Don't miss it! Cycling's golden era delivers weekly brilliance and once-in-a-lifetime rivalries

PARIS (AP) — Think of the golden age of men's tennis, when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray dominated the tour with unprecedented consistency, delighting fans weekly.

France Paris Roubaix Cycling

Something remarkably similar and just as spectacular is unfolding incyclingtoday.

The sport is being blessed with a generation of male champions who have revitalized it, injecting a sense of drama that had been missing for years, when race strategies felt predictable and viewers would often only tune in for the last kilometers. Now, at the start of every major event, everything seems possible.

You can thankTadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard for that.

They are the main figures of cycling’s new age. And since the start of the season, which culminates in the heat of July during three weeks on the bucolic roads of the Tour de France, there has not been a week of racing when they have not taken each other on with excitement and panache.

The latest example unfolded over the weekend in northern France atParis-Roubaix, the grueling cycling classic over cobblestones known as the Hell of the North.

The 123rd edition of the one-day race was expected to be a duel between three-time defending champion van der Poel, from the Alpecin–Premier Tech, and Pogačar, the leader of the UAE Team Emirates XRG, who was chasing a first victory in the only Monument missing from his cabinet trophy. There are four other so-called Monument races in cycling — Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Tour of Lombardy, the Tour of Flanders and Milan-San Remo.

Unpredictable scenarios

Nothing went as planned in what turned out to be a blockbuster script.

Van der Poel saw his hopes vanish after two punctures in the cobbled sector of the famed Trouée d’Arenberg, losing considerable time he was unable to make up despite a furious chase. Pogačar, who had also suffered a puncture earlier in the race, found himself in an ideal position at the front, but that was without reckoning van Aert.

The often unlucky but experienced Visma–Lease a Bike rider stayed with the Slovenian until the finish and comfortably beat him in the final sprint at the Roubaix velodrome, handing him his first defeat of 2026.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme praised Pogačar for the enthusiasm he is bringing to the sport by competing on all terrains throughout the year. The 27-year-old four-time Tour champion is arguably the most exciting rider of his generation. Capable of winning everywhere, he has drawn comparisons with the great Eddy Merckx.

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“We have a champion who is doing what Eddy Merckx was doing 50 years ago,” Prudhomme told RMC radio on Sunday. “Not just in terms of victories, but in being present from March all the way through to October. His quest for a fifth Monument—the only one that still eludes him—will continue, and in a way, that’s just fine by me.”

Vintage Tour de France looming

The renewed excitement in cycling has been felt throughout all the major classics this season, with thrilling, action-packed races atMilan–San Remoand theTour of Flanders.It has also been present at weeklong races such asParis-Nice, where two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard won ahead of Dani Martinez with the biggest winning margin since 1939, and the fourth biggest in the history of the race.

Vingegaard also secured the best climber’s polka-dot jersey, and took the best sprinter’s green jersey in a show of force that foreshadowed another major battle with Pogačar at the Tour this summer.

As well as chasing a third Tour crown this year, Vingegaard is set for hisGiro d’Italiadebut in May in a bid to win all threeGrand Tours. He won the Tour de Francein 2022 and ’23and last year clinched his firstSpanish Vuelta title.

Beyond the rivalry between Pogačar and Vingegaard, the possible participation in the Tour of young prodigy Paul Seixas could add an extra layer of suspense. At just 19 years old, the versatile Frenchman from theDecathlon CMA CGMteam is regarded as a future great and France hopes he can end its long wait for a Tour victory, which dates back to 1985 and the final triumph of Bernard Hinault.

Seixas became last week the youngest winner of the Tour of the Basque Country, as well as the youngest winner of a WorldTour stage race ahead of Evenepoel.

“I had said before his brilliant victory in the Ardèche (classic), after a 42-kilometre solo breakaway that If he doesn’t come (to the Tour), we won’t hold it against him. I can confirm today that if he does come, we won’t hold it against him either," Prudhomme joked when asked about Seixas's participation.

According to Prudhomme, cycling's revival is confirmed by a renewed interest among younger audiences, who follow races roadside — like last yearin Montmartre during the Tour final stagewhich drew thousands of spectators — as well as on social media and on television.

There was nearly 150 million viewers across Europe for last year's Tour, with afternoon broadcasts in France reaching record highs.

“I don’t know if we’re living through a golden age, but we are certainly experiencing some beautiful moments,” Prudhomme said.

