Goodbye to pink, Del Toro loses the lead after Yates' attack

Juan Manuel Vázquez

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, June 1, 2025, p. 9

In northern Italy, in the Alps, a murmur can be heard traveling on the wind. It is the story of two episodes that, as of today, are legendary. On that rocky massif adorned with bucolic forests rises the Colle delle Finestre, the scene of two epics that have attained mythical status in cycling. Right there, in 2018, Simon Yates, a Briton wearing the pink jersey as leader and therefore the strongest candidate to win the Giro, was surprised on that climb by an unexpected compatriot, Chris Froome, who not only snatched the jersey from him but also ruined the effort of three weeks of devastating competition. Yesterday, that same cyclist was able to exact revenge for that bitter memory and, in a cruel reprise, this time for the Mexican Isaac del Toro, he fell behind in a display of tactics and strategy that stunned those vying for the final victory of the Tour.

The 21-year-old Ensenada native took the pink jersey on stage nine and lost it on this twentieth day of the Giro d'Italia, the penultimate and decisive stage. It was snatched from him in a ruthless and unexpected way, one that no one could have imagined except Yates himself. The British cyclist was in third place in the standings, and the fierce battles for the lead were fought between Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz and the Mexican, who wore the leader's jersey for 11 days.

But that mountain, cursed for the unfortunate and magical for those who manage to take advantage of its devastating slopes and unpaved stretch of road, was the dramatic backdrop for the young tricolor cyclist's defeat. On that mountain range, Del Toro seemed too focused on preventing Carapaz from escaping, as he attempted in several attacks on the road, but behind him, one minute and 20 seconds behind, Yates lurked, the dagger stuck in his side of that memory of 2018 on this same Colle delle Finestre. That, perhaps, made the Briton more dangerous, as there is no greater incentive than the possibility of exacting an insult.

When Yates pulled away, Carapaz and Del Toro didn't know how to respond to the Briton's escape.

The Italian writer Dino Buzzati, Corriere della Sera's top correspondent for the 1949 Giro, described the strategy of those favorite cyclists who managed their power for the decisive moments, just as they reached the most fearsome peaks where they attacked with true fury.

The favorites are rich in strength and, like all self-made men, they are also a bit miserly. Why spend more than necessary? When the opportune moment arrives, in the Dolomites, for example, or in the Western Alps, wherever there is no trick or cunning that will work, they will take out their wallets and pay every last cent , Buzzati wrote.

▲ The incredible story of the cyclist from Ensenada, Baja California, ended with a second place in the Giro d'Italia, where he wrote dazzling episodes by winning stage 17 and wearing the pink jersey for 11 days, in addition to winning the white jersey of the youth leader. Photo AFP

Before that, the writer noted, they only do what is essential, including keeping an eye on their most dangerous rivals and avoiding any daring moves that could jeopardize qualification.

And this last point was something that neither Carapaz nor Del Toro perceived, because the Briton took advantage of the fact that both were engaged in a dramatic duel with little difference in the standings and escaped, moving away alone, unstoppable, adding ground, seconds and minutes to leave behind, far behind, those two Latin Americans engaged in a fratricidal war.

Yates is the undisputed winner, leading Del Toro by 3 minutes and 56 seconds and Carapaz by 4:43. Everything is set for his triumphant entry into Rome this Sunday.

Del Toro was too upset. He knew the Giro victory could have been his, in an edition where he emerged with the force of his might that surprised his team (UAE Emirates), his rivals, and his entire country, which was thrilled.

We didn't win, that's something we Mexicans should understand. We lost, and that's okay. It's very nice and incredible to be this close, but we didn't triumph, that's the truth , he said.

Of course I'm disappointed, but I'm not going to cry in front of the camera. That's cycling. I'll come back stronger; now I know I can compete against anyone , added the young Baja California native.

Del Toro, however, leaves numbers that are in themselves unexpected victories in this edition of the Italian Grand Tour in which he finished runner-up. He was the leader of the Giro, a privilege that not even Tlaxcalan Julio Alberto Pérez Cuapio achieved, for 11 days he wore the legendary maglia rosa , was on the podium six times, won stage 17, came second four times and third once, in addition to winning the white jersey of the youth leader.

I'm sure a lot of people couldn't believe I was here , the young man from Ensenada commented; the team always trusts me in these kinds of things. The problem is me trying to believe it .

