tour down under 2024 stages

Tour Down Under 2024: Second sprint triumph Welsford, Del Toro still leads

Results 3rd stage 2024 Tour Down Under

1. Sam Welsford (aus) 2. Elia Viviani (ita) s.t. 3. Daniel McLay (gbr) s.t. 4. Laurence Pithie (fra) s.t. 5. Max Kanter (ger) s.t. 6. Caleb Ewan (aus) s.t. 7. José Hodeg (col) s.t. 8. Biniam Girmay (eri) s.t. 9. Jhonatan Narváez (ecu) s.t. 10. Emils Liepins (lat) s.t.

GC after stage 3 1. Isaac Del Toro (mex) 2. Corbin Strong (nzl) + 0.02 3. Axel Mariault (fra) + 0.05 4. Biniam Girmay (eri) + 0.07 5. Stephen Williams (gbr) s.t. 6. Stephan De Bod (rsa) s.t. 7. Georg Zimmermann (ger) + 0.08 8. Finn Fisher-Black (nzl) s.t. 9. Louis Barré (fra) + 0.09 10. Caleb Ewan (aus) + 0.10

Race report Luke Burns initiates the breakaway. He is first joined by Tristan Saunders, and then Axel Mariault. The three open a 3 minutes lead before it’s all back together again in the last 31 kilometres. Saunders is the last attacker to be caught.

Sam Welsford powers to his second stage win in three days in the ensuing bunch sprint, while Isaac Del Toro holds the ochre jersey.

Tour Down Under 2024 stage 3: route, profile, more

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Highlights: 2024 men's tour down under, stage 5.

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The Kid Laroi Announces The First Time 2024 North American Tour: Here Are the Dates

Glaive and Chase Shakur will serve as openers for the 31-date trek.

By Hannah Dailey

Hannah Dailey

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The Kid Laroi is hitting the road. In celebration of his November album The First Time , the 20-year-old singer-songwriter has announced plans to embark on a North American tour, unveiling all 31 dates on social media Monday (March 25).

The Kid LAROI Lets It ‘Bleed’ on ‘Kimmel’: Watch

The Australian musician will kick off the North American leg May 18 in Vancouver, B.C., after which he’ll travel through Seattle, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York City, Toronto and more cities in the States and Canada. After about two months, Laroi will conclude with a show in Omaha July 10.

Trending on Billboard

“NORTH AMERICA I AM GOING ON TOUR!!!!!!” the musician wrote on Instagram, unveiling a poster for the First Time Tour. “I am so beyond excited to see you guys & give you this new show. it’s been way too long. 🖤”

Prior to the North American leg, Laroi will bring his tour to Europe, as announced in January. Supported by special guest Sam Tompkins, the musician will perform tracks from The First Time — which debuted at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 — in Stockholm, London, Berlin, Paris, Milan and more.

The latest touring news follows Laroi’s Amazon documentary Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi , which premiered Feb. 29 on Prime Video. The film features words from his “Stay” collaborator Justin Bieber and Post Malone, with the “Without You” artist reflecting on his whirlwind rise to fame in 2022.

See the The Kid Laroi’s tour announcement and North American dates below.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @thekidlaroi

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Harper's Bazaar

Just a Few of the Biggest Concert Tours of 2024, from Olivia Rodrigo to Bad Bunny

Posted: March 29, 2024 | Last updated: March 29, 2024

Listening to your favorite musician at home is fun, but there's nothing quite like the experience of singing along with them, and tons of more fans, live. And as luck would have it, 2024 is shaping up to be a massive year for some of the world's top musical acts, so chances are your favorite performer might be stopping at a city near you soon.

Ahead, we rounded up some of the biggest concert tours of 2024, ranging from Taylor Swift's mega-popular Eras Tour to Drake and J. Cole's exciting It's All A Blur Tour - Big as the What?—set to kick off this winter. You can also expect tour dates from classic icons like Stevie Nicks, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

1) Taylor Swift

Undoubtedly one of the biggest concert tours ever, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour will continue right through 2024. The international leg of the tour kicked off in Japan, where she played four shows in Tokyo. She'll also stop in Melbourne, Singapore, Paris, Madrid, London, Milan, and more before returning to the States to play in the fall.

There's nothing like seeing T. Swift IRL, but don't fret if you're unable to nab tickets—the Eras Tour movie is now available to stream from the comfort of your home.

2) Olivia Rodrigo

This is not a drill—"Drivers License" singer Olivia Rodrigo will be hitting the road on tour starting at the end of February. The Guts World Tour runs from February through mid-August and has dates in Nashville, Toronto, Chicago, and New York City, among others. Even cooler? Rodrigo will have a stacked list of special guests—like PinkPantheress, Remi Wolf, The Breeders, and Chappell Roan—with her.

3) Red Hot Chili Peppers

Did you hear the good news? The Red Hot Chili Peppers have extended their global tour through summer 2024. The buzzy stadium tour, which kicked off in June 2022, will now run until July 2024 and bring the California-based band to places like Los Angeles, Tampa, Toronto, and Salt Lake City.

4) Bad Bunny

It's fitting that "Monaco" rapper Bad Bunny titled his tour Most Wanted —it's slated to be one of the year's hottest tours. Planned to help promote his latest studio album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana , Most Wanted will kick off in Salt Lake City on February 21 and run through May 26.

5) Billy Joel

If you haven't yet seen Billy Joel perform live, there's still time! The Piano Man has added more tour dates to his schedule, stopping in cities like Tampa, New York, Denver, and St. Louis this year. Even more exciting? He'll share the stage with fellow iconic performers Sting and Stevie Nicks for some of these dates.

Mitski recently announced that she's expanding her North American tour dates , and we couldn't be more excited. The months-long tour, which supports her 2023 studio album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, has a long list of stops, including Miami Beach, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Paris.

There's nothing quite like a Madonna concert, that's for sure. The singer's Celebration Tour , which started last October, continues straight through the spring with dates in Seattle, San Francisco, Mexico City, and more. Besides her eye-catching sets, chart-topping songs, and impressive choreography, concertgoers also get a glimpse of the performer's fantastic costumes, which include looks from Versace and Jean Paul Gaultier.