AP sports:https://apnews.com/sports

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April 13, 2026

Don't miss it! Cycling's golden era delivers weekly brilliance and once-in-a-lifetime rivalries

PARIS (AP) — Think of the golden age of men's tennis, when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray dominated th...

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Yemaneberhan Crippa wins Paris Marathon, Ethiopia's Shure Demise smashes record in women’s race

PARIS (AP) — Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa was the fastest of nearly 60,000 runners in the Paris Marathon on Sunday, while Shure Demise of Ethiopia smashed a course record to win the women’s race.

France Paris Marathon

Demise ran the 42.195 kilometers (26.2 miles) through the French capital in a personal-best time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 34 seconds, shaving more than a minute off the previous women’s fastest time in Paris.

The 30-year-old Demise reached the finish on Avenue Foch opposite the Arc de Triomphe ahead of compatriot Misgane Alemayehu (2:19:08) and Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai (2:19:17).

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The Ethiopian-born Crippa finished in 2:05:18, five seconds ahead of Bayelign Teshager of Ethiopia and 10 ahead of Sila Kiptoo of Ethiopia.

AP sports:https://apnews.com/hub/sports

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April 12, 2026

Yemaneberhan Crippa wins Paris Marathon, Ethiopia's Shure Demise smashes record in women’s race

PARIS (AP) — Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa was the fastest of nearly 60,000 runners in the Paris Marathon on Sunday, while Shure Demise o...

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Final Four most outstanding player Elliot Cadeau announces he is returning to Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Elliot Cadeau, who was named the Final Four's most outstanding player after helping Michigan to itsfirst national titlesince 1989, announced on social media Thursday night that he will be back with the Wolverines next season.

The point guard said in an Instagram reel “let's do it again” after his return was first reported by ESPN.

Cadeau tied a season high with 19 points in Michigan's 69-63 victory over UConn in the national championship game. He averaged 10.5 points and 5.9 assists in his first season with the program after two years at North Carolina.

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Cadeau's announcement came shortly after J.P. Estrellaconfirmed on Instagramthat he is transferring from Tennessee and joining the Wolverines.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphere. AP college basketball:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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April 12, 2026

Final Four most outstanding player Elliot Cadeau announces he is returning to Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Elliot Cadeau, who was named the Final Four's most outstanding player after helping Michigan to itsfirst na...

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Former Baylor Basketball Star Melissa Jones Dies at 36

Former Baylor basketball star Melissa Jones died on Friday, April 3 at her home in Colorado, her mother told a local news station

NEED TO KNOW

• A cause of death was not made available

• Jones played under head coach Kim Mulkey, who remembered the late Baylor star for her "her effort, her caring, her knowledge and her toughness"

Former Baylor basketball star Melissa Jones has died at age 36.

Jones' mother Kathy shared that the former Bears guard died on April 3 at her home in Commerce City, Colo., she confirmed to local news stationKWTXon Wednesday, April 8. Additional information, including a cause of death, was not made available.

Baylor University honored Jones with a statement onX, writing, "The Baylor Family mourns the loss of 2011 alum Melissa Jones. Her impact on our women's basketball program will not be forgotten."

The school asked followers to "please keep the Jones family and the Baylor women's basketball program in your prayers at this time."

Kathy told KWTX that her daughter "was my most treasured gift from God along with her 3 brothers."

Jones' mother also shared with the outlet that her daughter was proud to play for Baylor and enjoyed her experience at the school. “It was the time of her life. She has so many fond memories and made so many beautiful friends there, and she’d kept up with so many over the years. It’s a beautiful thing,” she said.

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Jones was a fan-favorite guard at Baylor, ranking among the school's top 10 in multiple categories. In 2011, she was the inaugural recipient of the school'sMelissa Jones Hustle and Courage Award. In aninterviewfor Baylor's magazine that year, Jones spoke highly of the "community" and "love and support" she felt at Baylor.

Jones played under now-LSU head coachKim Mulkeyduring her years at Baylor, calling her a "leader" who "really motivates you to share her mentality" in her 2011 interview.

After Jones' death, Mulkey, 63, told KWTX in a statement: “Melissa Jones left her mark on Baylor University, not just women’s basketball. She was loved by the entire Waco community. Everything she did for us was full speed."

Mulkey told the outlet that Jones "played the game the way every player should," complimenting Jones for being a "great leader" and remembered the respect Jones' teammates had for her.

