The race to zero is the most important race

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CURATING THE BEST IN SPORT

Global Edition

September 22-28, 2020

The ABB FIA Formula E Championship, net zero carbon footprint. Photo: The ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

The race to zero

Transcending any human enterprise -including every sport- is the battle to literally save our planet and our existence. Sport can be a heavy emissor but it can also set a different example. The ABB FIA Formula E announced that it has become "the first sport to have a net zero carbon footprint since inception" (official website). This is a consistent message for a series that has the objective of developing alternative energies that can help combat climate change.

The organization said they they have followed three key steps, following a recommended approach by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: effective measurement of carbon output, prioritising reducing its footprint (it is the first racing series to be certified ISO 20121 for sustainable events) and offsetting remaining unavoidable emissions (mostly through investment on alternative energies generation in they countries where they race, in Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Standard UN projects) (full explanation here - official website).

Formula E Founder, Alejandro Agag, is now working on another big venture: Extreme E (official website). The Extreme E series will take a few drivers and teams to areas that have been hardly hit by the impact of climate change to raise awareness: remote areas such as Greenland or the Himalayas. The series -including personnel- will travel on a base ship and will showcase the performance of electric SUVs. It is starting in January.

These examples are what we can and should expect of sport in the years to come. Sport can be a very important part of the United Nations' "Race to zero", a campaign that FIA Formula E adhered to last week (FIA Formula E). Other sports should follow suit and be part of the most important race: the race to zero.

Five things to know from last week

Overpowering. Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open by overpowering everyone with his long drive, although he missed several fairways on the way - he leads among US Open winners in longest drive and lowest fairways hit (PGA). He would then correct and putt it in. He won by six over Matthew Wolf (USA) and was the only player under par. In LPGA; Georgia Hall (ENG) won the Cambia Portland Classic, her second LPGA win. DeChambeau's coach said if his game is tamed, he will find ways to win anyway (BBC)
Gazoo. Toyota Gazoo Racing won the World Rally Championship Rally of Turkey with Elfyn Evans (WAL). Hyundai's Sébastien Löeb finished third and became the oldest driver to lead a World Rally, aged 46. Toyota Gazoo Racing also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, for a third consecutive time with the "8" car, driven the three times by Sébastien Buemi (SUI) and Kazuki Nakajima (JAP), and for the first time by former winner Brendon Hartley (NZL). Yet again the "7" car of López (ARG), Kobayashi (JAP) and Conway (ENG) was the fastest car but hit problems; they were third this time, behind the Rebellion Racing. The LMP2 race was defined in the last five minutes, when the pursuing Jota driven by Davidson (ENG), Da Costa (POR) and González (MEX) had to pit, allowing the United Autosports driven by Albuquerque (POR), Hanson (ENG) and Di Resta (SCO) to win. GTE Pro was won by the Aston Martin driven by Lynn (ENG), Martin (BEL) and Tincknell (BEL) over the AF Corse Ferrari on the same lap. GTE Am saw four cars on the winning lap, the first across the line being another Aston Martin, the TF Sport driven by Jonathan Adam (SCO), Charlie Eastwood (IRL) and Salih Yoluç (TUR). FIA World Rallycross went to Latvia and saw a Swedish 1-2-3-4 in both races. For something very different, you can watch the Red Bull Shay' iMoto on the South African motor sport of spinning, won by King Katra (RSA)
The number one returned. Novak Djokovic (SRB) came back from his U.S. Open ejection to win the Rome Masters 1000, his record 35th Masters 1000 win. He defeated Diego Schwartzman (ARG) and ha extended his "weeks as #1 status" total to second in history (287), ahead of Peter Sampras (USA, 286) and behind Roger Federer (SUI, 310) (Marca). Simona Halep (ROM) won the women's division with a 6-2, 2-0 walkover to injured Champion Karolína Plíšková (CZE). They will be the favorites for Roland Garros, which is under fire as several positive covid cases have emerged - players have cited mismanagement (Essentially Sports).
Another joint win. GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) had to share a chess title for a second week on a row, this time being declared Co-Champion with GM Wesley So (USA). They had the same points in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament, a Round Robin. Carlsen defeated So when they faced each other. C hess.com tells how Carlsen lost to Nakamura (USA) as he arrived late to a game and was seen buttoning his shirt down while entering screen.
Yet another winner. Yamaha's Maverick Viñales (ESP) became the sixth rider to win in the last six MotoGP races, over a very consistent Joan Mir (ESP) in Misano, Italy. World Superbike raced in Catalunya and Jonathan Rea (NIR), Michael van der Mark (NET) and Chaz Davies (WAL) took each win. Andrea Locatelli (ITA) secured the Supersport World Championship by taking the second race, although he had finished 4th in the rain-stopped first race won by Andy Verdoïa (FRA), who stopped his 9-race win streak. In Speedway GP, Bartosz Zmarzlik (POL) took both Czech wins. World Supersport 300 had a thriller second race won by Yuta Okaya (JAP); over five riders fought for the win on the last lap - Watch (RTVE)

GLOBAL PODIUM OF THE WEEK

Mondo Duplantis. Photo: World Athletics.

