CHATTANOOGA ― Macon County athletics director Beverly Shoulders walked onto the field just before kickoff of the TSSAA Class 4A state championship game and was speechless. She grabbed her husband’s arm. The scene was surreal.
It looked as though the entire Lafayette community crammed itself inside Finley Stadium to watch teenagers they’ve known since those players were toddlers compete in the biggest game of their young lives.
But that’s the core of Lafayette ― a population of just over 5,500 people pouring into 72 kids, celebrating just as hard as the players who validated that love with a 45-14 rout of Memphis Melrose on Saturday for the school’s first football state championship in its first BlueCross Bowl appearance.
“It was absolutely wonderful to see,” Shoulders said of the fans packed into the stadium. “I want to say it was a surprise to see so many come out, but it’s not. That’s what this town is about. And it showed.”
The town’s business leaders did the fundraising. The money they generated was distributed equally among the football team, cheerleaders and the school’s band. It was a collective town effort to pay for hotels, food and transportation to Chattanooga.
And the fans populated the city’s restaurants and hotels on Friday night. By Saturday morning, they were pacing outside Finley Stadium wanting access inside two hours before the game’s morning kickoff.
“There’s about 950 students at our school,” Shoulders added. “And it’s like a village here. They follow us wherever we go. So I knew we’d have a huge crowd here. It’s not just parents and grandparents here. It’s the community.”
Macon County coach Kyle Shoulders hugged everybody he could. His players sprinted out on the field as the final seconds fell away. His family was right behind him. Kyle Shoulders’ grandfather is the brother of the grandfather of Rick Shoulders, Beverly’s husband. Rick Shoulders is the Macon County property assessor. Beverly and Rick shook as many hands as Kyle after the game.
“That’s how high school football is supposed to work,” Kyle said. “It’s not supposed to be about a bunch of transfers here or there, or bouncing around because things aren’t going well where you’re at, or you’re looking for another place. Listen, this is a community that is bought in to a bunch of guys and that’s a very special thing.”
Nineteen times in the school’s history, Macon County returned to Lafayette from a TSSAA football playoff run that ended in disappointment. Last week fans celebrated the school’s first state title berth by ripping off the uprights of the football stadium’s west end goalpost. Saturday, the players darted to the wall at Finley Stadium that separates and stands from the field. Players held the championship trophy in front of the “Macon Mob”, the school’s student section.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCORESTSSAA football championships: Scores, recaps, highlights, stats from BlueCross Bowl weekend
“It doesn’t get better than what those fans showed us,” said championship game MVP Zach Borders who rushed 25 times for 249 yards and four touchdowns. “They talk about players winning championships, or one player who did this or one player who did that. But this is a team win. This was a community win. We aren’t here without everyone who was involved.”
Memories can fade with time, but Macon County’s 20th trip to the playoffs won’t be forgotten in Lafayette.
“This’ll be remembered forever,” said Macon County running back Gabe Borders who ran for 117 yards. “Nobody’s forgetting this … ever.”
Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
VERMILLION — The Howard Tigers reign as the Class 9A State football champions after defeating the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion.
Wolsey-Wessington’s Moshe Richmond jumps for a pass while Howard’s Tate Miller (27) and Carson Hinker (8) defend in the Class 9A state football championship game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion.
Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
Howard’s Kolt Becker (3) breaks through a tackle from Wolsey-Wessington’s Colin Hughes (9) during the Class 9A State football championship game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion.
Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
1/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
2/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
3/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
4/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
5/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
6/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
7/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
8/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
9/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
10/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
11/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
12/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
13/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
14/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
15/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
16/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
17/44: Wolsey-Wessington’s Moshe Richmond jumps for a pass while Howard’s Tate Miller (27) and Carson Hinker (8) defend in the Class 9A state football championship game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
18/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
19/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
20/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
21/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
22/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
23/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
24/44: Howard’s Luke Koepsell (24) catches a touchdown pass during the Class 9A state football championships game against Wolsey-Wessington on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
25/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
26/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
27/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
28/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
29/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
30/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
31/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
32/44: Howard’s Kolt Becker (3) breaks through a tackle from Wolsey-Wessington’s Colin Hughes (9) during the Class 9A State football championship game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
33/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
34/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
35/44: Howard’s Luke Koepsell (24) sprints away from a pair of Wolsey-Wessington defenders after making a reception on the way to a touchdown during the Class 9A state football championships game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
36/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
37/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
38/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
39/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
40/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
41/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
42/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
43/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
44/44: Action from the Class 9A State football championship game between the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds and the Howard Tigers on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Vermillion. Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
Adam Thury joined the Mitchell Republic in March of 2022. He was born and raised in Mitchell, S.D., and graduated from Mitchell High School in 2015. He always had an eye for photography but started honing his skills mid-2014. He has worked on growing his knowledge of photography by shooting for local events. He can be reached at athury@mitchellrepublic.com and found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/adamthury.
