Tadej Pogacar outsprinted Enric Mas to claim victory in stage six of the Vuelta a España on Thursday, his third stage win of the race.

The Slovenian and Mas outshone their rivals on the gravel in the stage’s final climb, and Pogacar held off the Spaniard when arriving in Castellón de la Plana to extend his general classification lead. The five-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, the overwhelming favourite for the Vuelta, is aiming to complete a Grand Tour grand slam.

Ramses Debruyne grabbed the third spot on the podium, finishing in a group including Primoz Roglic, Richard Carapaz and Felix Gall, 46 seconds behind the leaders. UAE Team Emirates’ Pogacar, who had a brief scare as he came off the road on the final descent, now leads Movistar’s Mas by 3min 34sec and his compatriot Roglic by 4min 21sec overall.

There was a big battle to get into the break but it took a long time for an escape to form. Finally 15 riders moved clear and established a two-and-a-half minute gap on the peloton with 40km remaining. The final climb of Puerto El Bartolo split up the break and then peeled on to a gravel road, where Pogacar attacked and picked off the riders ahead of him. Mas was hot on his tail and the Spaniard dug deep to charge past Pogacar and come over the top of the climb ahead. Pogacar came off the road and into a grassy section after misjudging a corner, but he swiftly recovered to get back on Mas’s trail. The four-time Vuelta winner Roglic, Gall and Debruyne were chasing the front two, but Pogacar and Mas worked well together to keep their advantage. Pogacar led out towards the finish line and Mas could not catch him.

It was a bad day for Oscar Onley, who lost more than a minute and a half on his general classification rivals.

Earlier in the day, the Netcompany Ineos rider Josh Tarling abandoned the race with around 120km of the stage left, with his team not giving a reason. The Briton’s brother Finlay Tarling died in the Tour of Portugal after a crash with a vehicle, but Josh decided to race in Spain in honour of his sibling. “Josh Tarling’s brave La Vuelta has come to an end and he’s decided to stop. We couldn’t be prouder,” said Netcompany Ineos on social media.

Tarling produced a strong display in the first stage individual time trial, coming third behind Pogacar and Ethan Hayter.

On Friday, riders travel 149.8km from Vall D’Alba to the race’s second summit finale at Aramón Valdelinares.

When Steve Burton shows up, you never know what might happen. 

He is, after all, the man who once went viral for his reaction when holding an alligator on a Sunday night sportscast. So when the longtime WBZ Boston sports anchor walked up to his daughter, Valkyries point guard Veronica Burton, in the middle of an interview Wednesday, what happened next wasn’t shocking. 

KPIX reporter Matt Lively, who was in the middle of interviewing Veronica before Golden State’s Wednesday game against the Connecticut Sun, ceded the microphone to Steve, who took over the questioning in a moment that garnered hundreds of reposts on social media.

“You better produce tonight, that’s all I’m gonna say,” Steve said to his daughter. 

Ten seconds later, after Steve dispensed plenty more fatherly encouragement, Lively handed the mic over and stepped aside. Steve, who drove down from Boston on a scheduled day off, proceeded to conduct the rest of the interview. 

Though he has interviewed countless athletes during his three-decade run in the industry, it was a first to ask questions of his own flesh and blood.

“It was a lot of fun to do, and it was a lot of fun to be with her,” Steve told the Bay Area News Group. “I don’t ever remember interviewing my daughter.”

Lively said the Burton clan had 35 family members and friends in Connecticut to cheer on Veronica.

In February, Steve was in the Bay Area covering the New England Patriots at Super Bowl LX when Patriots players told him they saw a poster of Veronica in San Francisco. 

Steve even got called “Veronica’s dad” during a live shot outside the San Jose Convention Center. 

It’s a label he wears with utmost pride – even when gatecrashing his daughter’s moment to shine.

“You want to take in the moments,” Steve said. “And especially with what she’s gone through. There’s mountaintop experiences and there’s valleys. 

“And I said, ‘Don’t forget when you were down in the valley when we didn’t have a team or a place to play.’ And she goes, ‘Dad, I’m not gonna forget that.’ ”

Veronica and the Valkyries appear to be peaking at the moment. With their 89-64 win over Connecticut, the Valks remained unbeaten on their four-game trip two days after a breakthrough win at Minnesota. 

Steve watched that game excitedly from home. And his pregame message to Veronica centered around carrying forward the momentum of that watershed victory.

“I walked on the court, and the first thing I saw was she was being interviewed,” Steve recounted. “So I was going to go over and tease her while she was being interviewed, and then Matt said, ‘Come on, come on.’ I just told her, ‘Don’t let up.’” 

Welcome to a new chapter of Jordan greatness.

Jordan Brand is introducing the Air Jordan 41: a game shoe inspired by Michael Jordan’s legendary versatility and style, built with a future-forward philosophy that pushes the boundaries of technology and expression.