Gold: Armand Duplantis

(Sweden, Athletics)

The Bubka era is gone. Armand Duplantis had already set the pole vaulting World Record at the World Indoor Tour, by jumping 6.18 meters. Now we also has the highest ever outdoor pole vault jump, by beating the 6.14 mark that Sergey Bubka (UKR) jumped in 1994. Now the young Swede has also surpassed that mark by jumping 6.15 meters at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Rome. It is now the Duplantis era. Also impressive was Jacob Kiplimo (UGA), who beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), in the 3,000 meter race, the fastest since 2007. He did 7:26.64.

Watch the jump (High Jump Damjan Šparovec)

Silver: Emma Bristow
(England, Motorcycling)

Emma Bristow has not lost a single FIM Women's Trial World Championship event since 2017 and won her seventh consecutive FIM Trial Women's World Championship by taking both rounds at the Andorra TrialGP, the last of the season and extends her unbeaten record to 15 points-paying events (TrialGP). 15 year-old Naomi Monnier (FRA) won the Trial2 Women's World Championship, while Adam Raga (ESP) and Toni Bou (ESP) split honors in the men's TrialGP rounds.

Watch a film of the TrialGP Andorra (NA Films)

Tadej Pogačar. Photo: Facebook Tour de France.

Bronze: Tadej Pogačar

(Slovenia, Road Cycling)

Tadej Pogačar made history by being the first rider to win the General Classification (yellow jersey), the Mountains Classification (polka dot jersey) and the Young Riders Classification (white jersey) at the Tour de France, although Eddy Merckx (BEL) would have achieved it in 1969 had the white jersey existed. He was also eight in the Points Classification and had won Stages 9 (by outsprinting Primož Roglič (SLO) and outgoing Champion Egan Bernal (COL)) and 14 in previous weeks. The most spectacular was the way this Rookie won the Tour: by demolishing on the Stage 20 Time Trial, a short 36.2 kilometer stage (the shortest, by far). It was in the last 4 kilometers of that stage that Roglič's 57-second lead vanished to a 59 second deficit, which stood until the end. A thriller. Sam Bennett (IRL) took the final stage and the Mountains Classification.

Watch the Stage 20 Highlights (Eurosport)

GLOBAL SPORTS AGENDA

Week Preview

The UCI Road Cycling World Championship does include the stars of the Tour de France and the powerful female Dutch team, with Giro Rossa's Champion, Anna van der Breggen and its points winner, Marianne Vos. It will potentially also include Annemiek van Vleuten, who broke her wrist at the Italian Classic.

Ice Hockey's coveted Stanley Cup began with the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lighting taking one game each in the best-of-seven series. In the southern hemisphere, Australia's sun sees the start of the AFL playoffs.

The NBA Conference Finals are also taking place, between Miami and Boston (Heat leads 2-0) and Los Ángeles and Denver (Lakers leads 1-0). Lakers' LeBron James (USA) was selected to a record 16th All-NBA team and was 1st team, along teammate Anthony Davis (USA), League MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (GRE, Bucks), James Harden (USA, Rockets), and Luka Dončić (SLO, Mavericks).

The WNBA semifinals game between Lynx and Storm had to be postponed due to inconclusive Covid-19 tests by Lynx players. MLB has not had any more games suspended by covid-19 and is set to close its regular season.

Boxing has ten World Championship fights set for the week. Five will be in the Mohegan Nation, including both Charlo brothers, and four Mexicans fighting for two Super Bantamweight titles.

The PDC Tour reaches Germany, fresh from Gerwyn Price's (WAL) victory at the World Series of Dart Finals.

NASCAR goes to Las Vegas as part of its playoffs, a week after Kevin Harvick (USA) won yet again. In Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton (ENG) will try to get one win off Michael Schumacher's (GER) record, and the GT World Challenge was a European round, after its American round saw Martín Fuentes (MEX) and Rodrigo Baptista (BRA) take both wins in Austin.