The 2024 season was one for the history books, with records broken, nail-biting storylines written, and new Olympic champions crowned.
Some Grand Tours went right down to the wire, while others were already tied up by the second week – such was the standout strength of their victors.
Alongside the victories, record-breakers, and history-makers, there were also season-defining moments that sprung from crashes. A few notable incidents shaped the campaigns of some of the peloton’s key protagonists.
To give each of these moments from the road their fair share of the limelight, we refrained from including highlights from other disciplines, such as gravel and mountain biking.
While in the world of gravel, the exhilarating World Championships in Belgium saw Marianne Vos and Mathieu van der Poel win world titles in yet another discipline.
Back to the tarmac though, and we’ve whittled a long list down to just 12 key moments from the 2024 road cycling season.
Biniam Girmay becomes first Black African to win a stage at the Tour de France, wins three stages in 2024
Biniam Girmay wins three stages and the green jersey at the 2024 Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
The 230.9-kilometre stage from Piacenza ended with Girmay blasting up close to the barriers on the right-hand side to win ahead of Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny), taking the early lead in the green points classification.
He captured another win on the 183.4km-long stage 8 from Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises ahead of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and De Lie. He won for a third time on stage 12’s 203.6km race from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot and then carried the green jersey all the way into the finale in Nice to win the points classification.
(Image credit: Future)
The victory in Torino is one of many highlights for Girmay during his career, his name hit the headlines in 2021 when he took silver in the under-23 race at the Leuven Worlds, then again the following year as he took victories at Gent-Wevelgem and on stage 10 into Jesi at the Giro d’Italia.
Girmay followed in the footsteps of compatriots Natnael Berhane, Merhawi Kudus, and Daniel Teklehaimanot, who became the first Black African to start the Tour de France in 2015 and he stood on the podium as the leader of the polka dot jersey after stage 8 in Le Havre.
“It means a lot personally for me. And especially for the continent because it’s been a long time for African Black riders to not win at the Tour de France,” Girmay said after his Tour stage win in Torino. “It means a lot, especially for Eritrean cycling because we have a long history with cycling. We have cycling in our blood and know a lot about the Tour de France so to win today was amazing.” (PT)
Rainbow jerseys rule Paris-Roubaix as Lotte Kopecky and Mathieu van der Poel conquer the cobbles
Lotte Kopecky and Mathieu van der Poel celebrate victory in the famous Roubaix Velodrome (Image credit: Getty Images)
The ‘curse of the rainbow jersey’ was nowhere to be seen in northern France on the first weekend of April as both Lotte Kopecky and Mathieu van der Poel avoided punctures and crashes to raise their arms in sheer euphoria at the iconic Roubaix Velodrome, albeit achieving the feat in contrasting styles.
It was a race that yo-yoed back and forth with attacks, until a select group of riders, including Kopecky, Elisa Balsamo, Marianne Vos and Pfeiffer Georgi, burst clear with a handful of pavé sectors remaining.
Six riders arrived at the velodrome, and Kopecky was the last to launch her sprint. The Belgian – resplendent in an all-white rainbow kit – timed her sprint to perfection, navigating her way around the outside group at the perfect moment to take the Queen of the Classics crown.
While Kopecky’s decisive move came inside the final 100m, the Dutchman made his key attack with 60km to go. Benefiting from smart teamwork by his teammates Gianni Vermeersch and Jasper Philipsen, he powered away from the rest of the peloton and wouldn’t be seen again.
The time difference between MVDP and the second finisher, his teammate Philipsen, would eventually be three minutes, breaking the record for the fastest edition of L’Enfer du Nord in its 128-year history, and becoming the first rider in 11 years to complete the Flanders-Roubaix double. (PT)
Kasia Niewiadoma and a magical four seconds at the Tour de France Femmes
Kasia Niewiadoma reacts to winning the Tour de France by four seconds atop Alpe d’Huez (Image credit: Getty Images)
Niewiadoma took the overall lead after finishing second on stage 5. On the same day, overnight leader Vollering was involved in a mass crash that caused her to lose 1:19. Although Vollering clawed seconds back on the penultimate stage into Le Grand-Bronand, it was not enough.