The silhouette’s introduction marks an evolution of Jordan Brand heritage design, blazing a new path to greatness that prioritizes performance innovation and modern style — redefining what it means to be a leader in basketball footwear and challenging opponents to keep pace.

“The Air Jordan 41 is a statement about where Jordan Brand is headed. It carries forward a legacy built on greatness, but it was created for the athletes, whose culture and style of play are defining the future of the game,” says Sarah Mensah, President, Jordan Brand. “This silhouette reflects our commitment to pushing performance innovation with purpose — delivering bold design, elite function and a point of view that only Jordan Brand can bring. It is more than the next Air Jordan. It is a signal of the next chapter of Jordan performance.”

The 41 is a testament to innovation, dominance and driving the future of the game — engineered for end-to-end dominance on the court, just like MJ himself.

Feedback from athletes at every level of the game, including MJ, Jordan Brand’s professional and collegiate roster, and players from Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League, informed the design of a lighter and more responsive Air Jordan silhouette. 

At the foundation of the Air Jordan 41 is the new-to-Jordan nano print mesh upper, engineered to deliver the lightweight containment and breathability demanded by today’s game.

The advanced woven construction helps reduce weight while creating targeted structure throughout the shoe, allowing athletes to move with confidence, precision and speed. By balancing airflow with support, the nano print mesh upper provides a secure, adaptive fit that helps players stay locked in through every cut, drive and defensive possession, reinforcing the Air Jordan 41’s focus on modern performance without compromising comfort.

“With the 41, we wanted to create an upper that could move with the athlete and feel lighter without sacrificing the containment and confidence they need to play at their best,” says Leo Chang, Senior Creative Director, Basketball & Sport, Jordan Brand.

“The nano-printed mesh allows us to engineer that balance, creating a material that feels light on the foot while providing targeted structure and support where players need it most. It’s a solution that reflects our ongoing pursuit of performance innovation, helping athletes move freely, react instinctively and stay locked into the game from tip-off to the final possession.”

The upper material also responds to a variety of graphic and color treatments. The cross-hatch print, with its two contrasting directions of lines, can each receive a color independently or cohesively. This allows for a number of different looks for the 41, both through graphic approaches and when in motion.

The 41 also features a full-length Zoom Strobel for underfoot responsiveness; a ZoomX midsole for industry-leading lightness and speed; and, in an evolution from the 40, adds an Air Zoom heel unit for enhanced impact protection. The addition of the Zoom air bag in the heel was inspired by Michael Jordan’s insights on the importance of defense and staying on your toes, and its cushioning ensures players can stay prepared to rock forward.

“The Air Jordan 41 prepares me for every movement; it gives me confidence in every cut, read and possession,” says Jordan Brand athlete Napheesa Collier. “When you trust your shoes like that, it makes all the difference.”

A carbon fiber and TPU shank provides stability, working in tandem with a full-length HART rubber herringbone traction pattern to enable rapid changes in direction. These features collectively modernize the shoe’s construction and ensure optimal comfort and performance for all hoopers.

The design evolution from the Air Jordan 40 to the 41 takes shape through both material choices and technological advancements. The new silhouette eschews the leather traditional to the Air Jordan lineage, opting for nanoprinting and thin textiles that create a lighter, nimbler feel. Details like a TPU window that exposes the shoe’s internal technology are reminiscent of a high-performance car, and while the shoe’s tech is sleek and understated on the surface, its sophistication is revealed upon closer inspection.

Each design element, from the asymmetrical collar to the metallic Jumpman hardware, signals Jordan Brand’s commitment to advancing the legacy of the Air Jordan lineage, setting the stage for the next generation.

“What I love about 41 is that it lets me play my game without thinking about what’s on my feet. It’s light and responsive, and it gives me the confidence to move how I want,” says Jordan Brand athlete Paolo Banchero. “When you’re competing at the highest level, those details matter, and the 41 delivers.”

This move beyond nostalgia and heritage is brought to life through colorways that follow a gemstone theme, each reflecting MJ’s mentality and personal symbolism, such as the Ruby launch colorway that calls to mind his legendary three-peats in Chicago. Upcoming colorways include an Amethyst style modeled on MJ’s birthstone, and Opal, which nods to his alma mater.

This seasonal color approach coupled with the performance-driven design positions the Air Jordan 41 as a true evolution for Jordan Brand, setting a new standard for basketball footwear.

“The 41 matches the way I like to compete. It’s built for players who impact the game on both ends,” says Jordan Brand athlete Stephon Castle. “I trust it every possession because it keeps me feeling quick, connected and ready to react. When you’re playing with confidence, you can focus on being aggressive and letting your game take over.”

The Air Jordan 41 debuts with a limited release in China on August 28, with a global release to follow.