It's the Omloop Het Niewsblad. And what does that mean? We are so back. Mathieu van der Poel sets up battle with Tadej Pogacar after dominant win, while Demi Vollering edges the latest in a rivalry of her own... www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Big signing for @theathletic.com. Very excited to have the dogged @cmbreports.bsky.social (his choice of adjective) writing for us during the upcoming season. First up: why cycling’s doping ghosts appear to be rising once again:

On Jessie Diggins' final Olympic race. Undoubtedly, an athlete who left her sport in a better place than she found it, who redefined the sport's relationship with suffering, who was only ever bowing out one way.

EXCLUSIVE: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has just produced the most dominant Winter Olympic performance ever. Six golds, six events. Two days ago before making history, the cross-country skier gave @theathletic.com access to his final preparations. Free to read.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo makes history. Six events. Six golds. Victory in the 50km confirms the 29-year-old Norwegian as the greatest Winter Olympian of all time: www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Below them is 100m of runway and up to 250m of air. What’s on a ski-jumper’s mind when they sit on the bar? Nothing, mostly.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo continues his march towards a clean sweep of the six Olympics golds — he has just one to go after victory in the team sprint. What a day as well for the USA — a first men's medal in this event through Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher. www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

What’s it like being your nation’s only Olympic athlete? They’ve worked multiple jobs, received baffled looks from their countrymen, and relied on the kindness of strangers. What is the Olympics truly about? Their stories are a key strand in the fabric. www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Final round of team ski-jumping cancelled with just three jumpers left amidst snowstorm. Austria win deserved gold… but Poland catapulted from fifth to silver. www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

40 years ago, their town was destroyed by a failed dam. Clemente dug his brother from the mud. 268 died, including his father. Now, the Olympics have arrived. The disaster's survivors see this as a rebirth — but also something more. Free to read below. www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

In the women’s large hill debut, Anna Odine Strøm makes ski-jump history. The Norwegian does the individual gold double at the first time of asking. Just the fourth jumper ever to complete the feat, she joins the greats. www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

With his ninth gold medal, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo becomes the most decorated Winter Olympian in history. Story from when he was just an 'average Joe', throwing snowballs in frustration in the woods: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

There’s something about an athlete being under the greatest pressure of their career and transcending it. A piece on Domen Prevc delivering on his promise, eying history, and providing Olympic ski-jumping with a signature moment. What a thrill. www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

It was awesome to watch Johannes Høsflot Klæbo make history today, tying for the most Winter Olympic golds of all time. What was even more of a privilege? Being invited to watch the race alongside his family. “Who’s that?” “That’s your son.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo wins his eighth Olympic gold in thrilling circumstances — tying the record for most Winter Olympic gold medals in history. 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

One week at the Winter Olympics: some snaps from the mountains. Honestly, a huge part of the buzz has just been how overjoyed the fans are (and the pasta).

From @theathletic.com: Johannes Klaebo of Norway won another gold medal on Tuesday, on his quest to become the most decorated men's cross-country skiing Olympian. He is an athlete who transcends the conventional wisdom of his sport, like Alex Honnold or Shohei Ohtani. nyti.ms/4rM6RgU

Jens Luraas Oftebro won Nordic combined gold today despite getting his ski stuck in a fence… to think we may not have this sport at the next Olympics. Amid its uncertain future, medalists reiterate call for women to compete in 2030. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Tonight, Domen Prevc could follow his sister Nika and win Slovenia’s second ski-jumping medal. Like compatriots Tadej Pogacar, Luka Doncic, Janja Garnbret, and Benjamin Sesko, they sit atop world sport. How does the tiny nation of two million do it? www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

One down, five to go. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo wins gold in the men’s skiathlon, beginning his quest for an unprecedented six medals perfectly. Spoke to his family and coaches last week to discover what made the world’s most dominant skier: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

New beat for a few weeks - in Val di Fiemme covering the Winter Olympics. First up - a shock result in the women’s ski jumping, as 20yo phenom Nika Prevc is denied gold by Norway. www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Johannes Klaebo is possibly the biggest sports star in the world that you've never heard of. The Norwegian cross country skier is looking to sweep the medals from the sprint to skiathlon in Milan-Cortina. This is his story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

EF are to sell their naming rights as the American squad bid to win the Tour de France. Jonathan Vaughters: “To remain relevant in professional cycling, you need to be in that very top tier.” Scoop from Andy McGrath for @theathleticfc.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

No country for cold men? Russian and Belarusian competitors are set to compete in next month's Winter Olympics as independent neutral athletes — but they face a stateless existence. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

NEW: Infantino and Ceferin personally intervene in bid to save football pitch in the West Bank from destruction by IDF. UEFA and FIFA leaders directly petitioned Israeli FA and ambassadors. Planned demolition understood to be suspended. www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

Shock news on a Wednesday afternoon. Simon Yates announces his immediate retirement from cycling. Timing is a surprise — but on reflection, after the Colle delle Finestre, he had summitted his greatest mountaintop. News & analysis with @oilysailor.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

Derek Gee-West has a new name and a new team. Five-month transfer saga finally at an end as the Canadian climber adds to hefty firepower at Lidl-Trek. Gee-West previously sought to terminate his contract at Israel-Premier Tech over "personal beliefs". www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

Greek football has been in the doldrums since their miraculous Euro 2004 victory. Went to Athens to discover how their rebirth, ‘Anagennisi’, is taking place, via futures teams, a refocus on technical ability, and the Battle of Thermopylae… www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...

