his emergence as a precious teenager caught the eye of Roger Federer, but passive play on the biggest stages had cost him dearly, until he at last held his nerve t...

Norway coach defends decision to leave out Haaland, Odegaard against France

"It was a no-brainer, for me, for the physio and for the medical staff, and for some of the players themselves," said Solbakken after he made 10 changes to his starting line-up following the 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday.

"They all said it would be difficult for many of them, and then the only consideration is of course the fans in Norway and here.

"They would have wanted to see Erling and Martin but we want to go as far as we can so it was a no-brainer. It didn't take us long to come to ...

American businesswoman Michele Kang buys French club Lyon

Kang, who has run Lyon for the past year, has acquired 87.78 percent of the club's share capital for a price of $30 million, the group said in a statement.

The purchased stake represents all of EFG's shares held by Eagle Bidco -- the holding company which is under judicial administration.

"It is with immense pride and great honour that I announce the successful closing of the deal," Kang told reporters at a press conference at the club's headquarters, adding that they had received approval...

France detects first Ebola case outside Africa in current outbreak

The case is the first of the deadly haemorrhagic fever identified outside the African continent during the current outbreak, which has also affected Uganda.

It is the first time France has detected Ebola. In 2014, during an outbreak in west Africa, two patients were transported to France, but they had been diagnosed abroad.

The health ministry said it had identified "a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory".

The patient, who arrived in Paris on Tuesday, "boarded...

French farmers suffer arid crops, heat-stricken animals

Stephane Delapre, a farmer in Beauvoir-sur-Mer, near the western coast, said half his chickens had died of suffocation on Monday.

"In 42 years, I've never seen that," he told AFP as he waited for an official to collect the carcasses.

Depre raises around 17,500 free-range hens and 70,000 quails in sheds with outdoor runs.

"We put in a few fans but... it went up to 40–41C. There was nothing we could do," he said.

Sixty kilometres (40 miles) away, Regis Bonnin, 57, said he had set up mistin...

Reports of Dupont inclusion in France squad 'bordering on annoying' says Galthie

Galthie has announced a 33-man set-up for games against New Zealand, Australia and Japan with superstar Dupont set to be one of nine extra faces added after this Saturday's Top 14 final, according to newspaper L'Equipe.

Following an agreement with the French Rugby Federation and the Top 14's governing body, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, Galthie will be allowed to pick the additional players from this weekend's decider between Dupont's Toulouse and Montpellier at the Stade de France.

Howeve...

Heavy metal: French town hosts medieval combat cage fights

Fighters used swords and axes to battle it out in 20 combats at Onet-le-Chateau in the Aveyron region of southern France.

The local council described the fights as the modern-day equivalent of "what was effectively the mixed martial arts of the Middle Ages".

While most of the action involved men from France, Poland and Britain, some women fighters were also on the bill.

The fights were held in a local club that organises this kind of armoured combat, known as behourd.

Organisers say it i...

French police detain 20 at banned Iran opposition rally

Several buses arrived at Place Vauban in central Paris despite police banning the rally, citing concerns about potential clashes "in the current particularly tense national and international context".

Hundreds of protesters gathered for the demonstration aimed to raise awareness about a wave of executions in Iran during the Middle East conflict, an AFP correspondent saw.

Protesters chanted "Down with the dictatorship in Iran" and "French government, shame on you".

Some held up portraits o...

Red heat alert issued for third of France, alcohol banned at music festival

The prolonged heatwave, which began earlier this week, has disrupted the country, forcing the cancellation of dozens of trains and the suspension of classes.

Authorities are also concerned about how the annual Fete de la Musique celebrations will unfold across the country on Sunday when musicians take over the streets with free performances and revellers party into the night.

"Very high temperatures are settling in for the long term across the country," Meteo-France said as it announced t...