Vollering tried to gain back the time lost on the final day with an attack on the mid-stage Col du Glandon. In the race up the 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez, Vollering and Pauliena Rooijakkers played a tactical battle for the stage victory.
In the end, Vollering crossed the line with the win, securing a 10-second bonus seconds toward the overall. She also made history as the first woman to have her name etched on a bend of the fabled ascent after winning on Alpe d’Huez.
But with the clock still ticking in the race for the general classification, Niewiadoma desperately tried to make it to the finish line with enough time on Vollering to keep the yellow jersey, and she did so by just four seconds.
In addition, for Niewiadoma, it signified another turning point in her professional cycling career after having won the world title at the Gravel World Championships last October and secured the win at La Flèche Wallonne atop the Mud de Huy in April. (KF)
Mass crash at Itzulia Basque Country shapes riders’ seasons and safety debate
Unscathed riders were in no mode to continue racing after witnessing a large section of the peloton hit the deck (Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Stage four of Itzulia Basque Country might not have been witness to any record-breaking performance or an emphatic victory but a mass high-speed crash with 35km remaining arguably had equal impact, shaping the course of several riders’ summers and the continuing discourse surrounding rider safety.
Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard, and Primož Roglič were among the 11 riders forced to quit the race following the incident as the race came around a bend on their way to the day’s finish in Legutio. Roglič came away fairly unscathed and would return to racing at the Critérium du Dauphiné, which he would go on to win.
Meanwhile, Evenepoel suffered a broken collarbone and sustained fractures to his clavicle and scapula when he skidded off the road. The Soudal Quick-Step rider also managed to make it back for the pre-Tour warm-up race but was off the pace when the race went uphill.
However, it was Vingegaard who was the worst affected by the crash, suffering a collapsed lung alongside broken ribs and collarbone. The Dane would not return to action until the Grand Dèpart for the Tour de France at the end of June, almost three months after the incident.
Perhaps it’s a testament to his recovery that he challenged Pogačar as well as he did en route to second place overall.
Mark Cavendish etched in history with record 35th Tour de France stage win
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Racing at his 15th Tour de France in July, Mark Cavendish broke the all-time stage win record set by Eddy Merckx by securing his 35th stage victory at the French Grand Tour on stage 5 in Saint Vulbas, the latest step in his own era in the history of sprinting.
Cavendish had announced his retirement the previous season but reneged on the idea after he crashed out of the 2023 Tour de France and lost his chance to establish a new record, that he had shared with Merckx, both on 34 – and a record that had stood for 48 years.
While racing for Astana-Qazaqstan on stage 5 at the 2024 Tour de France, Cavendish hit the front from distance to claim the win, beating Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility).
All of Cavendish’s Tour de France stage wins have come in bunch sprints. His first four wins were with Columbia in 2008, then his next 16 with HTC and their famed lead-out train from 2008 through 2011. He also took three stage wins while racing for Team Sky in 2012, and another three with QuickStep between 2013 and 2015.
He went on to race Dimension Data, where he won four stages in the 2016 edition, before his resurgent stint with Deceuninck-Quickstep in 2021 when he won another four stages. A prolonged career with Astana-Qazaqstan into 2024 saw him finally secure his record-breaking 35th Tour stage win.
Remco Evenepoel and Kristen Faulkner deliver golden doubles at Paris Olympics
Golden glee for double gold medallists Remco Evenepoel and Kristen Faulkner (Image credit: Getty Images)
Remco Evenepoel and Kristen Faulkner both starred at the Olympic Games this summer, clinching two gold medals each across their respective disciplines.
In dreary and wet conditions Evenepoel powered to time trial victory on the first weekend of the Games – putting 15 seconds into Filippo Ganna’s time despite the treacherous conditions on the French capital’s roads. Evenepoel couldn’t hide his joy as he crossed the line, already aware his time was enough for gold, punching the air as headded yet another major TT title to his record.
Coming to the fore with 40km of the 272km race remaining, Evenepoel ignited the afterburners to power through the remnants of the day’s early break and lead the race with only Valentin Madouas remaining by his side at the 15km to-go marker.