Carapaz was even more severe about the outcome. "He (Del Toro) lost the Giro. He didn't know how to race well, and the smartest one won ," the Ecuadorian said without condescension.

From the Editorial Staff and AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, June 1, 2025, p. a10

Paris Saint-Germain finally claimed their first ever Champions League title after crushing a relentless Inter Milan 5-0 in the tournament final yesterday at Munich's Allianz Arena, which was packed with more than 70,000 fans.

The Parisian side, which showed great offensive power against a lackluster Italian team, took the lead in the 12th minute through Spaniard Achraf Hakimi, who decided not to celebrate his goal due to his past with Inter, where he played in the 2020-2021 season.

The Frenchman Désiré Doué, only 19 years old, increased the lead with a double (20 and 63), while the Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made it 4-0 (73), and the also Frenchman Senny Mayulu sealed the victory (86).

In this way, PSG delivered the biggest defeat in a final in the tournament's 69-year history.

From the opening kickoff, PSG dominated Inter. That's how the first goal came. Portuguese forward Vitinha slipped the ball through to Doué, and on the 14th minute, Hakimi scored into an empty net in front of the Inter fans, to whom he apologized with his hands, as they were his former team.

When the Italian side finally managed to get close to the opponent's area, they received their second blow. In a masterfully orchestrated counterattack, Ousmane Dembélé found Doué on the opposite flank, who unleashed a shot that Inter defender Federico Dimarco flicked on to unsettle his goalkeeper, Yann Sommer.

With the score at 2-0 after 20 minutes, Inter needed to revolutionize their game, but their coach Simone Inzaghi couldn't find a way to hurt their opponents.

PSG had come very close to a knockout: Kvaratskhelia hit the posts twice in a row at the end of the match (45+2) and continued to fire in the second half until he found the target (73). Ten minutes earlier, Doué had scored his brace (63), while Mayulu, who came on as a substitute in the 84th minute, made it 5-0 straight from the start (86), after combining with Bradley Barcola.

▲ The celebrations for PSG's first Champions League title flooded the streets of Paris with fans who packed iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, which was illuminated in red and blue. Meanwhile, coach Luis Enrique (center right) celebrates the championship, something that couldn't be done when the Parisian team had the historic trio of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé in their ranks. Meanwhile, Argentine striker Lautaro Martínez looks dejected after the thrashing by Inter Milan. Photo AFP and AP

Both clubs had felt the pain of falling out of the fight for the Orejona in recent years.

Inter, who have won the Champions League or European Cup three times, most recently in 2010, lost the final to Manchester City in 2023.

For the Parisians, it was their first Big Ears trophy in 55 years of existence, following a final loss in 2020 to Bayern Munich.

France, meanwhile, claimed a second title in UEFA's premier club competition, following Olympique Marseille's 1993 triumph, ending a 32-year drought for PSG.

After spending billions of dollars on signing some of the world's top players like Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, and failing to deliver, PSG were finally crowned European champions under manager Luis Enrique, who had an emotional moment in the final after fans unfurled a banner with an image of him and his daughter Xana, who died in 2019.

The Spanish coach won the Champions League for the second time as manager, having won the trophy with Barcelona in 2015, becoming the sixth coach to lift the title with different teams.

At the end of the match, hundreds of PSG fans had to be restrained by police as they attempted to invade the pitch to celebrate with their team.

In Paris, the celebrations were swift, as PSG fans began celebrating the historic title even before the end of the match, amid a heavy security presence of 5,400 police officers. The Eiffel Tower was also illuminated in the team's red and blue colors.

In their latest reports, French police said 131 people were arrested for riots near the PSG stadium and on the Champs-Élysées, where many shops covered their windows with wooden panels for fear of damage.

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, June 1, 2025, p. a10

Cruz Azul ends the season with the most important match of a project that began two years ago, first with Argentine Martín Anselmi and now under the technical direction of Uruguayan Vicente Sánchez, who concludes his tenure in charge in the final of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. "I try not to think about situations that don't depend on me. It's the last match, then we'll see what happens ," says the former Toluca player about the future that lies ahead in the tournament's final against the Vancouver Whitecaps, second-place finishers in the U.S. Major League Soccer and winners of the series against Pumas and Monterrey.

CONCACAF authorities yesterday covered the emblems of Universidad Nacional with posters and banners , a move prohibited by the agreement that La Máquina officials established with the university, but which was carried out by confederation protocol. The blue and gold flags that normally surround the facility, which has sold more than 40,000 tickets, were also removed. "This was the first stadium in my life ," recalls midfielder Erik Lira, who came up through the Puma youth academy. "We have a huge opportunity to make history with this team ."