8) Bleachers

The New Jersey-founded rock band, which is fronted by Jack Antonoff—known for producing albums for top acts like Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey—not only has announced a new album but a new tour , too. The tour will start in the UK in March, ending fittingly in the band's home state of New Jersey in mid-June. Check out their newly released music video for "Tiny Moves" if you need a Bleachers fix in the meantime.

9) Nicki Minaj

Nicki fans rejoice: the rapper and singer might be coming to a city near you soon as part of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. The massive tour will include performances in Brooklyn, Oakland, and Baltimore, with stops at Dreamville Festival and Rolling Loud California along the way.

10) Blink 182

Live out all of your nineties and early aughts pop-punk dreams with one of Blink 182's One More Time Tour dates. The tour, which supports the band's ninth studio album, One More Time..., will bring the trio to cities all over the globe, including Sydney, Santiago, Portland, and Boston. The tour's supporting act is Pierce the Veil, which is also worth checking out.

11) Stevie Nicks

The oh-so-magical Stevie Nicks continues her touring streak with a bunch of 2024 concert dates . Set to begin in Atlantic City, NJ on February 10, Nicks will visit a dozen cities throughout the U.S. this year, such as New Orleans, Omaha, and Chicago. "Let's keep this party going in 2024," the singer-songwriter posted on her Instagram in September to announce the newly added tour dates.

12) The 1975

The 1975 is showing no signs of slowing down. The British band, famous for hits like "Somebody Else" and "Robbers," has extended their 2023 tour through 2024. Titled Still...At Their Very Best , the 22-date tour will open in Glasgow on February 8 and conclude in Amsterdam on March 24.

13) Drake and J. Cole

Rap greats Drake and J. Cole come together for the It's All a Blur Tour – Big As the What? which is guaranteed to be a good time. Drake, fresh off his 2023 It's All a Blur tour with 21 Savage, is set to hit dozens of cities starting in February, many of which J. Cole will also be in tow for. Scoop up tickets ASAP, as Drake's shows are known to sell out.

14) Janet Jackson

Superstar Janet Jackson is also extending her 2023 tour, Together Again , into 2024 with dates in Anaheim, Austin, New Orleans, and Hartford. Even cooler? Jackson's supporting act is the 2000s southern rap legend Nelly.

15) Rolling Stones

If you've ever dreamed of seeing the Rolling Stones perform live in person, now's your chance. The iconic rockers, who released their studio album Hackney Diamonds this past fall, are returning on the road for a 16-date tour with shows throughout the United States and Canada. Concertgoers can expect a mix of new tunes and Stones classics.

16) Bruce Springsteen

Famous for countless listenable hits like "Born to Run" and "Glory Days," Bruce Springsteen is set to embark on a massive world tour this year with his band, The E Street Band. The much-anticipated tour will take the Boss and his crew to cities such as Phoenix, San Diego, Dublin, and Madrid, from March through November.

17) John Mayer

Be sure to catch John Mayer's solo tour this year, which will bring the guitarist and crooner to cities throughout Europe. This leg, an extension of his popular 2023 solo tour, will kick off in Stockholm on March 13 and finish in Dublin on March 29.

18) Shania Twain

Okay, this one is technically a residency , but we're excited nonetheless. Shania Twain, most known for her incredible outfits (her hooded leopard print look, anyone?) and hits like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" is setting up shop in Vegas starting May 10. Twain's residency will take place at the Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood on and off throughout December 2024.

All good things must come to an end. The Eagles, known for "Hotel California" and other amazing rock songs, began their final concert tour this winter. It launched in Phoenix on January 20, with March 16 as its last date in the United States. Eagles fans won't want to miss this one.

20) Alanis Morisette: The Triple Moon Tour

Alanis Morisette joins forces with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts for their 2024 Triple Moon Tour , which has dates in North America and Canada. This tour is a great one to catch this summer, as it's slated to run from June through August.

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🏀 Men's Tournament

Sweet 16 continues

📊 Conference record tracker

🎥 Final Clemson-Arizona moments

👀 See the bracket

Check your bracket

Official Bracket

Ncaa.com | march 29, 2024, latest bracket, schedule and scores for 2024 ncaa men's tournament.

Here is the 2024 NCAA tournament bracket for March Madness and the DI men's basketball championship. The Sweet 16 continues Friday, March 29.

Take a look at the complete, updated bracket below:

NCAA bracket 2024: Printable March Madness bracket

Click or tap here to open it as a .JPG   | Click or tap here for the interactive bracket  | PDF link

Here is the schedule for this year's tournament.

• Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 17
• First Four: March 19-20
• First round: March 21-22
• Second round: March 23-24 
• Sweet 16: March 28-29 
• Elite Eight: March 30-31 
• Final Four: Saturday, April 6
• NCAA championship game: Monday, April 8

Here is the game-by-game schedule:

2024 NCAA tournament schedule, scores, highlights

Thursday, March 28 (Sweet 16)

• (6) Clemson 77 , (2) Arizona 72
• (1) UConn 82 , (5) San Diego State 52
• (4) Alabama 89 , (1) North Carolina 87
• (3) Illinois 72 , (2) Iowa State 69

Friday, March 29 (Sweet 16)

• (2) Marquette vs. (11) NC State | 7:09 p.m. | CBS
• (1) Purdue vs. (5) Gonzaga | 7:39 p.m. |TBS/truTV
• (1) Houston vs. (4) Duke | 9:39 p.m. | CBS 
• (2) Tennessee vs. (3) Creighton | 10:09 p.m. |TBS/truTV

Saturday, March 30 (Elite Eight)

• (1) UConn vs. (3) Illinois | 6:09 p.m. | TBS/truTV
• (4) Alabama vs. (6) Clemson | 8:49 p.m. | TBS/truTV

Sunday, March 31 (Elite Eight)

• TBD vs. TBD

Saturday, April 6 (Final Four)

Monday, April 8 (National championship game)

• TBD vs. TBD | 9:20 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19 (First Four in Dayton, Ohio)