The Frenchman was duly dropped on the final ascent through Montmartre, but Evenepoel – seemingly untouchable – couldn’t foresee a mechanical nearly deriding his golden double dream.
A frantic minute ensued, with the Belgian gesturing and shouting to his mechanic for a new bike. The handover proved slick and the crisis averted.
In vast contrast, Kristen Faulkner was by no means a favourite for the women’s road race – in fact, she wasn’t even on the startlist until a last-minute switch.
Perhaps it was her rank outsider status that saw none of Marianne Vos, Lotte Kopecky, or Kata Blanka Vas respond to her attack with 3km remaining.
They’d quickly regret that when the American powered across the line over a minute ahead of themto win the women’s road race – too focused on the Olympic title to even sit up and celebrate.
Devastation for Demi Vollering at Tour de France Femmes
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Demi Vollering went into the 2024 Tour de France Femmes as the out-right favourite to win a second consecutive overall title after she had an outstanding early season that saw her on a stage racing winning streak at La Vuelta Feminine, Itzulia Women, Vuelta a Burgos and Tour de Suisse. She had also opted not to compete at the Giro d’Italia Women in order to focus on the Tour, which had moved to a new August date to accommodate the Olympic Games.
She looked well on her way to achieving that goal when she took a surprise win in the stage 3 time trial and moved into yellow in Rotterdam and then extended that lead into Liège the following day.
A devastating crash on the exit of a roundabout saw Vollering crash hard with 6.3km to go on stage 5 into Amnéville, and she was unable to remount her bike for 49 seconds as she clutched at the back of her left leg with what appeared to be a hip injury, slowly getting back on her bike to make her way to the finish, initially alone and without support from SD Worx-Protime.
The overall classification completely flipped on its head when Vollering crossed the line 1:47 behind her teammate and stage winner Blanka Vas, but more importantly, she had also lost 1:19 to Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) heading into the final three stages.
Questions swirled around the SD Worx-Protime’s tactics and why their yellow jersey was left isolated in the closing kilometres of this stage, but her teammates and the riders from rival teams who had split off the front said they didn’t realize Vollering was involved in the crash, but that there was little that could be done with such a short distance to the finish line.
Vollering said she was ‘empty, sour but proud‘ after capturing the finale stage 8 victory on Alpe d’Huez, but having also lost the overall race by just four seconds to Niewaidoma.
Ben O’Connor delivers best season of career as he stars at La Vuelta and earns surprise Worlds silver
Ben O’Connor wearing the leader’s red jersey at La Vuelta (Image credit: Getty Images)
The opening week of La Vuelta a España looked to be falling perfectly into place for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe when Primož Roglič – returning to racing after abandoning the Tour de France – took the red jersey on stage four. That was until, in their directeur sportif Patxi Vila’s words,“things got out of hand.”
‘Things’ specifically being Ben O’Connor, with the Australian putting six minutes into GC rivals on stage six after soloing to victory from the break. When we think about race favourites lending out the jersey to outsiders for a few days to alleviate pressure, this wasn’t it. The Australian and his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team defended the jersey impressively.
Ultimately though, after 13 days on O’Connor’s back, the race leader’s jersey was wrestled back into Roglič’s control on the Alto de Moncalvillo – with the Slovenian all but sealing his record-equalling fourth Vuelta title in the process.
Nonetheless, O’Connor held on for second place, describing the result, which is his best Grand Tour finish and first podium, as “a bit of a dream, I have been close before but to get it now is such an amazing thing.”
Three weeks later, he’d add a road race World Championships runner-up spot to his palmarès too, to cap off his best season to date.
The Perth native played his role in the chasing group to perfection, behind an unassailable Tadej Pogačar. By no means the fastest finisher in the group, he bided his time and let other riders show their hands before bursting away with just a few kilometres remaining, telling Cyclingnews at the finish line that this result “is for Aussie cycling, not just for me.” (PT)
250 for Marianne Vos
Marianne Vos wins dwars door Vlaanderen (Image credit: Getty Images)
She had an impressive Classics campaign, which was a clear indication that she was back to her best after late 2023 surgery on her iliac artery, with first-time wins at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Dwars door Vlaanderen, along with a victory at Amstel Gold Race.
She went on to win two stages and the points classification at La Vuelta Feminine, a stage win and the overall title at Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and the points classification at the Tour de France Femmes.