"Her teammates respected her because she represented everything — her effort, her caring, her knowledge and her toughness were unmatched. She was the “glue” that kept the team together good times and bad," Mulkey said.

Read the original article onPeople

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April 11, 2026

Former Baylor Basketball Star Melissa Jones Dies at 36

Former Baylor basketball star Melissa Jones died on Friday, April 3 at her home in Colorado, her mother told a local news station ...

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Michigan's win over UConn averages 18.3 million for most-watched NCAA men's final since 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Michigan's69-63 victoryover Connecticut on Monday night averaged 18.3 million viewers on TBS, TNT, truTV andHBO Max, according to Nielsen, making it the most-watched men's NCAA Tournament final since 2019. That year, Virginia defeated Texas Tech in overtime on CBS.

The audience for Michigan's first title since 1989 peaked at 20.4 million for the conclusion between 11-11:15 p.m. EDT. It was a 23% increase from the 2024 final on TNT. CBS and TNT started alternating the Final Four in 2016. This was the fifth time TNT had the final.

Overall, the tournament averaged 10.9 million across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. It is the second-most watched March Madness since 1994, which aired entirely on CBS, and a 7% increase over last year.

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The Final Four averaged 14.2 million, an 11% jump from 2024.

This year's tournament had the most-watched first round and the most-viewed second round since 1993.

AP March Madness bracket:https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracketand coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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April 09, 2026

Michigan's win over UConn averages 18.3 million for most-watched NCAA men's final since 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — Michigan's69-63 victoryover Connecticut on Monday night averaged 18.3 million viewers on TBS, TNT, truTV andHBO Max...

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Why Memphis' Charles Huff hire matters beyond the field: 'I bear that cross'

MEMPHIS, TN – His chair scraping across a concrete floor and piercing the soft murmur of noise inside this Memphis barbecue staple, Charles Huff gathers himself.

Scoots back, leans forward.

On the job little more than 100 days asMemphis Tigers footballcoach, Huff measures his message.

He is the only Black head coach from the2025-26 college football coaching carouselto carry an elevation in role, spending a year at Southern Miss and landing a fringe Power conference-type job at Memphis, an American Conference resident with P-4 ambitions.

EXCLUSIVE:Pat Fitzgerald was vilified, then vindicated. His truth comes out at last

Huff embraces he is coaching for more than just his Memphis program, players and staff.

“I carry that, I bear that cross,” Huff told USA TODAY Sports. “But I know, for years, when I was a young coach at Tennessee State coming up in the profession, I would go to AFCA conventions, and back then they had a thing called the BCA (Black Coaches Association). And we would meet on Sunday night. It would be the last meeting of the night.

“And there were hundreds of African-American minority coaches in a room, and there were head coaches that sat on the panel. I remember Tyrone Willingham was there one time. Charlie Strong was there. And I just remember it being such a gripe session. ‘We don't get our opportunities. We got to get more opportunities.’ I just remember, James Franklin said, ‘Guys, we come in here every year and we complain. And yes, we need to, you know, get more opportunities. But when we do get opportunities, we gotta win.’”

Huff is the first minority head football coach at Memphis in 15 years; he reports to Dr. Ed Scott, the school’s first Black athletic director.

Across the major-college sports landscape, Virginia has a minority head coach and athletic director; Syracuse will this summer, when Bryan Blair takes the top athletics chair and has football coach Fran Brown.

That’s it. That’s the list.

Scott recalls the tough questions he asked of Memphis leaders and community members once Scott identified Huff as his No. 1 target to replace Ryan Silverfield,who left for the Arkansas job.

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“The first thing I'll say to you is I'm the first African-American AD in the history of Memphis, right?,” Scott told USA TODAY Sports. “And, (Memphis President) Bill Hardgrave, well, a Caucasian, a white man, took a chance on me. And I think, by all feedback I've got from Dr. Hardgrave, he's been really happy and pleased with his decision.

“And when I was going into this search, I reached out to some prominent people around here and said, ‘Look, you know, if we go in the direction of a Black head coach, a minority head coach, how's that gonna be perceived?’ So, I wanted to know, but I will tell you this. When you work for Carla Williams (University of Virginia athletic director), which I am grateful to have the privilege to have done, and you work for the first Black woman, African-American woman, to run a P-4 (department), you hire the best person for the job. And my value is I wanted the best person for the job.”