• (16) Wagner 71 , (16) Howard 68
• (10) Colorado State 67 , (10) Virginia 42

Wednesday, March 20 (First Four in Dayton, Ohio)

• (16) Grambling 88 , (16) Montana State 81
• (10) Colorado 60 , (10) Boise State 53

Thursday, March 21 (Round of 64)

• (9) Michigan State 66 , (8) Mississippi State 51
• (11) Duquesne 71 , (6) BYU 67
• (3) Creighton 77 , (14) Akron 60
• (2) Arizona 85 , (15) Long Beach State 65
• (1) North Carolina 90 , (16) Wagner 61
• (3) Illinois 85 , (14) Morehead State 69
• (11) Oregon 87 , (6) South Carolina 73
• (7) Dayton 63 , (10) Nevada 60
• (7) Texas 56 , (10) Colorado State 44
• (14) Oakland 80 , (3) Kentucky 76
• (5) Gonzaga 86 , (12) McNeese 65
• (2) Iowa State 82 , (15) South Dakota State 65
• (2) Tennessee 83 ,   (15) Saint Peter's 49
• (7) Washington State 66 , (10) Drake 61
• ( 11) NC State 80 , (6) Texas Tech 67
• (4) Kansas 93 , (13) Samford 89

Friday, March 22 (Round of 64)

• (3) Baylor 92 ,   (14) Colgate 67
• (9) Northwestern 77 , (8) Florida Atlantic 65  (OT)
• (5) San Diego State 69 , (12) UAB 65
• (2) Marquette 87 ,   (15) Western Kentucky 69
• (1) UConn 91 , (16) Stetson 52
• (6) Clemson 77 , (11) New Mexico 56
• (10) Colorado 102 , (7) Florida 100   
• (13) Yale 78 , (4) Auburn 76 
• (9) Texas A&M 98 , (8) Nebraska 83
• (4) Duke 64 , (13) Vermont 47
• (1) Purdue 78 , (16) Grambling 50
• (4) Alabama 109 , (13) College of Charleston 96
• (1) Houston 86 , (16) Longwood 46
• (12) James Madison 72 , (5) Wisconsin 61
• (8) Utah State 88 , (9) TCU 72 
• (12) Grand Canyon 77 , (5) Saint Mary's 66

Saturday, March 23 (Round of 32)

• (2) Arizona 78,  (7) Dayton 68
• (5) Gonzaga 89 , (4) Kansas 68
• (1) North Carolina 85 , (9) Michigan State 69
• (2) Iowa State 67 , (7) Washington State 56
• (11) NC State 79 , (14) Oakland 73
• (2) Tennessee 62 , (7) Texas 58
• (3) Illinois 89 , (11) Duquesne 63 
• (3) Creighton 86 , (11) Oregon 73 (2OT)

Sunday, March 24 (Round of 32)

• (2) Marquette 81,  (10) Colorado 77
• (1) Purdue 106,  (8) Utah State 67
• (4) Duke 93 , (12) James Madison 55 
• (6) Clemson 72 , (3) Baylor 64
• (4) Alabama 72 , (12) Grand Canyon 61
• (1) UConn 75 , (9) Northwestern 58
• (1) Houston 100 , (9) Texas A&M 95 (OT)
• (5) San Diego State 85 , (13) Yale 57 

Here's the complete seed list:

These are the sites for the men's tournament in 2024:

March Madness

• 🗓️ 2024 March Madness schedule, dates
• 👀 Everything to know about March Madness
• ❓ How the field of 68 is picked
• 📓 College basketball dictionary: 51 terms defined

Greatest buzzer beaters in March Madness history

Relive Laettner's historic performance against Kentucky

The deepest game-winning buzzer beaters in March Madness history

College basketball's NET rankings, explained

What March Madness looked like the year you were born

Di men's basketball news.

• Latest bracket, schedule and scores for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
• How preseason No. 1 teams perform in March Madness
• 2024 NIT semifinals and championship sold out
• TNT Sports and CBS Sports Announce Tip Times and Commentators for Regional Finals on Saturday, March 30
• How First Four teams do in the NCAA tournament
• Gonzaga's tournament saga: From bid doubts to yet another Sweet 16 showdown
• This is the longest an NCAA bracket has ever stayed perfect
• History of 3 seeds vs. 14 seeds in March Madness
• Inside Indiana State's meaningful journey to the NIT semifinals
• 2024 NIT bracket: Schedule, TV channels for the men’s tournament

Follow NCAA March Madness

Live coverage

As it happened: british rider wins overall tour down under.

Mount Lofty, 1.3km at 7.3% and max. 13.3%, returns for the final day of racing where the overall champion will be crowned

Tour Down Under 2024 - Route Men's Tour Down Under – Preview Tour Down Under 2024 start list Subscribe to Cyclingnews to gain unlimited access to the 2024 Tour Down Under

Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of the final 6 of the Tour Down Under. The stage starts at 11:10am local time or 12:30am GMT and finishes roughly four hours later.

Runner-up on stage 5 Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) tops the GC tied on time with Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL). Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) is in third, and stage 2 winner Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) in fourth, both five seconds back. Then, at 13 seconds, it is Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep), Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla). 

21-year old Onley, who won stage 5, also tops the best young rider classification. Triple stage winner Sam Welsford (BORA-hansgrohe) leads the points classification. And Luke Burns (Australia) leads the mountain classification.

Mount Lofty returns for the final day of racing. After leaving Unley, the peloton will tackle the sharp climb to Windy Point just under four kilometres into the 128.2km stage 6. The route then continues into the Adelaide Hills for an extended loop through towns including Mylor, Aldgate, Uraidla, Stirling, Crafers and Bridgewater. The peloton will be passing over Mount Lofty twice this year before then taking one more run up to the top to decide the final winner on the summit

Stage 6, of the Tour Down Under is set to get underway in under 5 minutes, starting with a 5km neutral section. Forecast of sunny 23C with light winds. 

Riders may be just setting out from Unley but already the spectators are assembling at Mount Lofty, getting settled in under shade on the climb.