The regional crown takes on greater significance for La Máquina when América appears in the conversation. In addition to qualifying for the Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup, winning the match also means reaching the top of the list of all-time winners in the competition's history with the same number of successes as the Águilas (7). I've had to deal with difficult situations. I've received all kinds of criticism, which I share, but I dream of being a champion in this shirt. This is a very important project, but in football, if you don't win titles, it's useless , admits Argentine Rodolfo Rotondi.

The players are unaware of the board's plans for a new coach. Sánchez's contract expires the same night he decides his first title in charge, qualifying for the next Concacaf Champions League and with over 70 percent effectiveness since last January, when he replaced Anselmi on an interim basis. Guillermo Almada, formerly of Pachuca, and Nicolás Larcamón, currently in charge of Necaxa, have emerged as top-tier options in the highest echelons of the institution. "What you always look for is to win trophies. That will determine whether or not you continue with a project ," says midfielder Carlos Rodríguez.

La Máquina won the home team in the final by scoring more goals than the Vancouver Whitecaps, a Canadian rival who will be making their third appearance in Mexico this season—their second at Ciudad Universitaria—after eliminating Rayados (round of 16) and Pumas (quarterfinals) on away goals. In the semifinals, they pulled off another upset by eliminating Inter Miami, led by Argentine Lionel Messi. " We're playing against a giant, but we also want to make history ," said coach Jesper Sorensen in the hours leading up to the match.

The Canadians are aiming to become only the second MLS team to win the regional tournament, following the trophy won by the Seattle Sounders in 2022. In the last match before this final, Cruz Azul suffered another setback against América (2-1) in the playoffs two weeks ago, a result that meant the end of a 19-match unbeaten streak under Sánchez.

When I took over the team, we were in 16th place. From there, we climbed to third, reached the semi-finals, achieved the record for most points in a full year in the League (76), and reached the Champions Cup final. The numbers are there , the Uruguayan emphasizes in his farewell. According to media reports in South America, the Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito has expressed interest in his services after finalizing the departure of Argentine coach Pablo Sánchez.

▲ María García, Emilio Treviño, and Olympians Aranza Vázquez and Randal Willars (pictured) secured their spot at the world championships. Photo COM

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada NewspaperSunday, June 1, 2025, p. a11

Nuevo León native María Fernanda García became the surprise of the day in the national diving competition leading up to the World Championships in Singapore.

With a modest record and just 19 years of age, the athlete earned her ticket to the world championship in a competition in which Emilio Treviño and Olympians Aranza Vázquez and Randal Willars also secured their spot.

The confidence with which I executed my dives helped me; I focused on the competition without looking at the others, and in the end, I achieved my goal. I'm very happy to have the opportunity to represent my country , said the young diver.

García took first place in the three-meter springboard event with a score of 311.20; Vázquez followed with 311, and teenager Mía Cueva placed third with 298.40. Only the top two qualified.

Although her name is not well known, García has been a national team member for more than five years. Among her most notable results is her fifth place in synchronized swimming at the 2024 World Junior Championships.

In the men's platform event, Olympic selection Randal Willars (482.70) and Emilio Treviño, from Nuevo León (446.10), secured their place in the world competition that will take place at the end of July.

The divers dominated the competition from start to finish, held in the CNAR pool. Willars even executed his 4.1-degree dive, which received a score of seven.

"I felt good, with a lot of adrenaline and strength. I feel light in this pool, and my dives usually take more effort, but I achieved my goal. "What's next is training, because I aspire to win a medal at the World Championships in Singapore, not only in the individual competition, but also in synchronized swimming ," Willars said.

The divers join Gabriela Agúndez, Alejandra Estudillo, Kevin Berlín, and Osmar Olvera, who qualified for the World Championships the previous day.

The world championship will open its curtain on July 26.

Taekwondo celebrates pre-selection

Taekwondo athletes Samantha González (-46 kg), Lucero Gallo (-53), Fabiola Villegas (-62), and Victoria Heredia (-73 kg) took the first step towards the World Championships in Wuxi, China, by winning their respective categories in the national pre-qualification.

In a competition held at the Mexican Olympic Committee facilities, the selected athletes took first place after winning four matches.