She also secured the silver medal in the road race at the Paris Olympics Games and capped off the season by winning the world title at the UCI Gravel World Championships, adding a 14th rainbow jersey to her extensive collection of titles; eight cyclocross, three road race, two track and one gravel.
Vos has amassed 255 career road race wins by the end of the 2024 season, putting another defining stamp on her G.O.A.T status in professional cycling. “It’s a number you don’t dare think about at the beginning of your career,” said Vos of her 250th victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen. “Over the years you can make a lot of memories of different highs and lows and then this is definitely a very nice highlight.” (KF)
Grace Brown’s legendary last dance
A gleeful Grace Brown celebrates Olympic time trial gold (Image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
Grace Brown called time on her career as a professional cyclist in scintillating style as she became the first Australian woman to win a Monument at Liège-Bastogne-Liège before reaffirming her legendary status by becoming the first woman to win Olympic time trial gold and the World Championships time trial in the same year.
Brown claimed victory at Liège when she outsprinted Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering to the title after spending half of the race in the breakaway.
Yet just two months later, at the age of 31, she announced 2024 would be her last in the women’s WorldTour. “I really miss my life in Australia with my husband, my family and my friends and it is something that is harder and harder to leave,” she explained when announcing her retirement.
That decision appeared to ignite a ‘leave it all out there’ mentality in the rider from Melbourne for the rest of the season as she stunned the field on the opening weekend of the Paris Olympics, storming the women’s time trial event by over a minute and a half to eventual silver medallist Anna Henderson.
“I can be really proud to go out on such a high,” Brown told reporters after her win. Yet the historic feat in Paris didn’t mark the peak of the Australian’s season – that arrived two months later in Switzerland.
Rounding out her career as the first woman to conquer both major TT titles in one year, Brown described it as a “dream” and was “really, really lucky to have the end of my career like this. It’s special.” (PT)
(Image credit: Future)
Elisa Longo Borghini’s magnificent Giro d’Italia
Elisa Longo Borghini wins the 2024 Giro d’Italia Women (Image credit: RCS Sport / LaPresse)
Italy had to wait a long 16 years until one of their own secured the coveted maglia rosa at the Giro d’Italia Women. It finally happened in this year’s 35th edition in the most dominating of fashions as Elisa Longo Broghini led the eight-day race from start to finish and was crowned the overall winner in L’Aquila.
Longo Borghini is the reigning Italian Champion and has competed in 13 editions of the Giro d’Italia Women and finished twice on the podium in 2017 and 2020, and said it took an entire team effort to make that step up as the overall champion.
She pulled on the maglia rosa after the stage 1 time trial in Brescia, and then carryied the race lead through Volta Mantovana, Toano, Urbino, Foligno, Chieti and to the top of the iconic Blockhaus, in what was a dramatic race for time bonuses on the penultimate queen stage 7 against runner-up Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).
In a dramatic stage 8 finale, she led by just one second ahead of Kopecky in the overall classification. A breakaway of three took the top three stage places, and then Longo Borghini accelerated and sprinted out of the field in the last kilometre to claim fourth place on the day and win the overall title by 21 seconds ahead of Kopecky.
Longo Borghini was the first Italian to win the maglia rosa at the women’s race since five-time winner Fabiana Luperini last won the title in 2008, and added her name to a list of compatriots to have won the race that also includes Maria Canins, Roberta Bonanomi, and Michela Fanini. (KF)
Rainbow jersey wraps up sensational season for Tadej Pogačar
Tadej Pogačar dons the rainbow jersey for the first time after an incredible 100km attack (Image credit: Getty Images)
Tadej Pogačar delivered the best season of his stellar career so far, becoming just the third male rider to complete the Triple Crown of Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and World Championship road race victories in one season.
Yet, unquestionably, the Slovenian’s World Championships victory was the most poignant of his successes in 2024, both for how he achieved it and what it meant in the context of cycling’s history.
Nowhere was this clearer than in Switzerland when the 26-year-old launched an attack from the peloton with 100km to go, weaving through the day’s breakaway as if they were barely pedalling and then riding solo to the finish from no less than 50km until the line.