Milder temperatures today with maximums in Adelaide heading into the high 20's  Celcius and the winds, forecast as southerly of 25 - 35 km/h, were evident with the flags stretched out and fluttering on the way up the Mt Lofty climb.

Flag drop from race director Stuart O’Grady, winner of the first Tour Down Under in 1999. 

Most of the riders have ice socks in the back of their jersey as the peloton starts to climb immediately for the first KOM of the day, the cat 1 Windy Point, 3.8km long with an average gradient of 6% and steep pitches at 20%.

Instant attack by American champion Quinn Simmons and the reaction comes immediately. 

More attacks from EF Education, trying to get Van Der Lee off the front in the battle for the KOM.  And KOM leader Burns comes across.

Technically only Van Der Lee can beats Burns for the mountain title. Burns has 43 points and Van Der Lee has 23 points.

And now, its Astana's turn to attack, and attack again. Plenty of reactions behind, every team wants a rider in the break.

Alpecin, Jayco and EF Education trying to get away but it's shutdown with 1.2km to go to the top of Windy Point.

KOM leader Burns goes to the front with 1km to go to the top. He keeps looking behind him to watch for attacks.

Astana goes again! They obviously want to be in the break. Last year, the stage winner did come from the break. 

Jayco's Harper counters the last attack. 

Harper took full top KOM points and was followed by Burns across the top.

123km to go

Jayco's Chris Harper is pushing on solo but the chase is on. 

Harper is not looking back as the chase is trying to get organized behind him but he has a slim 6 second gap.

Peloton is speeding down Windy Point at 62km/hr as Harper is reeled in.

Simon Yates attacks and they immediately get on his wheel.

Four riders win a small gap with more riders tying to make it across.

Visma is closing it down, and re-shuffle again with 116km to go.

Solo attack by Tobias Bayer and the chase is on.

Alvarado Hodeg, the Colombian sprinter on UAE Team Emirates, is not enjoying the fast start. He's dropped from the peloton.

Franck Bonnamour makes the next move and is joined by Harry Sweeny but Harper closed it down.

Archie Ryan attacks again. EF Education has been throwing riders non-stop off the front with 113km to go.

And once again, Harper shuts it down.  Lidl rider counters immediately.

Nothing is getting away as the riders are going 74km/hr. 

Two riders, Stefan De Bod and Jacopo Mosca, have a small gap with 110km to go. Riders trying to make it across.

The chase is on since De Bod is 90 seconds down on GC. 

Mosca and De Bod are pushing as hard as they came while a Soudal is working hard to bridge. 

Gil Gelders (Soudal QuickStep) makes it across to Stefan De Bod (EF Education-EasyPost) and Jacopo Mosca (Lidl-Trek) with 105km to go.

UAE's António Morgado jumped from the peloton that was spreading across the road. A few more riders are trying to bridge to the break.

Simon Geschke of Cofidis made it across too. We now have 6 riders in the break, with one rider still trying to bridge at 103km tog o.

Franck Bonnamour comes across to the leaders and they have 47 seconds lead.

100km to go

Break of 7 riders has been established. Stefan De Bod (EF Education-EasyPost), Jacopo Mosca (Lidl-Trek), Gil Gelders (Soudal Quick-Step), Maurice Ballerstedt (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Simon Geshke (Cofidis), António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates) and Franck Bonnamour (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) have 2:12 on the field.

Battle of the Brits : Just one final showdown remains in tight Tour Down Under shakeout. Australian race always expected to be tight but two riders enter final stage tied in time.

Israel- Premier Tech is going the pace-making at the front of the peloton as the 7-rider break has a lead of 2:43 with 97km to go.

De Bod, who was 90 seconds down on GC before the stage, is now the virtual leader on the road. 

Luke Burns (Australia) has mathematically secured the King of the Mountain jersey, all he needs to do is finish the stage.

GC leader into the stage Stephen Williams, who is currently sitting behind his Israel-Premier Team at the front of the peloton, said before the stage:

"Naturally, it's gonna be a little bit more pressure on the shoulders, but overall, it's just another day on the bike and looking forward to it."

"I mean, there's not much to it [strategy today] really. It's pretty basic. Hold on to the hold on to the jersey. There are time bonuses on the road, but more than likely, it'll come down to the finish. But it's going to be a tough day to try and defend, but we'll do everything we can."

Gelders is getting instructions from his team director who is telling him 'to keep it at 90%, you're not here to push things.'

The seven riders in the break are Stefan De Bod (EF Education-EasyPost), Jacopo Mosca (Lidl-Trek), Gil Gelders (Soudal Quick-Step), Maurice Ballerstedt (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Simon Geshke (Cofidis), António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates) and Franck Bonnamour (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale).

Break has 2:55 on the field with 88km to go.

It’s Mosca’s turn to talk with his team director.  

Stage 5 winner Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL), who is tied on time with the GC leader, said before the stage this morning:

“Coming in with quite high ambitions for today, and really, it's just keeping it simple and good for the stage, and then we'll see where that takes me.”

“[Sports director] Luke [Roberts]’s been really good this week. He knows all these roads like the back of his hand so it's been pretty useful. Emils [Liepins] and Chris [Hamilton] did this stage last year as well, so they know it pretty well, so we're well equipped.”

Simon Clarke is doing the pacemaking at the front of the peloton, keeping a very close eye on the gap, holding it close to 3:00 with 83km to go.

Breakaway is riding well together, with 3:19 ahead of the Israel-Premier Tech-led peloton. Williams, in the ochre leader's jersey, is sitting behind his five teammates, he lost Corbin Strong who did not finish the stage yesterday.

Ballerstedt accelerated in the final 100 metres to cross the line first at the intermediate sprint in Mylor.

Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla) sits in 7th place, 13 seconds back. Yates won the stage last year that finished on Mt Lofty and said before the stage:

“Last year was a little bit different because we did an extra lap or two, so I think it made it a bit of a bit of a harder race but at the same time, I think it's it's with it being less laps. I think it's also gonna open up the race earlier.”

“I just had great legs that day, and I managed to do the business but a very tactical game coming up today. I hope to be amongst it, and I'll see what I can do.”