It was a very interesting experience in a new category. I like fighting in Mexico because my teammates are very tough, and that helps me improve and push myself further. I never take a national championship lightly; the level is very high. My goal is to reach the World Championships and win a medal , Villegas said.

In the men's branch, Edgar Hernández (-54), David Valdes (-63), Uriel Gomeztagle (-74) and Julio González (-87) won.

The selected players will still have to pass a final evaluation in July to secure their ticket to the world championship, which will take place in October.

Llaneza celebrates with title

Mexican golfer Alejandra Llaneza won the Santander Golf Tour LETAS title at Naturávila on her 37th birthday.

The Olympic selection achieved her first professional victory since 2019, shooting a nine-under-par 64 to defeat Dutchwoman Lauren Holmey and Australian Justice Bosio on the final day.

Llaneza staged an impressive comeback on the 18th hole, where the Mexican sank a five-meter uphill putt that drew a standing ovation from the crowd.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada NewspaperSunday, June 1, 2025, p. a11

The favorites continue to make strong strides at the French Open.

Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round for the 19th time in his career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Filip Misolic in a match marked by the noise of Paris Saint-Germain fans cheering for goals while watching the Champions League final on their phones.

It was interesting. The crowd was watching the match very closely. And I could hear them scoring. They were celebrating a lot , Djokovic said of the spectators in the Chatrier stands. I thought: Wow, so many goals from Paris! What's going on? Now I heard the score was 5-0. An impressive result, really .

Against a man 15 years his junior, playing in only his second Grand Slam tournament, the 38-year-old Djokovic committed 14 unforced errors and saved the only break point he faced.

I've been solid when I needed to be , Djokovic said. There's always something to improve. But overall, I'm happy with the level of tennis so far .

When Jannik Sinner's third-round opponent at the French Open finally won a single game yesterday, the crowd on Court Suzanne-Lenglen responded with a standing ovation. The world number one simply stood out above the rest that day, extending his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches.

Sinner dominated Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour, 34 minutes, the fastest men's match at Roland Garros this year and, measured by games lost, the most lopsided victory at a major tournament in the Italian's career.

Today, I don't think there are many things I could improve , he said.

Alexander Zverev asserted his status as favorite against Italian Flavio Cobolli, 6-2, 7-6, 6-1, to reach the round of 16 in a tournament where he competed for the title last year against Alcaraz.

In the women's draw, Coco Gauff advanced after defeating Marie Bouzkova. The 21-year-old American, a semifinalist at Paris 2024 and a finalist in 2022, secured her place in the second week of the tournament for the fifth consecutive time by breaking a losing streak against the Czech, who had beaten her in both previous matches: at Cincinnati 2022, by forfeit, and at Rome 2023 after three sets.

González advances, Reyes-Varela, eliminated

In the results for Mexican tennis players, Santiago González and his partner Austin Krajicek advanced to the second round of the doubles, while their compatriot Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela was eliminated.

In the women's category, Giuliana Olmos also said goodbye, although she is still firmly established in the mixed doubles category.

With information from AFP

AFP

La Jornada NewspaperSunday, June 1, 2025, p. a11

Montmeló. Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) will start from pole position today for the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix, the ninth of the 24 rounds of the season, after setting the fastest time in qualifying yesterday.

The World Championship leader beat his teammate, British driver Lando Norris, and Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who finished second and third respectively, on the timesheets.

On a scorching day with skies threatening a storm, the Australian secured his fourth pole of the season and takes the lead in the fight for the top spot on the podium at Montmeló.

Verstappen, the reigning four-time world champion, is currently just a step behind the McLarens. Fourth place went to Britain's George Russell (Mercedes), and both drivers will start from the second row, suggesting a thrilling battle between the two at the first corner after the extremely long straight of this Catalan circuit.

Ferrari, which has struggled in qualifying this season, limited the damage this time by securing fifth and seventh places, respectively, for Britain's Lewis Hamilton and Monaco's Charles Leclerc. Between them was Italian prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli (sixth, with Mercedes).

Meanwhile, Mexican drivers Rafael Villagómez, who competes in F2, and Santiago Ramos, in F3, experienced a historic moment yesterday by taking the podium in the sprint races of the Spanish GP.

Villagómez managed to climb from 22nd place to finish third in F2, earning his first podium finish in the category.

Ramos, meanwhile, was a protagonist in F3, finishing second, earning his third podium of the season. In this same category, fellow F3 driver Noel León finished in tenth place.