Temperatures push into the 80s on the first day of April, the sixth day of Memphis’ spring football camp and the day Scott also introduces his new women’s basketball coach, Hana Haden.

Now, Scott surveys the fields of the Tigers’ sprawling football practice complex, which features an 120-yard heated and cooled indoor field as well as three full-size playing surfaces outside.

A receiver makes a corner-end zone touchdown catch and Scott is the first to congratulate, quick with a pat on the helmet and an exclamatory expletive.

“At the end of the search process, Charles Huff was the best person for the job,” said Scott, a former college baseball player who previously served as athletic director for HBCU school Morgan State. “I take pride in this, in that I found what I believe is the best person for the job, who happens to be Black. And in addition to that, if you look at the minority coaches that were hired this cycle, he's the only one who moved up. (James) Franklin, right, was the only other one who was hired again in the cycle.

“There were a lot of coaches hired, but none of them looked like me or Charles Huff. And so to be able to give him this opportunity because he earned it, not because he was Black, I take pride in that.”

In five previous seasons as head coach, Huff has five bowl berths, a Sun Belt Conference championship and one of the sport’s signature upsets this decade when his Marshall won at Notre Dame in 2022.

He is a protégé of both Franklin and Nick Saban, serving as Saban’s associate head coach at Alabama in 2019-20 before landing his first head coaching post at Marshall.

He wins. Huff wants to win more. For everyone.

“The only way for me to effectively move the needle is to win,” Huff said. “And not only winning on the field, but winning off the field, making the right decisions, I still, to this day, if I drive, I won't even have one drink. You know, I'm making sure that my off-the-field alignment goes with winning, because I know me having success will create opportunities for others. Is it gonna happen overnight? No. But I think over time, you know, guys like James Franklin, he's won at a high clip. Tony Elliott now is winning at a high clip. The more we win, the more opportunities come.

“So, the weight I carry is the best thing I can do is win.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:At Memphis, a rare college football reality: Black head coach, Black AD

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April 09, 2026

Why Memphis' Charles Huff hire matters beyond the field: 'I bear that cross'

MEMPHIS, TN – His chair scraping across a concrete floor and piercing the soft murmur of noise inside this Memphis barbecue staple, Cha...

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The 2026 WNBA Draft board is a puzzle — here’s how it fits together now

With theWomen's Final Fourcomplete, all eyes turn towards the2026 WNBA Draft.

TheWNBA drafttakes place Monday, April 13, in New York, and this year's event has a different feel. Unlike the last two drafts, where Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were consensus No. 1 overall picks, this year's top spot is up for grabs.

After an exciting March Madness, it's time to see who helped their stock and who fell down the draft board. Is Awa Fam still at the top? Is Azzi Fudd a top-five draft pick? Who vaulted into the first round?

Here's USA TODAY's latest 2026 WNBA mock draft:

1. Dallas Wings: Lauren Betts, C, UCLA

After a stellar NCAA Tournament run, Betts has done enough to earn consideration for the No. 1 overall pick. While the Bruins center will need to work on shooting more baskets in the mid-range and later from deep, she can be inserted into Dallas's lineup when the season starts on May 8. Her length and size make her an immediate threat in the post, along with her passing abilities and rebounding prowess.

2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles, G, TCU

Minnesota doesn't struggle to move the ball, but adding Miles into the mix gives the Lynx the ability to take their offensive movement up a level. The TCU guard has a high basketball IQ, which should help her with the rookie learning curve on a team with championship aspirations. Head coach Cheryl Reeve can also bring out the best in Miles defensive skills as she adjusts to WNBA play.

3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd, G, UConn

Fudd had a very underwhelming NCAA Tournament aside from her second round game against Syracuse. The slump won't stop her from being drafted. The UConn guard's shot is still the purest in college basketball, and her ability to be an offensive threat at any moment is something you don't see as often at the rookie level. Fudd also rarely wastes a movement or a shot, making her a prime candidate to draft.

4. Washington Mystics: Awa Fam, C, Spain

Fam has an extremely high upside and could start for a team now. However, at 19 years old, she's a raw prospect and might benefit from an environment where she doesn't have immediate pressure to produce. Washington could plug Fam in behind center Shakira Austin, allowing her time to learn, grow and gain confidence. An aggressive Fam would be a dangerous Fam.