68km to go. Gap is up to 3:49 with Israel-Premier Tech setting the pace,  with a dsm rider coming up to the front to assist with controlling the gap.

Around 8km to go before the first time up Mt Lofty. The peloton will be passing over Mount Lofty twice this year before then taking one more run up to the top to decide the final winner on the summit of the 1.3km ascent with an average gradient of 7.3% and a maximum of 13.3%.

Break goes through the feedzone with 64km to go and a lead of 3:41 on the peloton. 

Big crowd in Stirling where the feedzone is located - they will the riders again on this closing circuit.

The break is still riding together as they pass the Dutch fans on Mt Lofty climb.

No battle for the KOM in the break with Gelders taking maximum points. A good sign for the escapees that they are working well together. Ballerstedt is sitting at the back of the break. 

With De Bob sitting at 90 seconds down and in the breakaway, Israel-Premier Tech will need to keep the gap at 79 seconds at the finish line to win the overall. There are 10, 6 and 4 time bonus seconds at the finish line. 

Peloton is sticking together as they crest Mt Lofty for the first time. Gap is 3:15 with 56km to go.

Israel-Premier Tech and dsm-firmenich PostNL are sharing the pacemaking at the front of the peloton

Peloton is stretched out on the technical descent off Mt Lofty. 

The 7-rider break has 3:27 on the strung-out peloton.  So far, only dsm and IPT have put in a rider at the front of the field to control the gap.

Ineos Grenadiers adds a rider at the front as time is running out for the peloton. Break has 2:45 with 43km to go.

De Bod is working hard at the front of the break while Ballerstedt is still at the back. Geshke is also close on GC to De Bod. The German is only 18seconds behind the South African

It's now Jayco's turn to set the pace, followed by an Ineos rider. The break has 2:33 with 39km to go.

Jayco's Steward is replaced by Ineos' Ganna at the front. The gap is coming down!

Ganna has settled into a rhythm, picking seconds away. More Jayco riders come to the front to assist. 

Gap under the 2-minute mark. Jayco and Ineos have committed to bringing it back. 

Inside of 4km to the top of the second KOM on Mt Lofty. Gap now at 1:33. 

1.5km to the top of Mt Lofty, and Ganna has brought back the break to 1:14. Therefore De Bod is no longer the virtual leader on the road.

A break of 7 riders have 1:06 to the peloton which is gaining on them.

Gelders crosses the KOM line first and De Bod attacks at the front. Gelders reacts immediately, splitting the break. Mosca, Geshke and Ballerstedt could not follow the acceleration.

Job done for Ganna who pulls off and goes to the back of the peloton. 

Break rejoins but De Bod is still pushing the pace, trying to get rid of some of the riders. 

Bell lap for the break on the finishing circuit.

Ineos is driving the train, massed at the front of the peloton with 28km to go.

A real sense of urgency in the break and field as they descend 66km/hr off Mt Lofty. 

Intense chase by Ineos, the British squad is all in for Narvaez. The gap is now only 39 seconds with 23km to go.

Gelders, Morgado and De Bod are now driving the break, and the others are trying to hang on.

5 Ineos riders at the front, Jayco, Visma are massed behind. 

Crash - clip of wheels on the side of the road. Bahrain Victorious rider Johan Price Petersen is down. 

Sprinters are labouring at the back of the peloton. Patrick Bevin and Sam Welsford are barely hanging on.

Once again, Del Toro is at the back of the peloton. 

Williams, in the ochre jersey, is three bikes behind Narvaez who is sitting behind his teammates setting the pace at the front of the peloton

De Bod, Gelders and Morgado are not giving up in the break, still pushing the pace with a gap of 38 seconds. Do they have anything left in their legs?

Alaphilippe reaches over Onley, who ducks, to take a water bottle from his soigneur at the side of the road.

Split in the peloton caused by road furniture, Del Toro got caught on the wrong side, and is back in the peloton, a long way from the front with 10km to go. Gap at 30 seconds.

Still Ineos at the front with Movistar and Visma massing behind them. 

Ochre jersey Williams is in the middle of the peloton and teammate Bennett is working to move him up.

Morgado is doing everything he can in the break to stay away. The 7 riders still have a 23-second lead

Big crash in the peloton. 

10 riders hitting the ground, and a lot of riders held up with 7km to go.

Geshke drops from the break, he's done.  

De Bod goes again, being chased by Morgado as the break has a slim few seconds to the peloton.

Williams is back up with the help of his teammates.

Morgado refuses to sit up as the other riders in the break are caught. 

All together with 4km to go - just in time for the final climb up Mt Lofty.

Big peloton facing the big ascent. Ineos back at the front with Movistar next to them.

2.5km to go. Ineos still in control as Del Toro has moved up closer to the front. 

And Harper is winding things up for Yates with 2km to go.

Split in the peloton under the pressure by Harper.

Del Toro attacks with 1.6km to go! And he's stringing out the reduced peloton. Williams has been distanced.

Narvaez is on Del Toro, followed by Williams. Onley has been distanced. 

Groupama rider attacks and Del Toro, Williams, Narvaez and Lemmen are together

Del Toro goes again with Narvaez on his wheel and Williams.

Williams wins the stage and the Tour Down Under!

Narvaez finished a close second, and Del Toro was third in the final stage and the general classification.

Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) wins stage 6 ahead of Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates)

Williams won the overall classification with nine seconds on Narvaez and 11 seconds on Del Toro Not able to follow the final attacks, Onley dropped from second to fourth place, 20 seconds down, and Simon Yates who finished seventh overall, 33 seconds back.

“What a stage, so over the moon, Honestly, the support the team have given me the last few days. Incredible, I can't thank them enough.” 

“Just really proud to come down here to start the season like this on the front foot and head back to Europe and continue on.”

“Everything goes through your mind. Just how hard this sport is and to win races, they don't come around very often. To do it here in Australia, the first world tour race of the season is fantastic.”

“That finish is perfect for me. It's so punchy. I've got a knack of being able to hold and hold and hold. And luckily I was able to get back on the wheel, read the situation and, yeah, capitalised, opened up with, like, 250 to go and everyone's legs was dead by then, so if I thought if I got the jump, then I'd be in with a good chance.”

Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) finished third on the stage and in the overall classification. The stage 2 winner, who is the best young rider of the 2024 Tour Down Under, said after the stage:

"It's good, but at the same time it's not the best because I try, but I can take the seconds but now it's nice for the first time in the first race WorldTour. I enjoy a lot, but I need to keep learning more and try to do my best always."

"When I get up in pedals, I only want to do 100% and a little bit more on plus and yeah, I tried two times but I can’t do it. But now the next time, maybe it's better. Let’s see."

Triple stage winner Sam Welsford (Bora-hansgrohe) won the points classification. The Australian rider said this at the end of the stage:

"It's been a crazy week. And for me, it's been the dream start to the year, to come to my home race here Down Under and win three stages with the team. And, more importantly, start working in a really good way for the new season, that’s really what I’m looking forward to, building on this for the upcoming races."

"I would probably say the Giro d’Italia, is one of my big goals to do. I think there are lots of sprint days there that suit me. and obviously, I’ve got my eye on being a grand tour stage winner but we'll have to see. Hopefully, I can keep this form rolling on for the rest of the season."

Luke Burns (Australian National Team) won the king of the mountain classification and said this at the end of the stage:

"It feels awesome, a little bit of a scare there when one rider we had to watch went in the first move, but we shut down that pretty quick. And then, I was there for the points on the first one, so locked it up at the first KOM."

"It was nice when Matt Wilson came on the radio and said ‘I’ve got an unassailable lead now’, so then it was just all all focused on helping Damo and Michael."

"Even though I didn't feel like I was too far off the front at the end today, it's funny, today was probably the best I felt the whole tour. So good confidence into Cadel [Evans Road Race] next week."

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Down Under Tour 2024

Down Under Tour 2024 . The uefa euro 2024 trophy tour started in stuttgart this week, with fans getting the opportunity to see the henri delaunay cup up close as it made its way. Die tour down under 2024 war die 24.

The 2024 men’s tour down under was a road cycling stage race that started on 16 january, and finished on the 21st. Santos tour down under 2024 stage 5 results.

Competitors Sorted By Their Position In The Pcs Ranking.

The 2024 men's tour down under was a road cycling stage race that started on 16 january, and finished on the 21st.

2024 Race Routes | All Men's Stages | Santos Tour Down Under.

Stephen williams is the winner of santos tour down under 2024, before.

The Highest Ranked Competitors On The Tour Down Under.

Images references :, the 2024 men's tour down under was a road cycling stage race that started on 16 january, and finished on the 21st..

Competitors sorted by their position in the pcs ranking.

The Peloton Rides Through Mt Lofty During The Tour Down Under(Image.

Stage 6 / 128.2 km s.

Die Tour Down Under 2024 War Die 24.

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• Ziptrak® Women's Stage 1
• Health Partners Women's Stage 2
• Hyundai Women's Stage 3

Down Under Criterium

Women's stages.

The 2024 women's stages will be held over the first weekend of the Santos Tour Down Under. There's some beautiful start locations like Hahndorf, Glenelg and the final stage will be Adelaide to Willunga Hill which is a first for the women's race.

WOMEN'S COMBINED STAGE MAP

Friday, 12 January 2024

Ziptrak® Women's Stage 1: Hahndorf to Campbelltown

WOMEN'S

• Start: 11:10 AM, Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf
• Finish: 1:52 PM, Maryvale Road, Campbelltown
• Distance: 93.9km

Saturday, 13 January 2024

Health Partners Women's Stage 2: Glenelg to Stirling

• Start: 11:10 AM, Colley Terrace, Glenelg
• Finish: 2:23 PM, Mount Barker Road, Stirling
• Distance: 104.2km

Sunday, 14 January 2024

Hyundai Women's Stage 3: Adelaide to Willunga Hill

• Start: 11:10 AM, Wakefield Street, Adelaide
• Finish: 2:02 PM, Brookman Road, Willunga Hill
• Distance: 93.4km

Thursday, 18 January 2024

• Start: 7:00 PM, Victoria Park/ Pakapakanthi, Adelaide
• Finish: 8:05 PM, Victoria Park/ Pakapakanthi, Adelaide
• Distance: 1.2km (50mins + 2 lap)km

OUR PARTNERS

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Santos Tour Down Under

Race information.

• Date: 21 January 2024
• Start time: 11:19 (01:49 CET)
• Avg. speed winner: 41.481 km/h
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 128.2 km
• Points scale: 2.WT.Stage
• UCI scale: UCI.WR.C1.Stage
• Parcours type:
• ProfileScore: 110
• Vert. meters: 2344
• Departure: Unley
• Arrival: Mount Lofty
• Race ranking: 51
• Startlist quality score: 374
• Won how: Sprint of 4 riders
• Avg. temperature:

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Desperate Vladimir Putin plunges 22 million Russians into darkness in bitter -22C winter

Moscow is to be plunged into darkness as putin ordered rolling blackouts amid freezing temperatures, according to reports..

Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered rolling energy blackouts across Moscow as temperatures reach - 22C. The blackouts are said to cover the entire metropolitan area of Russia's which has a total population of around 22 million. The order issued states that electricity is "not to exceed 12 hours per day" with the blackouts in place from January 14 through March 31 2024, according to Ukraine commentator Igor Sushko.

Sushko posted on X: "The entire Moscow metropolitan area, population 22 million, will have rolling blackouts of electricity "not to exceed 12 hours per day" from January 14 through March 31, 2024. - announced by the fascist state."

READ MORE: WW3 fears explode as Putin ally warns Poland is 'next' target on Putin's hitlist

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It comes after a heating main ruptured at the Klimovsk Specialised Ammunition Plant in Podolsk, about 30 miles south of central Moscow, on January 4. As a result, tens of thousands of Russians are said to be without heat in their homes in the Moscow region due to subzero temperatures.

According to a map published by a Russian Telegram channel and circulated on various social media platforms, the affected areas include cities such as Khimki, Balashikha, Lobnya, Lyubertsy, Podolsk, Chekhov, Naro-Fominsk, and Podolsk.