American Football:
NFL Regular Season

Association Football:
UEFA Super Cup (Bayern München vs Sevilla)

Aussie Rules Football:
AFL Playoffs

Auto racing:
BOSS GP (TT Assen, Netherlands x2)
British Touring Car Championship (Silverstone, England x3)
FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix (Monza, Italy)
FIA World Touring Car Cup (Nürburgring Nordschleife x2)
Formula DRIFT (Monroe, USA x2)
GT World Challenge powered by AWS (Zandvoort, Netherlands x2)
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (Mid-Ohio, USA)
International GT Open (Monza, Italy x2)
NASCAR Cup (Las Vegas)
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (Las Vegas)
NHRA (Gainesville Raceway, USA)
SCORE World Desert Championship Baja 500 (Mexico)
Super Formula (Okayama International Circuit, Japan)

Baseball
Major League Baseball Regular Season ends
Nippon League Regular Season
KBO Regular Season

Basketball:
NBA Conference Finals
WNBA Conference Finals

Billiards:
WPA 2020 Kremlin World Cup
WST Betvictor Championship League Group Stage

Boxing:
WBC Diamond Cruiser Title - Yuniel Dorticos (CUB) vs Mairis Briedis (LAT)
WBC World Middle Title - Jermall Charlo (USA) vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko (UKR)
WBC, WBA, IBF World Super Welter Title - Jermell Charlo (USA) vs Jeison Rosario (DOM)
WBA Super, IBF World Super Light Title - Josh Taylor (SCO) vs Apinun Khongsong (THA)
vacant WBC World Super Bantam Title - Luis Nery (MEX) vs Aarón Alameda (MEX)
WBA World Super Bantam Title - Brandon Figueroa (MEX/USA) vs Damien Faustino-Chango Vásquez (MEX/USA)
WBO World Bantam Title - John Riel Casimero (FIL) vs Duke Micah (GHA)
World Boxing Organisation World Female Super Bantam Title - Dina Thorslund (DEN) vs Nina Radovanovic (SRB)
vacant WBO World Female Minimum Title - Ayaka Miyao (JAP) vs Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen (VIE)
WBO World Female Atom Title - Mika Iwakawa (JAP) vs Nanae Suzuki (JAP)

Canoe/Kayak:
ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup, Szeged (HUN)
ICF Paracanoe World Cup, Szeged (HUN)

Cricket:
T20i Women's England vs West Indies

Darts:
PDC Tour German Darts Championship (ET2)

eSports:
Arena of Valor (Garena Challenger Series Summer 2020, RoV Pro League 2020 Winter, Arena of Glory Winter 2020)
Hearthstone Gold Team Championship Season
SMITE Pro League/2020 Season/Phase 2
Starcraft II Gold Series Team Championship 2020 Fall Season
Global StarCraft II League Season 3
ESL Pro League Season 12: North America
ESL Pro League Season 12: Europe
Quake Pro League Season 2: Stage 1
World Cyber Games 2020 Connected Group Stage
League of Legends World Championship Starts

Golf:
PGA Tour (Dominican Republic)

Horse Racing:
Charter Keck Cramer A. J. Moir S., Underwood S., De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose S.(Australia)
Grande Premio Roberto e Nelson Seabra, Grande Premio Major Suckow, Grande Premio Linneo de Paula Machado, Grande Premio Presidente da Republica, Grande Premio Brasil (Brazil)
Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes, Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (England)
Clásico Enrique Ayulo Pardo (Peru)
Princess Margaret Cup (Mauritius)
Singapore Guineas (Singapore)
Gran Premio Jockey Club, Gran Premio Selección (Uruguay)
American Pharoah S., Awesome Again S., Chandelier S., Rodeo Drive S., Vosburgh Stakes, Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. (USA)
Guineas (Trinidad and Tobago)

Ice Hockey:
NHL Stanley Cup (Final)

Motorcycling:
FIM Borilli EnduroGP World Championship (Spoleto, Italy)
FIM Endurance World Championship (Estoril, Portugal)
FIM Land Speed World Record Electric Wheelchair Attempt (England)
FIM LONG TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Rzeszów, Poland)
FIM Motocross World Championship (Mantova, Italy x2)
FIM MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 World Championship (Circuit de Catalunya)
FIM SuperMoto World and European Championship (Busca, Italy)
FIM Women's Motocross World Championship (Mantova x4)

Road Cycling:
Championnats du Monde Route UCI 2020 Imola (ITA)

Simracing:
eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series
GPVWC

Tennis:
Roland Garros

SPORT'S BEST VALUES

Sportsmanship: Diego Méntrida

A video that has made ways around the world. Diego Méntrida (ESP) was running fourth in the Santander Triathlon, behind James Teagle (ENG) when the British triathlete made a mistake and took the wrong way, colliding into a fence. Méntrida slowed down and allowed Teagle to pass at the line and take the third place medal. "It's the fairest", Méntrida said after the race (Mundo).

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Try to make it tough for Bryson and I'm telling you he will figure out how to beat you."

Mike Schy
Bryson DeChambeau's coach
After DeChambeau's long-drive style has been criticized and woken up calls to be limited, somehow

B BC

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New York | México City, 2020.