British climber Oscar Onley has signed for INEOS Grenadiers in one of the biggest transfers of the cycling offseason so far. 📝 @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social 🔗 theathletic.com/6917014/?sou...

Oscar Onley signs for INEOS. The British team have the GC leader they’ve been searching for - and complete their most significant offseason revamp in years. Analysis: www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

New: The handling of Emi Martinez's head knock has been criticised by brain injury charity Headway. #AVFC GK stayed on after long assessment, with him & teammates appearing to try to sway medics. Headway reiterates call for temporary concussion subs. www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...

Pretty fascinating Vuelta a Espana route. Granada finish at the Alhambra is an Iberian Montmartre, a ridiculous amount of climbing, and some early GC shake-ups... But can't shake the feeling that a southern route and the heat is a worrying combo. www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...

Cycling to charge for mountain-top finishes? Its supporters call it "boldness" — but sometimes boldness is keeping things the way they are. Witness the World Cup ticket price furore? Cycling needs to celebrate its uniqueness, not escape it. Column ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Motions officially filed in Swiss parliament today to debate UEFA's tax status — linked to West Bank-based Israeli clubs continuing to play in European competition. First reported on the planned action earlier this month, more details below ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

When Andres Iniesta was a boy, he remembers watching Miguel Indurain churn through mountain time-trials. The football legend's childhood glee was apparent as he launched the NSN Cycling Team in Barcelona — the rebranded Israel-Premier Tech. www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

Exclusive: Tony Bloom syndicate does bet on Premier League matches (not #BHAFC games), but Bloom removes his stake to meet FA rules. Plus, Scottish FA request court documents to investigate any potential player involvement. Case explained and latest ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...

Always a sense of anticipation around the Giro d’Italia. The season’s first Grand Tour, not as backloaded as usual, fun stages in Bulgaria, up Blockhaus, and to Piani di Pezze. Women to tackle Colle delle Finestre for the first time. Route analysis ⬇️⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

Exclusive: UEFA executives have held meetings with organisers of pro-Palestinian campaign Game Over Israel since October's ceasefire. Meetings discussed the potential circumstances which could lead to a ban of Israel from international competition. www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

At 18 years old, Konstantinos Karetsas is the shining pearl of Greek football, and already one of Europe's top prospects. Interviewed the winger about the joy of the assist, the transfer plan mapped out with his Dad, and the Greek-Belgian battle for him. www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

Two goals for Malick Thiaw on Saturday, and though his persona is understated, it still shouldn’t have taken that for him to win his plaudits. An outstanding start at #NUFC - and already one of the best CBs in the Premier League. www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

Interviewed Kostas Tsimikas in Athens during the international break. He was incredibly reflective on the capricious life of footballers, leaving Liverpool for Roma, and his friend Diogo Jota, tattooed on his left wrist. www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

#EFC 1-4 #NUFC Given the context to Newcastle's away form, probably their most impressive performance of the season. Eddie Howe's six changes paid off. More outstanding work from Thiaw, Miley justifiably pushing for more minutes, and really encouraging from Elanga. www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

⚫ MASSIVE away win 🙌 ⚪ 2nd goal critical (via Pickford...) 👀 ⚫ Awesome Thiaw at the double ⚽⚽ ⚪ Howe's changes excel 🤩 ⚫ Miley's class 😍 ⚪ Transformative win? 🔮 📝 #EFC 1-4 #NUFC analysis, w/ @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social: #EVENEW www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

“Legacy is not on his mind as he seeks to make his own history.” Can Tadej Pogacar go on to eclipse Eddy Merckx? Really glad to run an excerpt from Andy McGrath’s wonderful Pogi biography - out now. www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

After 17,900km, Sofiane Sehili was just 200km away from his goal - the Trans-Eurasian cycling world record. He had one day remaining to reach Vladivostok. He finished it in a Russian prison. www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Israel-Premier Tech’s rebrand is now complete - they are NSN Cycling Team. Spanish-based, Swiss-registered, the title sponsors were founded by Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta. www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Spoke to Jamal Khashoggi's widow in January about the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. She called on FIFA to commemorate his memory throughout the tournament. Ahead of next summer, Donald Trump's verdict on Khashoggi's murder? "Things happen." www.nytimes.com/athletic/606...

Cycling’s autumn has been dominated by its relationship with nation states. Wrote about the UAE’s activities in Sudan, Israel-Premier Tech’s rebrand, and Jayco-AlUla’s difficulties. Something needs to change, but solutions are hard to see. www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Wout van Aert is one of cycling’s superstars; his win over Montmartre one of the year’s top moments. We spoke about post-injury doubts, managing his own demanding nature, and his big offseason adventure in the USA. www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Amid all the long throws and set pieces that have dominated the Premier League season, plenty of fans have been expressing their displeasure at the way their team have been playing. @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social went to three matches in two days to try to find out what they really want to see.