Residents in Moscow, specifically Balashikha, Elektrostal, Solnechnogorsk, Dmitrov, Domodedovo, Troitsk, Taldom, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Krasnogorsk, Pushkino, Ramenskoye, Voskresensk, Losino-Petrovsky, and Selyatino, are also experiencing power outages, according to other Russian media reports.

DON'T MISS: Joe Biden sends 'private' warning to Iran after striking Houthis in Yemen [LATEST] White House staff forced to hide as heated pro-Palestine protest unravels [REPORT] Vladimir Putin's ex-military chief warns Russia will run out of troops in weeks [COMMENTS]

Power outages have been reported in St. Petersburg, Rostov, Volgograd, Voronezh, and Primorsky. Meanwhile, a huge fire tore through a large warehouse used by Russia ’s largest online retailer south of St Petersburg on Saturday morning.

The blaze covered an area of 70,000 square meters, with 50,000 square meters of the Wildberries warehouse collapsing, according to Russia ’s Emergency Situations Ministry. No casualties were reported.

Videos posted to social media appeared to show employees running down fire escapes and fleeing the scene. A video shot from a passenger jet flying nearby showed flames totally engulfing the warehouse, sending huge plumes of smoke into the sky.

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Russia could begin full mobilisation after 2024 presidential election, Kyiv official says – as it happened

Secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defence council says Russia has increasingly put its economy onto war footing. This live blog is now closed

• Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 635
• 20 Nov 2023 Closing summary
• 20 Nov 2023 At least 11,000 Ukrainian children are reportedly being detained at 43 re-education camps across Russia, says MoD
• 20 Nov 2023 Russia may begin full mobilisation after 2024 presidential election, says senior security official
• 20 Nov 2023 Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch meets Zelenskiy in Kyiv
• 20 Nov 2023 Ukraine sacks two high-ranking cyber defence officials, says government official
• 20 Nov 2023 US defense secretary vows support to Ukraine 'for the long haul' on surprise trip to Kyiv
• 20 Nov 2023 Morning summary
• 20 Nov 2023 Two killed by Russian shelling in Kherson, Ukrainian authorities say
• 20 Nov 2023 US defence secretary visits Kyiv
• 20 Nov 2023 Opening summary

Nato supports Bosnia’s territorial integrity and is concerned by “malign foreign interference,” including by Russia , in the volatile Balkans region that went through a devastating war in the 1990s, Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg , has said.

Sarajevo is the first stop on Stoltenberg’s tour of western Balkan countries that will also include Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia, the Associated Press reports.

“The Allies strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina,” Stoltenberg told reporters. “We are concerned by the secessionist and divisive rhetoric as well as malign foreign interference, including Russia.”

There are widespread fears that Russia is trying to destabilise Bosnia and the rest of the region and shift at least some world attention from its war in Ukraine .

Morning summary

The US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, arrived in Kyiv on Monday for a visit. “I’m here today to deliver an important message: the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression, both now and into the future.”

Two people were killed early on Monday after Russian forces shelled a parking lot in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, authorities said. Regional prosecutors opened a war crimes investigation into the artillery strike, which occurred at about 9am (7am GMT) and injured one other person, the regional prosecutor’s office reported.

A Ukrainian soldier and a woman have died after a grenade exploded in a Kyiv apartment, police in the Ukrainian capital have said, but the cause of the blast, which injured a second man, was not immediately clear. Explosives technicians and investigators were working at the scene of Sunday’s explosion in the Dniprovskiy district, Kyiv police said in a statement.

The Ukrainian army said it had pushed back Russian forces “three to eight kilometres” from the banks of the Dnipro River, which if confirmed would be the first meaningful advance by Kyiv’s forces months into a disappointing counteroffensive . Ukrainian and Russian forces have been entrenched on opposite sides of the vast waterway in the southern Kherson region for more than a year, after Russia withdrew its troops from the western bank last November.

A Ukrainian teenager who was taken to Russia from the occupied city of Mariupol during the war and prevented from leaving earlier this year has returned to Ukraine . Bohdan Yermokhin, who turned 18 on Sunday, appealed to Zelenskiy this month to help bring him back to Ukraine. “I believed I would be in Ukraine, but not on this day,” Yermokhin told Reuters while eating at a petrol station after crossing the border.

About 3,000 mostly Ukrainian trucks, including those carrying fuel and humanitarian aid, were stuck on the Polish side of the border on Sunday due to a more than 10-day blockade by Polish truckers, Ukrainian authorities said . Polish truckers earlier this month blocked roads to three border crossings with Ukraine to protest against what they see as government inaction over a loss of business to foreign competitors since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Air defence units in Moscow intercepted a drone targeting the city late Sunday, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said . Sobyanin, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said units in the Elektrostal district in the capital’s east had intercepted the drone. No casualties or damage were initially reported. Air defences had also thwarted a drone attack on the Russian capital overnight to Sunday, authorities said earlier.

Russia launched 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones targeting Kyiv and the Cherkasy and Poltava regions overnight into Sunday, the Ukrainian military said, of which 15 were shot down . The overnight strikes on Kyiv were the second attack on the Ukrainian capital in 48 hours, said the city’s military administration spokesperson, Serhii Popko.

Five people including a three-year-old girl were injured in Russian artillery shelling of Kherson on Sunday morning, the Ukrainian interior minister, Ihor Klymenko , said . “All of them sustained shrapnel wounds. The child and the grandmother were walking in the yard. Enemy artillery hit them near the entrance,” Klymenko said on the Telegram messaging app.

The pro-war Russian nationalist Igor Girkin , who is in custody awaiting trial for inciting extremism, said he wanted to run for president even though he understood the March election would be a “sham” with the winner already clear . Girkin, who is also known by the alias Igor Strelkov, has repeatedly said Russia faces revolution and even civil war unless President Vladimir Putin’s military top brass fight the war in Ukraine more effectively. A former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer who helped Russia to annex Crimea in 2014 and then to organise pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine, Girkin said before his arrest that he and his supporters were entering politics.

