Johan Cruyff used to say that players who doubted were not fit for Barça. Rodri Hernández never doubted, even though the Madrid-born midfielder was also wanted by Real Madrid. But the international midfielder was clear as soon as Barcelona came into the picture. “It’s true that there were other possibilities, as you say – he argued without mentioning the Whites – but Barcelona was always my first choice. It has always been a reference for me because of its style of play and the values it represents,” he said in his debut. “I keep the reasons for my decision to myself, but I have always been driven by sporting arguments,” Rodri defended his choice, very grateful to Manchester City but excited about Barça’s project: “It is a team that is growing a lot. They have won two consecutive leagues with all the difficulty that entails and in Europe they have been one step away from the Champions League. One of the reasons for coming here is not only the present but the projection of the project,” he proclaimed.

The Tour de France stages a race against the clock, the mountains, and physical wear every summer. This year, it is also competing against the heat. The organization decided yesterday to cut the first 30 kilometers of today’s stage after French authorities activated the red alert for high temperatures in the Corrèze department, where thermometers can approach 40 degrees. The route modification reflects how much the heat is affecting modern cycling. Hydration, physiological adaptation to high temperatures, and nutrition occupy as important a space as physical preparation or strategy. Riders consume more carbohydrates than ever, monitor their temperature, and look for any detail that allows them to delay fatigue.