At the Benedictine Abbey of Notre-Dame de Bellaigue in the French department of Puy-de-Dôme, an internal conflict has escalated into a kidnapping that has turned the monastery upside down. The abbot, Father Placide, was held captive for two days in late June, and upon his return, according to French media, he showed signs of severe physical abuse.
Belgian cyclist Oliver Naesen reacted bluntly onthe HLN Cycling Podcast to the nighttime doping tests conducted on Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard. According to the Decathlon-CMA CGM rider, a teammate of Paul Seixas, such tests are aimed at detecting a substance that is detectable in the blood for only a very short time. “They’re looking for something that stays in your blood for only three hours,” Naesen said. He was referring to substances such as growth hormone.
The bromance between the U.S. president and the FIFA president seems to be continuing even after the World Cup.
The U.S. Department of Justice has taken down or blocked nearly 3,000 websites and domains for illegally live-streaming World Cup matches. In the U.S. alone, more than 1,000 domains were targeted during the tournament. In Colombia, a similar situation occurred, with a comparable number of illegal streams being blocked.
Uncertainty reigns regarding the overnight doping tests on Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, after the International Testing Agency (ITA) had the top cyclists hauled out of bed in the middle of the night—reportedly with the authorization of a French judge. A French prosecutor confirmed on Monday that a judge had approved a request from the ITA, an exceptional step that, according to the law, is permitted only in cases of “serious and consistent suspicions” and where there is a risk of evidence being lost.
Spanish DJ B Jones made an impressive comeback at Tomorrowland after a grueling battle with lymph node cancer. She performed on the Main Stage in a wheelchair, but above all, she demonstrated just how much strength lies in perseverance, hope, and a love of music.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has dismissed the governor of Ardahan Province, Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli, following controversy over his cycling outfit. The governor came under fire after photos surfaced showing him cycling in tight leggings and athletic wear. The incident has sparked fierce criticism in Turkey.
Donald Trump has admitted that his new Air Force One, an aircraft he received from Qatar last year, is being temporarily grounded for additional upgrades. According to Trump, the plane must be modified again within about a month to upgrade it “as much as possible.”
On Sunday, protests took place in Tirana for the 50th consecutive day against a controversial real estate project on the Albanian coast. The protesters are now not only demanding that the plans be halted, but are also calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
A dark day for the German mountaineering community.