The Kremlin, facing the prospect of a European Union ban on imports of Russian diamonds, said on Monday that EU sanctions tended to have a “boomerang effect” on those who applied them, Reuters reports.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was commenting on a proposed EU ban on diamond imports from Russia as part of a new sanctions package against Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine .

Russia is the world’s biggest producer of rough diamonds by volume. Peskov told reporters such a move had been anticipated for a long time, but was likely to backfire.

“As a rule, it turns out that a boomerang effect is partially triggered: the interests of the Europeans themselves suffer. So far, we have been able to find ways to minimise the negative consequences of sanctions,” he said.

EU diplomatic sources said last week the proposal under discussion was to ban direct diamond imports from Russia from 1 January and from March to implement a traceability mechanism that would prevent imports of Russian gems processed in third countries.

The Kremlin said on Monday that president Vladimir Putin will set out Russia’s view of what it sees as the “deeply unstable world situation” when he addresses an upcoming virtual G20 summit.

Russian state TV presenter Pavel Zarubin said on his Telegram channel on Sunday that it would be the “first event in a long time” including both Putin and western leaders.

According to the state RIA news agency, the G20 virtual summit will be held on Wednesday.

The Kremlin said on Monday it regretted Finland’s decision to shut crossings on its border with Russia , saying it reflected Helsinki’s adoption of an anti-Russian stance, Reuters reports.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov , speaking at a regular news briefing, also rejected Finland’s accusation that Russia is deliberately pushing illegal migrants towards the border and said that Russian border guards were following all instructions.

Finland, a member of the European Union and – from this year – also of the Nato military alliance, closed four crossings on its border with Russia on Saturday as Helsinki seeks to halt a flow of asylum seekers it says was instigated by Moscow.

The US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, arrives in Kyiv on Monday morning.

Two killed by Russian shelling in Kherson, Ukrainian authorities say

Reuters reports that two people were killed early on Monday after Russian forces shelled a parking lot in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, authorities said.

Regional prosecutors opened a war crimes investigation into the artillery strike, which occurred at about 9am (7am GMT) and injured one other person, the regional prosecutor’s office reported.

The Kherson governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, said the two dead were drivers for a private transport business.

Images posted on Telegram showed firefighters dousing cars that had been blasted apart, one day after a separate strike on the city wounded five people, including a three-year-old girl.

Russian forces have regularly shelled Kherson from across the Dnipro River since the regional capital was reoccupied by Ukrainian troops last November.

Ukraine said last week it had secured a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnipro and that its troops were trying to push Russian forces further back.

US defence secretary visits Kyiv

The US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, arrived in Kyiv on Monday for a visit, he said on the X social media platform, Reuters reports.

“I’m here today to deliver an important message: the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression, both now and into the future.”

The visit comes amid increasing division over Ukraine aid in the US legislature. A joint Ukraine-US military industry conference in Washington is due to take place next month.

That event, due to be held on 6-7 December, is intended to boost Ukraine’s domestic arms production as its fight against a full-scale Russian invasion nears the two-year mark.

Reuters reports that a Japanese delegation led by senior industry and foreign ministry officials and including business representatives is visiting Ukraine on Monday for talks ahead of a reconstruction conference that Japan will host, the industry ministry said.

Japan, which has been supporting Ukraine with funds and by accepting refugees since Russia invaded in February 2022, has also been promoting support for Ukraine at the level of the G7, which Japan chairs this year.

Kazuchika Iwata , the state minister of economy, trade and industry (METI), and the state minister for foreign affairs Kiyoto Tsuji , are visiting together with representatives of Japan companies, METI said in a statement.

In Kyiv, the delegation, which includes members of Keidanren, Japan’s biggest business lobby, in charge of a committee on Ukraine’s reconstruction, plans talks with the prime minister, Denys Shmyhal , government officials and companies.

Shmyhal said this month Ukraine would need budget support of about $42bn this year and next year to plug a massive deficit and aid reconstruction from the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion.

METI said the visit was an opportunity to hear about Ukraine’s needs and to discuss specific projects and accelerate public and private efforts to help.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy – who visited Japan in May during a G7 summit – and the Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, agreed this month to hold a Japan-Ukraine Conference for promotion of Economic Reconstruction in Tokyo on 19 February.

Opening summary

Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the war in Ukraine .

A Ukrainian soldier and a woman have died after a grenade exploded in a Kyiv apartment, police in the Ukrainian capital have said, but the cause of the blast, which injured a second man, was not immediately clear.

Explosives technicians and investigators were working at the scene of Sunday’s explosion in the Dniprovskiy district, Kyiv police said in a statement.

“A citizen contacted the police with a report that an explosion rang out in a neighbouring apartment,” they added.

The news came as Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed the commander of the military’s medical forces , Maj Gen Tetiana Ostashchenko, and said “new priorities had been set” in the operations of Ukraine’s military after a meeting with the defence minister, Rustem Umerov.

“There is little time left to wait for results. Quick action is needed for forthcoming changes,” the Ukrainian president said in his evening video address.

In other key developments:

Russia launched 20 Iranian-made Sha hed drones targeting Kyiv and the Cherkasy and Poltava regions overnight into Sunday, the Ukrainian military said, of which 15 were shot down . The overnight strikes on Kyiv were the second attack on the Ukrainian capital in 48 hours, said the city’s military administration spokesperson, Serhii Popko.

Five people including a three-year-old girl were injured in Russian artillery shelling of Kherson on Sunday morning, the Ukrainian interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said . “All of them sustained shrapnel wounds. The child and the grandmother were walking in the yard. Enemy artillery hit them near the entrance,” Klymenko said on the Telegram messaging app.

The pro-war Russian nationalist Igor Girkin, who is in custody awaiting trial for inciting extremism, said he wanted to run for president even though he understood the March election would be a “sham” with the winner already clear . Girkin, who is also known by the alias Igor Strelkov, has repeatedly said Russia faces revolution and even civil war unless President Vladimir Putin’s military top brass fight the war in Ukraine more effectively. A former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer who helped Russia to annex Crimea in 2014 and then to organise pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine, Girkin said before his arrest that he and his supporters were entering politics.

• Ukraine war live

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