5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice, G, UCLA

Until veteran Courtney Vandersloot returns, the Sky need a guard who can facilitate, score when needed and defend. Rice, who finished a career year in a UCLA uniform, has proven she can do it all. The senior guard has improved her ability to read opposing defenses, maintain patience with solid footwork and recover in help defense. Rice would also take some pressure off Hailey Van Lith, who struggled during her rookie season.

6. Toronto Tempo: Flau'jae Johnson, G, LSU

Johnson has a score-first mentality, and she does it in a variety of ways: midrange, downhill in the paint and from the 3-point line. She's one of the top defensive guards in the 2026 class, and if she can improve her defensive awareness at the pro level, she can become an elite two-way guard. Head coach Sandy Brondello should also be a tremendous asset to Johnson's growth.

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7. Portland Fire: Ta'Niya Latson, G, South Carolina

Latson's NCAA Tournament run was a mixed bag. That shouldn't hurt her WNBA draft stock, but it wasn't hard to notice as the level of competition rose (with games against TCU, UConn and UCLA), she struggled to find her shot or ways to contribute. At the pro level, she'll be asked to do more, and she'll need to lean into her aggressiveness to have success.

Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in the NCAA women's basketball tournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kamy Peppler #1 of the Green Bay Phoenix reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the third quarter during the First Round of the Women's NCAA Tournament at Williams Arena on March 20, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Phoenix 75-58.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament

Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in theNCAA women's basketballtournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.

8. Golden State Valkyries: Gabriela Jaquez, G, UCLA

If a team gives her any space, Jaquez will make them pay. The guard can do it all, with assists, 3-pointers, in the paint, on the boards or by creating a steal. She should fit well within Golden State's "hard hat and lunch pail" culture, where they pride themselves on having energy on both sides of the ball.

9. Washington Mystics: Raven Johnson, G South Carolina

While Johnson has proven she can score when needed, it's her facilitation skills and defense that will make her a top 10 pick. The South Carolina guard does a great job of feeding her bigs and spreading the offense out to find the best shot. She is also a lockdown defender who leaves little room for error and isn't afraid of anyone on a court, regardless of size.

10. Indiana Fever: Gianna Kneepkens, G, UCLA

Kneepkens ended her college career shooting nearly 50-40-90, which is impressive and rare in today's college landscape. The UCLA guard's game isn't flashy, but it's often timely. Kneepkens knows how to step into the big moments, as she did in the national championship when she delivered two massive 3-point baskets during an extended Bruins' run.

11. Washington Mystics: Nell Angloma, F, France

Angloma is another international player who, despite a fierce first step when getting downhill, would need time to develop. The Mystics could look at perhaps a draft and stash situation to help Angloma improve her shot release and eventually be ready to slide into a wing role.

12. Connecticut Sun: Iyana Martín Carrión, G, Spain

Carrión is another young international prospect that teams might consider drafting and stashing for later. The 5-foot-9 Spanish guard might need a bit more size to play in the W, but she makes up for her slight build with her ability to create. Carrion can pass, shoot and score well, and she doesn't let her size stop her from defending well.

13. Atlanta Dream: Madina Okot, C, South Carolina

Atlanta needs depth. Adding Okot would help the Dream with their post presence and perimeter shooting. The South Carolina big can score from multiple levels and will crash the glass. If Atlanta brings veteran center Brittney Griner back, Okot would learn from one of the best in league history at the position.

14. Seattle Storm: Marta Suarez, F, TCU

Suarez's NCAA Tournament run wasn't great, but she did have a breakout game against Virginia during the Sweet 16, which included a career high 33 points plus 10 rebounds. The outing was a glimpse of Suarez at her best, which could entice Seattle to add Suarez as depth now and starter later.

15. Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon, F, Ole Miss

McMahon would work well in a young core of players like Saniya Rivers, Leila Lacan, Aaliyah Edwards and Aneesah Morrow. The Ole Miss forward is a utility piece that the Sun could utilize to its advantage. She does most of her damage in the paint ― Connecticut's specialty ― and could also help facilitate, if needed. Once McMahon gets crisper as a defender, she'll be dynamite at the next level.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:WNBA draft drama: Who deserves to be chosen No. 1 in 2026

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April 09, 2026

The 2026 WNBA Draft board is a puzzle — here’s how it fits together now

With theWomen's Final Fourcomplete, all eyes turn towards the2026 WNBA Draft. TheWNBA drafttakes place Monday, April 13, in Ne...

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