Deportes

Every return of the Tour de France to Orcières-Merlette brings back memories of that afternoon in 1971 when Luis Ocaña made history. For many, that remains the most important feat in modern cycling. Due to the magnitude of the stage, the differences generated, and above all, the defeated rivals, fundamentally the insurmountable Eddie Merckx. Ocaña broke away when there was still an eternity ahead (60 km) and the minutes fell one after another until the definitive 8m40s. Not even when they hinted from the car that it was enough to wear yellow did he give up continuing to increase his lead. The Spanish champion, a genius with his own ghosts, showed that even the most dominant rider could be defeated, even humiliated. “Luis Ocaña killed us all today, like El Cordobés kills his bulls,” Eddy Merckx acknowledged after the stage, in a phrase reported the next day by La Vanguardia and which perhaps remains the best way to explain what happened in Orcières-Merlette. “A magnificent feat, which Spanish cycling greatly needed,” said Federico Martín Bahamontes for this newspaper that same day.

World champion Pablo Páez ‘Gavi’ has downplayed the incidents after Spain’s victory over Argentina in the World Cup final (1-0) and considered them a “part of football that is a bit more violent”, but that does not deserve suspensions.

Paul Seixas is the new phenomenon of French cycling. At just 19 years old, the rider has become one of the great revelations of the Tour de France and the hope of a country that has been looking for decades for a successor to fight for victory again in the most important race in the world. His talent, his precocity, and his performance in the general classification have skyrocketed expectations around him.

The White House reacted this Tuesday to the cap with the message ‘Make Spain Great Again’ that footballer Ferran Torres wore during the celebration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup title through the streets of Madrid.

After the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has announced the list of players who can be chosen by fans to be part of the tournament’s best eleven. The most notable aspect of the list published by FIFA is that only six Spaniards are candidates to be part of the best eleven, which is surprising considering that Spain is the team that has been crowned champion.

In the mixed zone, from which the Argentine players fled stealthily and treacherously after losing the final, demonstrating their nonexistent greatness in defeat, a Brazilian journalist was summarizing what was seen in the longest World Cup in history: “Football finally won.”

From Johannesburg to New Jersey. From eight world champions in 2010 to another eight in 2026. From Andrés Iniesta’s goal to Ferran Torres’. The two stars that the Spanish national team wears on its jersey have a strong Barça accent. Within a squad full of excellent footballers without a big reputation, except for the bright Lamine Yamal and despite having a Ballon d’Or winner like Rodrigo Hernández, Barça has once again left its mark on a Spanish team that has earned admiration throughout the 38 days of the World Cup.

Among the many reactions generated by Spain’s victory in the World Cup, one of the most emotional has perhaps been that of Iñaki Williams. The Athletic Club forward, an international player for Ghana, has dedicated heartfelt words to his younger brother, Nico Williams, who is part of the team that yesterday defeated Argentina in the final and who was in fact the author of a commendable headed assist to Ferran Torres, allowing him to score the only goal of the match.

Leo Messi spoke for the first time after Spain’s victory over Argentina in the World Cup final. The Argentine star, who played his third World Cup final against the Spanish team, shared a message on his Instagram account along with an image with the runner-up medal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the venue where he broke down in tears after being cheered by his compatriots in the stands.

FIFA will open a disciplinary investigation to analyze the incidents that occurred after the 2026 World Cup final and has appointed an instructor to investigate the events that took place after the World Cup final in which Spain won 1-0 against Argentina in New Jersey.