A fortnight later the three-time Tour de France winner was at it again – now proudly donning the rainbow jersey – produced a mesmerising 48.4km solo effort to win a fourth consecutive Il Lombardia and his 25th victory of the campaign. (PT)
American Heritage players and coaches pose for a photo with the state title trophy after the 2A championship game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
Courtesy American Heritage
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American Heritage senior Riley Jansen passes the ball during the 2A championship game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
Courtesy American Heritage
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American Heritage players celebrate after scoring a goal during the 2A championship game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
Courtesy American Heritage
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American Heritage players celebrate after the 2A semifinal game against St. Joseph at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage sophomore Sadie Stratton brings the ball up the field during the 2A semifinal game against St. Joseph at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage freshman Ada Werner takes a corner kick during the 2A semifinal game against St. Joseph at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
American Heritage players and coaches pose for a photo with the state title trophy after the 2A championship game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
American Heritage senior Riley Jansen passes the ball during the 2A championship game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
American Heritage players celebrate after scoring a goal during the 2A championship game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
American Heritage players celebrate after the 2A semifinal game against St. Joseph at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
American Heritage sophomore Sadie Stratton brings the ball up the field during the 2A semifinal game against St. Joseph at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
American Heritage freshman Ada Werner takes a corner kick during the 2A semifinal game against St. Joseph at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
The American Heritage girls soccer team took on Waterford on Oct. 1, the Patriots faced one of their toughest games of the season. They managed to eke out a 2-1 win in double overtime, but it wasn’t easy.
When it came time for the rematch, the stakes were a lot higher.
No. 1-seed American Heritage knew the No. 2-seeded Ravens would come into Saturday’s 2A state title game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman confident they could win, so Patriot head coach Eleonor Stafford and her staff worked with their squad to be ready.
“As a team, we decided to focus on going in strong,” Stafford said. “Once the game started, we wanted to set the tone. And the girls executed and kept their composure.”
American Heritage seized control with a first-half goal from junior forward Paisley Gardner, but in the second half it looked like Waterford had a golden opportunity to equalize.
Patriot junior Carlee Vonk, however, refused to let it happen.
“It looked like it was going to go in,” Stafford said. “But Carlee just swept that ball out of there. It was headed right for the goal and everyone was like, oh, that ball is going in. But when she ran and took that ball out, it was just a moment where it’s like, oh my gosh. She really emphasized the tone that we were dominating our side. I was really proud of Carlee.”
Gardner then helped American Heritage put the game away by setting up senior Riley Jansen and freshman Ada Werner for goals as the Patriots pulled away to get the 3-0 win. The victory secured the first state championship in program history.
Stafford said she couldn’t have asked for her athletes to execute much better than they did for those 80 minutes.
“What we worked on this whole season was that if you have the ball, go shoot,” Stafford said. “Riley Jansen, our defensive midfielder and a senior, she set herself up in a good position and she just made sure to score.
“I was just proud of my girls for having the mentality that if you lose the ball, you go run after it and try to win it again. If you have the possibility to have a shot on goal, you take it. I wanted my girls to have a lot of shots on goal because it’s going to go in so at some point. I was just really happy that everyone was on the same page.”
There wasn’t much drama down the stretch, but it was still thrilling for the entire American Heritage squad when the final whistle blew and they had won the championship.
“The girls and I were very emotional because we’ve never done this,” Stafford said. “We were working hard for this. To see that we beat them and that we won state, it was like all the emotions just rushed in. It was just like one of the happiest days for us. We did something hard and we completed it. We got the outcome that we were wanting to happen.”
A lot of the credit for the win goes to the talented young Patriot players, many of whom made sacrifices to help the team be the best it could be.
“Some of our freshmen, they play club soccer and they’re not playing the position for us that they’re playing in club,” Stafford said. “Ada Werner is a defender in club but when I was puzzling out who could fit where, I had her at left wing forward. She just really executed it great. I was just really proud that the girls worked with me, and also were willing to try something different and enjoy soccer at the same time. It was fun to see that.”
But Stafford said the seniors — particularly captains Camryn Woodley and Jansen — were really the foundation of the team’s success.
“The seniors that were on the team, most of them I knew since they were sophomore when I was their assistant coach,” Stafford said. “Last year, when I became head coach, I told them that by the time they were seniors, they were going to get a state championship. So let’s work hard on this.
“I was just really happy that they kept going and they stuck through it all. They got the outcome that we talked about last year. It was very surreal.”
When asked to describe the 2024 American Heritage girls soccer team, Stafford thought for a moment before finally deciding it would be most accurate to call it a “sisterhood.”
“That friendship and camaraderie that we had really set the tone for our team this year,” Stafford said. “Without it, I don’t know where we would be. On and off the field, we are friends. They are just hard-working girls.”
