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- Nascent French government under pressure on multiple fronts
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- Protect the prosciutto: Italy battles swine fever
- UN holds 'Summit of the Future' to tackle global crises
- Marxist leader set to become Sri Lanka's next president
- From blades to pull-up bars: UK charity tackles knife crime
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- No pain, no gain: Chinese pro wrestlers fight for recognition
- UAE leader seeks to deepen 'strategic' ties in US visit during Mideast crisis
- Hezbollah takes heavy hits but still fighting Israel
- Floods, landslides hit central Japan months after major quake
- All Blacks coach Robertson demands better finishing
- Argentina edge South Africa to keep title hopes alive
- Biden says China 'testing us,' in hot mic remarks to Quad allies
- Dubois destroys Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Guardiola says critics want Man City wiped 'from face of the Earth'
- Biden says 'Quad' is 'here to stay' despite challenges
- Dubois knocks out Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Vinicius helps 'faster' Madrid overturn stubborn Espanyol
- Zelensky to press US on long-range missile strikes inside Russia
- PSG drop first points in draw at Reims
- Vinicius, Mbappe on target as Madrid crush plucky Espanyol
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- Bottega Veneta goes for 'E.T.' chic as Madonna pops into D&G
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- Musk's X platform takes first step toward lifting Brazil ban
- 'Business as usual' for Australia match-winner Carey amid boos
- Israeli jets pound Lebanon after deadly Beirut strike
- Ten Hag bemoans Man Utd's lack of killer instinct in Palace stalemate
- France's Macron appoints new government in shift to right
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- Profligate Man Utd pay price in 0-0 draw at Palace
- Kane, Olise run riot as Bayern thump Bremen
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Man Utd held at Palace
- LIV champion Rahm out of LIV Team semis with severe flu
- Slot surprised by tearful Nunez's moment of magic
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- Bayern boss Kompany lauds 'special talent' Olise
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- Ramos guides unbeaten Toulouse to Montpellier win despite Hogg scuffle
'I am not a robot': Evenepoel says Giro criticism hurt
Belgian cycling star Remco Evenepoel took a swing at his critics on Tuesday as he announced he was back in training nine days after abandoning the Giro d'Italia with Covid even though he was in the lead.
"Ups & downs are part of our job and I can accept that," the 23-year-old, who held a narrow lead when he dropped out, posted on Facebook. "What is hard to accept is all the fake and negative comments I got after having to leave the race."
"I just want to ask everyone to remember I am not a robot, but also a normal human being, husband, son, teammate etc. with normal feelings," he wrote adding that he would use it as motivation.
"After today's check-ups and medical screenings, I got the green light to start training again."
Evenepoel, the Giro favourite, left the race on May 14 after testing positive. He returned to Belgium the next day, "sick as a dog," according to the boss of his Soudal-Quick Step team, Patrick Lefevere.
The rider, who won the world championship and the Spanish Vuelta last season, said leaving the race was tough.
"Definitely one of the hardest setbacks in my still very short career," he wrote. "A very brutal end of what could have been a beautiful story. 6 months of full preparation for only this race. Sacrifices, long days in the rain, long periods away from home. Everything was going according to plan but that is how sport goes."
Cycling no longer obliges cyclists to stop racing after testing positive for Covid-19 and in Italy, several former champions, including Francesco Moser, criticised Evenepoel's decision to leave the Giro on the eve of the rest day.
Gazetta dello Sport, a sports daily which belongs to the RCS group that organises the Giro, accused Evenepoel of failing to respect the organisers by announcing his withdrawal before warning them.
While Evenepoel won the time trial, an event he dominates, on the day he quit, it was only by one second from Geraint Thomas. The Belgian had struggled and lost time in the mountains the previous day. He led the overall classification, but three rivals were within a minute.
Gazetta said Evenepoel "would have found it hard to accept a defeat and preferred to leave the race with the pink jersey and two wins in the two time trials."
Evenepoel responded on Tuesday that "I am not the type of person that is going to hide or is afraid of losing".
"The last days were emotionally very hard because of these comments," he said. "But I will take those moments with me on the bike, preparing for my next goals and races."
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN