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The Last Belgian Grand Tour Winner: Johan De Muynck

Ex-Rider Interview: The late 70s and early 80s was a great time for cycling, there were many ‘heroes of the road’, not just Eddy Merckx, but a load of Belgians and Italians. Johan De Muynck was a classy rider, but he was up against the system that kept the top men… at the top. De Muynck should have had a much bigger palmarès – he didn’t do too badly, Ed Hood finds out more.

Name the last Belgian rider to win a Grand Tour, please. Let me help. It’s Mister Johan De Muynck and it’s now 42 years since the man from Sleidinge in East Flanders won the 1978 Giro d’Italia ahead of ‘Gibi’ Baronchelli, Francesco Moser, Wladimiro Panizza and Giuseppe Saronni – four of the biggest names in Italian cycling of that era.

De Muynck had been second in 1976 but with a more committed team could have won that edition of the ‘pink race’ too. He was fourth in the 1980 Tour de France and again feels that with a more committed team behind him he could have been on the podium, if not won ‘le Grande Boucle.’

A talented amateur he turned professional with the ‘Red Brigade’ – the mighty Flandria team in 1971, Mars being the co-sponsors that year. He made pro podiums from the start in places like De Pinte, Geraardsbergen, Herstal, Sinaai, Roselaere and in the ‘sprinter’s race,’ the Scheldeprijs. He stayed with Flandria for three seasons before heading south and joining the team with arguably the coolest jersey ever – Brooklyn. He was with them for four seasons before opting for another team from la Bella Italia, Bianchi Faema.

There followed two seasons with Splendor back in Belgium with his final two seasons spent with French team La Redoute – a move which he tells us was the worst decision of his career. Through the kind offices of Johan’s ex-Splendor team mate, New Zealand’s Vuelta stage winner, Paul Jesson we put our questions to the man the Belgian media always come to talk to at Giro time.

PEZ: As a Scotsman I am interested that you rode the Tour of Scotland in 1969, what are your memories? Johan De Muynck: I have very fond memories of that Tour, of the beautiful mountainous landscapes and of the people. It was a very good experience.

PEZ: You turned professional with Flandria in 1971, how did the contract come about and what was it like adapting to the professional race scene? The contract came about because of my good results in amateur races. I had no difficulties adapting to the professional race scene because I had already adjusted my life style; I lived like a monk.

PEZ: Mr. Schotte was the manager, what was it like to ride for him? Briek was good at managing young people. He was a man of few words, but his quotes were smart, they gave you food for thought. He gave young people a chance without exerting too much pressure. It was a positive collaboration.

PEZ: And Marc Demeyer the ‘road captain’ – I believe he was a hard task master? I don’t think he was a hard task master. He was my teammate and we were about the same age; it was Briek Schotte who was in charge.

PEZ: You rode cyclo-cross too? Yes, I did. It liked it, it was a good experience, but you can’t do everything and I chose road races over cyclo-cross.

PEZ: You won the Brabantse Pijl in 1973 – a hard race for a ‘climber’ to win? It was not difficult to win, because the finish was uphill, on the Alsemberg.

PEZ: Tell us about your move to Brooklyn and how was the mentality different from a Belgian team? Everything was much more professional, all the details were taken care of. The equipment, the entourage were all better. It was a positive experience.

PEZ: I believe Roger De Vlaeminck was not an ideal teammate for you? He was not really my teammate but my boss.

PEZ: You won the Tour of Romandie in 1976, a very nice result. To me, it was a fantastic experience. It was my international breakthrough and I consider it my greatest win. It was all against one during that Tour and I managed to win.

PEZ: Second in the Giro that year, what are your memories? On the one hand, it was a positive experience because I was the best rider in that Giro. On the other hand, it was a negative experience because I didn’t win and I felt I should have.

PEZ: You were second in Paris-Tours in 1977, the ‘sprinters classic’. It was really Tours-Paris, in the opposite direction. That is why there were a lot of hills at the end of the race. It is clear from the ranking: 1. Zoetemelk, 2. De Muynck, 3. Kuiper.

PEZ: Bianchi, how did that contract come about and how was your relationship with Felice Gimondi? The contract came about after the Tour of Romandie of 1976. It was first annulled and then signed again in 1977. It was annulled because Brooklyn threatened to stop sponsoring the team. My relationship with Felice Gimondi was very good.

PEZ: Your Giro win in 1978, your memories? I have very fond memories of this Giro. I was the best from start to finish and for me it was a confirmation of the Giro of 1976.

PEZ: Splendor for 1980, why go back to a Belgian team – and how was your relationship with Claude Criquielion? I went back to a Belgian team because I wanted to be home more, but it was a big mistake. From a professional point of view, I should have stayed in Italy or Spain. My relationship with Claude Criquielion could have been better. It was a case of “young against older” .

PEZ: Fourth in the Tour that year, tell us about that. I was fourth, but I could have won if my team had supported me. So to me, it was a disappointing result because I could have won.

PEZ: La Redoute in 1982, how was the French team mentality compared to the Belgian and Italian teams? The mentality was very bad. I had the French chauvinism to contend with. Opting for a French team was the biggest mistake of my career.

PEZ: You are still the last Belgian Grand Tour winner, does this still generate a lot of media attention? Yes, it does. I still get requests to do interviews, especially before and during the Giro.

PEZ: If you had your career over, what would you do differently? I would go to Italy or Spain as soon as possible because the mentality in those countries suited me best.

# With thanks to Yannick, Johan De Muynck, Paul Jesson and all the unknown photographers. #

It was November 2005 when Ed Hood first penned a piece for PEZ, on US legend Mike Neel. Since then he's covered all of the Grand Tours and Monuments for PEZ and has an article count in excess of 2,150 in the archive. He was a Scottish champion cyclist himself - many years and kilograms ago - and still owns a Klein Attitude, Dura Ace carbon Giant and a Fixie. He and fellow Scot and PEZ contributor Martin Williamson run the Scottish site www.veloveritas.co.uk where more of his musings on our sport can be found.

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Evenepoel wins Vuelta a España for first Grand Tour title

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Remco evenepoel to win vuelta a espana, end belgian drought in grand tours.

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Remco Evenepoel all but clinched his first Grand Tour title on Saturday after the 22-year-old Belgian protected his lead in the Spanish Vuelta on the three-week race’s final competitive stage.

Well-supported by his Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team, Evenepoel had little trouble ensuring that E nric Mas and the Spaniard’s Movistar team were never able to challenge the two-minute lead he took into the 20th stage in mountains just north of Madrid, where the race ends on Sunday.

Evenepoel burst into tears on crossing the finish line, where he was embraced by his teammates. He is set to become the first Belgian to win a Grand Tour since 1978 when Johan De Muynck won the Giro d’Italia.

The final stage is a flat 60-mile ride from Las Rozas to a finish in Spain’s capital when custom dictates that no rider challenges the pacesetter. While the team leaders will use it to enjoy the end of the grueling event, the sprinters will vie for the stage win.

Evenepoel said that he had finally “delivered” after previous disappointment.

“I don’t know what’s going through my head and my body right now. It’s amazing. All the critics and the bad comments I received after last year, I think I finally delivered and answered with my pedals,” Evenepoel said. “I’ve been working so hard to come here in the best shape possible. To now win this Vuelta is just amazing. It’s actually the first Grand Tour I start healthy.

“(This is) for Belgium, for my teammates, my family, my fiancee… I have been away so many weeks and months, it is for them.”

Evenepoel had a difficult 2021, abandoning the Giro d’Italia after a crash in the 17th stage, and facing criticism from Eddy Merckx over what the Belgian great said was his unwillingness to ride for the team. But Evenepoel has rebounded this year, also winning the San Sebastián Classic for a second time in June. His first race win as a professional came at age 19 when he won the single-day race in northern Spain.

Richard Carapaz won the 112-mile stage from Moralzarzal to Puerto de Navacerrada that included three category-one climbs in 4 hours, 41 minutes. It was the third stage win of this Vuelta for Carapaz. The Olympic gold medalist and the 2019 Giro winner also won the 12th and 14th stages.

Evenepoel has held the red jersey since taking the lead in the sixth stage. His most dangerous challenger was three-time defending champion Primoz Roglic , who was gaining ground until he crashed earlier this week and had to withdraw from the race.

That left Mas as his only real threat over the final days, but the Spaniard was unable to close the gap.

Mas made his last attempt to break Evenepoel on the fourth climb up the category-one Puerta de la Morcuera after Movistar had set a hard pace and shed Evenepoel of his teammates. But Evenepoel latched onto his wheel and that was the end of Mas’ hopes. The Spaniard only shaved two seconds off Evenepoel’s advantage, which stands at 2 minutes, 5 seconds.

Mas is set to finish second in the overall classification with Juan Ayuso , a 19-year-old rider of UAE Team Emirates, completing the podium.

“Today I responded with the legs. I didn’t think about winning the stage, I just wanted to win the general classification,” Evenepoel said. “I only had to follow, to control and believe in my power. In the end the race was super hard but we did really well. It’s the most beautiful day of my life.”

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Results and Highlights from the 2024 Giro d’Italia

Check out stage-by-stage recaps and overall standings of the Italian Grand Tour.

Stage 7: Foligno - Perugia (Individual Time Trial), 40.6 km

Stage 6: torre del lago puccini - rapolano terme, 180 km, stage 5: genova - lucca, 178 km, stage 4: acqui terme - andora, 190 km, stage 3: novara - fossano, 166 km, stage 2: san francesco al campo - santuario di oropa, 161 km, stage 1: venaria reale - torino, 140 km.

Check out stage-by-stage recaps of the action below.

Stage 8: Spoleto to Prati de Tivo, 152 km

Stage Winner: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)

Race Leader: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)

We know he can win races with dramatic breakaways, but it turns out Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) also can perfectly play out a sprint. In today's race, he just narrowly outsprinted Daniel Martínez (Bora-hansgrohe) and Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) for the win at the top of the steep final ascent to the finish.

In case you were wondering, Pogačar has continued to opt for the full pink kit after the sartorial debacle earlier this week .

Today marked the first major mountain stage of the Giro with some of the classic climbs we love to see. Right from the start, it was clear that riders were going to be attempting breakaways before, during and after every climb—mountain stages at the Giro are often where we see unlikely stage winners thanks to a breakaway that comes as a surprise and actually sticks.

By 20 km into the race, a large group had formed at the front, but only 20 seconds separated them from the full might of the peloton. The group ebbed and flowed, and was cut down to 14 riders by just under 100 km to go. Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Romain Bardet (dsm–firmenich PostNL) and Magnus Sheffield (INEOS Grenadiers) were a few of the riders making moves in the lead group, and their lead stretched to over 2 minutes ahead of the peloton at 61 km to go.

But when a team like UAE Team Emirates is chasing the breakaway to preserve Pogačar's overall lead, does it stand much of a chance?

“We thought the breakaway had a good chance, to be honest,” said Thomas in a post-race interview . “Obviously, UAE set a good tempo on the climb, and I guess because it was still quite close, I don’t know if they decided to go for the stage in the beginning, but they certainly decided to go for it in the end.”

As the group hit 15 km to go, heading towards the final climb into Prati di Tivo, the gap had dropped to just over 30 seconds. While several riders made valiant efforts to hold off the peloton, Pogačar sped into the finish with a group of seven riders and ultimately took the sprint.

However, the GC remained relatively unchanged, since seven of the top finishers on the stage were in the top eight in the GC, which is now led by Pogačar by 2:40 over Martinez and Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers).

"I wasn't expecting this today," Pogačar said in the post-race press conference, making him pretty much the only person in the world who wasn't expecting it.

165 riders rolled down the little pink ramp this morning, each one minute apart, for first time trial of this year’s Giro.

Vicious crosswinds pushed riders across the road at points, their giant disc wheels acting as windsails, slowing down even some of the most skilled time triallists around.

And there is arguably no rider more skilled on a TT bike than INEOS Grenadiers’ Filippo Ganna, one of the world’s fastest men in the race against the clock.

“Top Ganna” is what the commentators called him, saying that everyone else looked like a passenger plane next to the fighter jet that is Ganna.

However, the 40.6-kilometer stage included a mighty pitch in the final stretch, gaining over two-hundred-meters over the last four kilometers, whose multi-digit grades benefitted some of the punchier riders in the bunch. After all, today’s time trail ran from Foligno to Perugia, across the undulating hills of Umbria.

By the time Geraint Thomas—who started the day in second place in the GC standings—rolled down the ramp, his INEOS Grenadiers teammates held all three positions on the podium (Ganna, Thymen Arensmen, Magnus Sheffield). By the time he crossed the line, those results held.

But there was only one rider left in the starting tent behind Thomas: current pink jersey, race favorite, and generational talent across a variety of disciplines, Tadej Pogačar.

Going back to his stunning time trial on the penultimate stage of the 2020 Tour de France, where he snatched the yellow jersey from Primož Roglič, Pogačar has displayed that he too is one of the world’s great time triallists.

And today, that skill on a TT bike threw a wrench directly into the works of INEOS’s 1-2-3 day, as Pogačar made up over a minute on the stage’s final six kilometers. Pogačar finished seventeen seconds ahead of Ganna, giving the UAE Team Emirates superstar the stage win.

A bunch of INEOS riders who couldn’t quite nip Pogačar. Seems to be one of the themes emerging from this year’s Giro.

Pogačar’s ride put nearly two additional minutes into his nearest rivals in the GC standings, increasing his overall lead from 46 seconds to 2:36.

Meanwhile, BORA-hansgrohe’s Dani Martinez, who entered the day in third place overall, bested Geraint Thomas by thirteen seconds on the stage, putting him ten seconds ahead of Thomas in the GC standings.

“There was a lot of preparations for this, a lot of ups and downs,” Pogačar said. “I’m super happy that today I felt good. I paced myself until the climb and then the climb, full gas.”

Geraint Thomas, meanwhile, wore a subtle look of disappointment after the race.

“I tried to ride within myself and when it was time to go, I just lacked it a little bit. It is what it is. It’s just one of those days.”

Thomas ended his post-race interview abruptly when the interview reminded him that his teammates did an excellent job on the day, without actually asking a question

“Thanks,” he said sternly, taking a sip of his drink.

Stage Winner: Pelayo Sánchez (Movistar)

May 9, 2024—Looking at the profile of Stage 6, you might think that the day would have been relatively mellow. One-hundred-eighty kilometers, minimal elevation, a pair of category-four climbs. However, thanks to a trio of gravel sectors—the strade bianche of Tuscany—today’s stage was anything but.

What many thought might be a launching pad for Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), who won March’s Strade Bianche with a stunning eighty-kilometer solo break, ended up seeing a series of breakaways, none of which stuck.

Until one did. And, for the second day in a row, the break stayed away.

The trio of Movistar’s Pelayo Sánchez , Soudal Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe, and Jayco AlUla’s Luke Plapp had a lead that stretched out to as much as two and a half minutes as the race entered its third and final gravel sector. But INEOS Grenadiers set a blistering pace behind, quickly whittling the three-man breakaway’s lead to less than thirty seconds with just a few kilometers to go.

But the gap stayed at around twenty seconds as the Plapp, Alaphilippe, and Sánchez passed under the 1 km to go banner. Alaphilippe launched early, and Sanchez responded. Though Plapp was hanging on their wheels, it was clear that this was a two-man race to the finish.

In his post-race interview, Sánchez was asked if he knew what he had just accomplished. “No,” Sánchez replied. “This is amazing. I don’t have words. Crazy, crazy day for me. I thought today that I could be in the breakaway, but I could never imagine winning here.”

Sánchez also admitted that, even though he spent the last several dozen kilometers working with Plapp and Alaphilippe, he tried several times to put time into his mates in the breakaway. “I tried to drop [Plapp and Alaphilippe], but it was impossible for me,” he said. “So, I tried at the end with the sprint. Luckily, I was the fastest.”

Plapp, who spent much of the day in the virtual pink jersey, said after the race, “That was an insane day. The race was out of control, the whole race. It was ridiculous for the first eighty kilometers.”

“The three of us worked reasonably well to the finish,” Plapp added. “We played games a bit. I was half-eyes looking for time and half-eyes looking for the stage, so I ended up riding a bit harder.”

Asked if he was thinking about the pink jersey during his breakaway, Plapp said, “No, no, no. I know (UAE Team Emirates) were never going to let it go. You could see from the gaps they were keeping, they weren’t willing to let the jersey go.”

A Win for the Breakaway as the Peloton Couldn’t Get It Together

Stage Winner: Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis)

May 8, 2024—Another flat-ish day, another sprint finish. That was supposed to be the script for Wednesday’s fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia. But if there’s a theme emerging from the early stages of this year’s Giro, it’s to expect the unexpected.

Because in a move that seems ever-more-rare, the day’s breakaway stuck, the charging group of sprinters behind unable to catch up.

At the end of the 178-kilometer stage, Benjamin Thomas captured Cofidis’s first win this season. Behind him were EF Education-EasyPost’s Michael Valgren, Andrea Pietrobon of Polti Kometa, and Groupama-FDJ’s Enzo Paleni. The group spent about half of the day with a lead of around one minute over the peloton.

Eight seconds behind Paleni, Lidl-Trek’s Jonathan Milan—the current maglia ciclamino— led the rest of the peloton across the line.

With 5 kilometers to the finish, the four-man breakaway had a solid forty-second lead and it seemed as though the peloton couldn’t organize themselves enough to reel them back in. Ineos Grenadiers had the most notable attack, but pulled off after the 3-kilometer mark, ostensibly working to protect their lead man Geraint Thomas’s time.

From there, nothing much materialized and the breakaway was allowed to duke it out themselves for the win.

“I said maybe today’s my day,” said the French Thomas, who captured both his first WorldTour and Grand Tour victories with the win. “Everything is perfect today. I knew the final because I trained there sometimes. I knew the Montemagno in the final, and it helped me, knowing the cobbles and the corners. It's a nice thing to win in Italy. It means a lot to me.”

Thomas, who is a seasoned track racer, likened the four-man break to a “long, long team pursuit.”

Valgren added that the topography of the parcours aided the breakaway’s chances.

“It was actually only with three or four ks to go (that we thought we could win) because you always think the peloton will take 10-seconds-per-kilometer more or less,” Valgren said after the race. “We kept working well together and there was in our favor kind of downhill. Chapeau to the other guys for working well together. We didn't start to play the games, so it was nice.”

The one thing that was expected was that nothing much changed in the GC battle. UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogačar remains forty-six seconds clear of Geraint Thomas and forty-seven seconds ahead of BORA-hansgrohe’s lead man, Dani Martinez.

Jonathan Milan Wins Sprint Finish

Stage Winner: Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)

May 7, 2024—For the second straight day, the Giro d’Italia ended with a flat sprint that was almost nabbed with a daring and unexpected last-minute attack.

The 190-kilometer route from Acqui Terme to Andora started with a gradual ride into the day’s only categorized climb, the category 3 Colle del Melogno, where the KOM points were taken by Intermarché-Wanty’s Lilian Calmejane. After that, it was an almost wholly downsloping back half of the stage, ending with a straight, flat shot into the seaside town of Andora.

If the peloton felt a bit jumpy heading into Andora, it no doubt had to do with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Geraint Thomas’s (INEOS Grenadiers) almost successful late break in yesterday’s sprint stage.

And then, just like yesterday, a solo attack was launched with plenty of racing left. Today, it was Ineos-Grenadiers’ Filippo Ganna, one of the fastest solo bike racers that’s ever lived, who attacked at the foot of the day’s final pitch, the Capo Mele, with 4 km to go. However, the long-distance attack was once again in vain, as he was caught and swallowed up with just a few hundred meters to go.

Moments later, another Italian, Lidl-Trek’s Jonathan Milan, launched a furious and commanding 300-meter sprint that would net him his second Giro stage win, exactly one year to the day from his first.

Meanwhile, Dani Martínez, who entered the day in third place in the GC standings, suffered a late-stage mechanical. Lucky for the BORA-hansgrohe racer, it was within the final 3 kilometers, meaning he was awarded the same time as the bunch ahead and lost no extra time to Pogačar and Thomas.

In sad news, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) slid out on a slick descent with about 62 kilometers left, crashing out of the race with an injury. It was a brutal reminder of the Eritrean’s luck, who, moments after becoming the first Black African rider to win a Grand Tour stage in 2022’s Giro, suffered a freak injury when the cork from his celebratory champagne bottle shot him in the eye, causing him to abandon the race with a hemorrhage in his eye.

“We saw Ganna going full gas in the last climb, and we just had to catch him,” said Milan of his Italian track teammate. “Today, the guys did such an amazing job. This experience was special because my parents were here today. I’m really happy about it,” Milan, who won last year’s maglia ciclamino, added.

After the race, second-place finisher Kaden Groves said the day’s blisteringly high speeds made the stage “quite scary at times.” And when asked about how his Alpecin-Deceuninck team was shaping up over the Giro’s first week, Groves said, “We’re getting there.”

Soudal Quick-Step’s Tim Merlier Takes Sprint Victory Amidst GC Favorites’ Late Attack

Stage Winner: Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)

May 6, 2024 – The sprinters had their first chance to shine, as the race’s third stage from Novara to Fassano featured just 750 meters of elevation over 166 kilometers.

However, it wasn’t without a bit of drama, as the race’s biggest GC favorites launched a thrilling attack over the last four kilometers, throwing a wrench into what was expected to be a straightforward day. After an early move from EF-Education EasyPost’s Mikkel Honore, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) followed, forming a small, three-man breakaway that, for a moment, looked as though it might stay away from the group.

Honoré was swallowed up by the group with about 1 kilometer to go, and given the day’s high pace and series of breakaways, there was some thought that Pogačar and Thomas’s attack might just stick. However, the two GC men were caught with about 400 meters to go, setting up the bunch sprint everyone expected the day to end with.

Soudal Quick-Step’s Tim Merlier nipped a group at the line that included Lidl-Trek’s Jonathan Milan and Intermarche Wanty’s Biniam Girmay, who rounded out the day’s podium, along with Arkea’s Jenthe Biermans and dsm-Firmeninch PostNL’s Tobias Lund Andersen.

After a masterful recovery from a late crash to win Sunday’s second stage, Pogačar started the day in the maglia rosa , forty-five seconds clear of Dani Martínez of BORA-hansgrohe and Geraint Thomas of Ineos Grenadiers. By the time stage 3 was over, those standings remained exactly the same.

“It wasn’t the plan,” Thomas said of the two-man attack over the closing kilometers. “We just wanted to stay out of trouble.”

He added that, over the final few hundred meters, it took everything he had to keep contact with Pogačar. “I was just trying to hold his wheel,” Thomas said, admitting that the attack was never part of the day’s plan.

“It was the hardest victory so far,” stage winner Merlier said of the unexpected chase he and his group of sprinters found themselves in as Thomas and Pogačar rode away. Merlier said he hesitated, causing him to miss out on his leadout man, and eventually forcing him to attack directly into the wind without any support.

Tadej Pogačar Wins Stage 2 and Takes the Maglia Rosa

May 5, 2024 - Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates wins Stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia 2024 and takes the Maglia Rosa. Twenty-seven seconds behind, Dani Martínez (Bora-hansgrohe) takes second, and Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) is third.

It was a masterful performance by UAE Team Emirates once Pogačar made it back to the front of the peloton after a small crash due to a front flat tire. The Slovenian leads Thomas and Martinez by 45" in the General Classification.

In the post-race interview, Pogačar was asked if he panicked after crashing in the lead-up to the last climb. “Not really. I was quite calm. I hit a hole in the city and had a super fast flat tire. There was a bit of confusion. I wanted to stop before the corner, but the DS said, ‘No, no, after the corner.’ I was feeling good. The team was super good today. And then we set the pace that we like and it was perfect,” said the race leader.

“I didn’t know the climb well. Everybody was maybe doing this climb for the first time, and it was hard to guess where to do the [hard] pacing, but I think we did a really good job today. And it was super good the last pull of Rafał Majka in the hard part so that I could attack,” Pogačar added.

“I just wanted a stage win today and some gap. Test the legs a little bit. And the [goal] was to take the pink jersey. Now I can relax a little bit in the next few days with the team and we stay safe in the sprints.”

Watch the final kilometer of Stage 2 on the Giro d’Italia’s YouTube Channel

Geraint Thomas of INEOS Grenadiers found himself meeting his limit in today’s stage. “It was so hard to follow, but I knew if I tried to keep going I would completely blow up. I felt bad for sitting on Ben [O’Connor], but I was on the limit for a while there,” said Thomas in the post-race interview.

Regarding Pogačar’s crash, Thomas said, “Honestly, I didn’t know until I was on the climb, and someone said Tadej was back. The plan was to go to the front, not to attack, but to stay safe on the front.”

Narváez Upstages Pogačar to Secure Stage 1 Victory and Maglia Rosa

Stage Winner: Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers)

Race Leader: Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers)

May 4, 2024 - The opening stage of the Giro d’Italia produced plenty of fireworks and a surprise winner on the line. Team UAE Emirates set it up perfectly for Tadej Pogačar on the opening stage. After some long-lasting breakaways were caught, Pogačar broke free in the last four kilometers with Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers) and Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe). The Slovenian just couldn’t gap those two rivals, and it set it up for a sprint finish. In a bit of a surprise, it was Narváez, the 27-year-old Ecuadorian national champion, outsprinting Schachmann (second on the stage) and Pogačar (third). Narváez earns the first Maglia Rosa of the 2024 Tour of Italy.

Though he didn’t win the stage, Pogačar will head into Stage 2 with an advantage over many of his top GC rivals. Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) was 10 seconds behind Pogačar on the stage and, after factoring in time bonuses, 14 seconds behind Pogačar in the GC standings.

Watch Stage 1 Highlights on the Giro d’Italia’s YouTube Channel

“It was a great feeling. We knew it was going to be a stage for me, and I worked a lot on it,” Narváez said in the post-race interview. “Following the best guy in the world on the climb was really hard, so it’s a special victory today. It’s still hurting me now. It was really hard—really, really hard. But in the end, I made it.”

“I think [Pogačar] went too long in the sprint, 200 meters after a really hard stage, and I did a short sprint, and in the end, I took the victory. For me, it’s amazing. There aren’t many opportunities in a Grand Tour to get the maglia rosa on the first day because you have a bunch sprint, a TT, or a different stage. Today was a good opportunity. I worked really, really hard for it,” added Narváez.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} 2024 Giro d'Italia

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Eurovision 2024 LIVE - Olly Alexander suffers huge blow as winner announced

The Eurovision Song Contest's final kicks off this evening but it has already been marred by a string of protests over Israel's inclusion in the competition and Dutch act Joost Klein has been banned from performing

• Updated 00:02, 12 May 2024

The Eurovision Song Contest is usually always a gleeful affair - but not so much this year.

The final aired live from Malmo, Sweden, but the run-up to the show - which is a staple in many showbiz calendars - has been marred by a number of issues backstage, boycotts and even arrests.

The Dutch act Joost Klein wasn't allowed to perform yesterday , after an alleged 'physical confrontation' whilst there have been protests from pro-Palestine supporters about Israel's inclusion in the competition - with activist Greta Thunberg standing in solidarity with Palestine outside the arena.

Dutch radio and broadcaster AVROTOS found Joost's disqualification to be 'disproportionate' and 'very heavy'. A petition was even made by fans to bring Joost back to Eurovision to perform in the final

Earlier today, the European Broadcasting Union said Joost will not compete in the Eurovision Song Contest grand final while Swedish police investigate a complaint of inappropriate behaviour. The contest will now proceed with 25 participating songs.

During one of the dress rehearsals, French act Slimane paused his performance to share a message of 'peace' and 'unity', which had the audience cheering. Yesterday, a press conference - which included the UK entry Olly Alexander - was cancelled , with the reason given that everyone wanted to focus on rehearsals. Amid huge tensions backstage, we take a look at what's going on behind-the-scenes at one of the most famous singing competitions of the year as and when it happens.

Meanwhile, after a tight competition, Switzerland's Nemo - with their song The Code - was announced as the winner of the 2024 Eurovision competition, beating Croatia's incredible act. Meanwhile, the UK's Olly Alexander suffered a huge blow and received zero point from the public and 46 from the jury.

THE WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

It was a tight competition with Croatia and Switzerland reaching the top two.

After 25 acts performed live across Saturday night , all of the votes were calculated and the hosts confirmed the winner. As the scoreboard was placed up on the screen, it became clear who would be winning the contest this year.

The public clearly loved Switzerland and the entry, Nemo, won this year's Eurovision!

Congratulations Switzerland!

Huge blow for Olly Alexander after public votes

The jury and the public have voted!

While Olly Alexander gave his all for the competition, it wasn't enough for Eurovision viewers.

The singer received ZERO points from the public and 46 from the jury.

Eurovision Song Contest fans unleash loudest boos for show boss

The live studio audience at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest appeared to save their loudest boos of the night for one of the competition officials.

The 2024 event has been steeped in controversy many have complained about Israel ’s inclusion in the show, the Dutch contestant was disqualified after being investigated by police over a backstage incident, and other contestants kicked off over having their own complaints dismissed.

However, as the competition neared the end, those in the studio unleashed serious boos when cameras cut to Eurovision Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl. He was shown sitting alongside a panel of other show bosses and was introduced by show host Petra Mede.

As cameras honed in on Martin, he could barely be heard over the deafening boos. Petra asked: “What can you tell us about the result?” Martin struggled to be heard over the venomous reaction as he said: “Good evening. So, the moment of truth has arrived and I can tell you we have checked and verified all of the results. And we are ready to start revealing the results of the grand final result.”

Netherlands jury gets cheers

The jury for the Netherlands got cheers as they cast their votes after Joost Klein was disqualified from the competition.

Meanwhile, the European Broadcasting Union's Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl was booed by the crowd as he spoke.

Loreen wows the crowd

Loreen, who won last year's Eurovision, took to the stage during the grand final on Saturday!

The star spent the entire performance glued to a chair as she belted out her song, with the crowd in Malmö Arena cheering her on.

Loreen won last year's Eurovision, which happened in Liverpool, with her song Tattoo.

ABBA returns as ABBAtars to perform!

Iconic band ABBA have returned as ABBAtars to perform their hit songs on stage following the 25 contestants' acts.

The group virtually reunited as the crowd cheered and sang along to Waterloo. Former Eurovision stars, including Conchita, Carola Häggkvist, and Charlotte Perrelli, joined in on the tune!

All 25 acts have performed

All the performances have ended after an eventful two hours. Austria ended the night with an upbeat song, going on after France entry's Slimane's powerful ballad.

Now we wait for everyone to finish voting before the winner is revealed. Traditionally, viewers have been able to pick up a phone and vote for their favourite performer once all participating contestants had finished singing.

But for the 2024 contest, the rules were radically changed so that fans could vote for their favourite before anyone had even taken to the stage.

Eurovision fans baffled by Olly Alexander's performance

Eurovision's UK entry Olly Alexander baffled fans at home with his performance.

Olly took to the stage to perform Dizzy but seemingly struggled with sound issues throughout his song. Taking to social media, fans questioned what went wrong. "Not only was that song and performance awful from Olly, but it wasn't in tune either. He'd have failed an X Factor audition," one user said.

Thankfully, most people loved his act with one user writing: "People saying Olly’s voice was off?? Like were we listening to the same Thing? Does he sound any worse than Finland this year or last? No! I’m so so proud of him!"

"Great performance by Olly for the UK," another said.

Ireland's Bambie Thug shouts defiant message

Ireland's Bambie Thug shouted a defiant message after their performance at the final.

After an incredible performance, they said to the crowd: "Love will always win over hate!" Fans were in awe and rushed to social media to praise their performance, which included witchcraft themes.

Eurovision 2024 viewers complain within minutes

Eurovision viewers were left complaining minutes in, as the 2024 contest got underway live on Saturday night.

They rushed to social media to point out the 'dodgy' sound after being unable to hear UK host Graham Norton. Graham ended up bringing up the issue, explaining what had happened to viewers as they took to X to fume.

As the show began and an introduction played out on screen, Graham could be heard speaking to BBC viewers. But a huge audio issue meant he was very quiet, and fans could barely hear what was being said.

Taking to X, fans called for the channel to "sort it out" unable to hear the host. One fan begged: "Ok BBC can we sort the sound out, I wanna hear Graham!" Another said: "Sort ya sound out, Graham," as a third added: "Dodgy sound there."

Eurovision 2024 has begun!

Eurovision Song Contest 2024 has begun, with Graham Norton returning to host!

He joked that it has been 'quite an eventful Eurovision this year' amid the chaos behind the scenes at Malmö Arena.

Israel's delegation responds to Bambie Thug's allegations

When asked about Bambie’s post on Instagram , a spokesperson for the Israeli broadcaster KAN told the PA news agency : “We wish everyone the best of luck tonight.”

Bambie Thug has said that they raised “multiple complaints” with Eurovision Song Contest organisers about a commentator from the Israeli broadcaster delegation following them missing rehearsals on Saturday ahead of the final. They wrote in an Instagram story: “I have raised multiple complaints to the EBU regarding instances I have experienced this week.

“Earlier today they confirmed to my delegation in front of others that KAN’s commentator had broken the rules of conduct during the Eurovision semi-final. I have been patiently waiting to hear what action is set to be taken by the EBU following this rule break. I have since seen a statement by EBU director general Noel Curran which contradicts this earlier confirmation. I am still waiting for an official update from the EBU.”

Finland's spokesperson steps down

The spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest’s Finnish jury has said he has stepped down from the role, as announcing the points “do not feel right”.

Posting on his Instagram story, Kaarija, last year’s runner-up of the competition, wrote: “I have decided not to participate as the spokesperson for the Finnish jury in tonight’s Eurovision finale.

“Giving out the points does not feel right.”

Norway spokesperson withdraws from their role over Israel participation

Norway's Alessandra Mele has announced her decision to leave her role as spokesperson.

Ahead of the final, the Italian-Norwegian singer took to social media as she shared her decision in a video. In the short clip originally relayed on TikTok, Alessandra explains she made the decision to quit over Israel's participation in the song contest

As a result, she will not be giving out Norway's points during the final. "Even though I’m thankful I was given the opportunity to do so, I’ve taken the decision to withdraw", she said. "United By Music — Eurovision’s motto — is the reason I do music. Unite people, bring them together. But right now those words are just empty words."

She continued, in reference to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which reached new heights in October, 2023, on the Gaza Strip: "There is a genocide going on and I’m asking you all to please open up your eyes, open up your heart. Let love lead you to the truth. It’s right in front of you. Free Palestine."

NRK presenter Ingvild Helljesen has been selected to replace her.

Bambie Thug claims Eurovision agreed Israeli broadcaster 'broke rules' after complaints

Ireland's Eurovision entry, Bambie Thug, revealed they made 'multiple complaints' to the European Broadcasting Union over a few experiences they had this week with Israeli broadcaster Kan

The singer, who has previously told fans that they missed a rehearsal due to a 'situation' that needed 'urgent attention', took to their Instagram Stories to write: "Over the last few days I have raised multiple complaints to the EBU regarding instances I have experienced this week. Earlier today they confirmed to my delegation in front of others that Kan's commentator had broken the rules of the conduct during the Eurovision Semi-Final 1.

"I have been patiently waiting to hear what action is set to be taken by the EBU following this rule break. I have since seen a statement by EBU Director General Noel Curran which contradicts this earlier confirmation. I am still waiting for an official update from the EBU."

It comes after they first revealed there was a 'situation' that needed 'urgent attention' from the EBU. Israeli broadcaster Kan told viewers with children on Tuesday that Bambie's performance of Doomsday Blue would be 'the most scary of the night'.

"There will be a lot of spells and black magic and dark clothing, Satanic symbols, and voodoo dolls like we are at Cats Square in Jerusalem in the mid-90s," the commentator said, referring to a public square in Jerusalem.

French act Slimane halts performance to share defiant message of peace

The French entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2024 halted his own performance to share a message of peace.

During the third dress rehearsal for tonight's final, Slimane briefly stopped his performance to deliver a statement calling for peace and unity. The singer, 34, said the contest should be: "United by music, yes, but for love, for peace" which had the audience whooping and cheering.

It has been said that Eurovision confirmed they knew the singer wanted to speak out during his performance as he said he wanted to 'send a message of love', The Euro Trip reported. However, the European Broadcasting Union has forbidden political statements and lyrics in the competition.

Former Eurovision winner says Olly Alexander's song isn't 'good enough' to win

Former Eurovision winner Cheryl Baker, who was a member of pop group Bucks Fizz, said Olly Alexander's song Dizzy isn't 'good enough' to win the competition.

Speaking to Heart Bingo , she said: “I love Olly Alexander’s voice and the production is going to be amazing and I’m absolutely sure he’s not going to get ‘nul point’, but it’s not a winning song unfortunately… I think his performance will be, his voice will be, but you’ve got to have all three to win and the song isn’t good enough.

“It’s an easy thing to say that it needs a key change but it does lift a song, and in Eurovision you need it to be really noticeable, so Olly should have put a couple of key changes in there. I don’t know why he didn’t. You get to the chorus, but there’s no key change! The song doesn’t progress the way it should and that’s a problem."

She believes the UK will finish 'midtable' and added: "The jury might keep him in the top five which would be fantastic but the public vote will bring him back down unfortunately. I’d like to think Olly could be top five but in reality I don’t think that will happen. But I’m obviously really rooting for the UK!”

Petition to bring back Joost Klein almost reached 70k signatures

A petition was created to bring Joost Klein back into the competition.

The creator of the change.org petition wrote: "WE MAY NOT GET JOOST BACK, BUT BY SIGNING THIS WE SHOW THAT WE STAND WITH JOOST. SIGN NOW. Share this campaign with all the people you know, spread this! Get this to the EBU! Please, keep signing!

"Joost Klein has been disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest. We need to get the EBU’s attention to get them to see this. Please, sign the petition to have justice for Joost. STAND WITH US! SIGN THE PETITION NOW! Ceasefire now."

Almost 70,000 people have signed the petition.

Eurovision bosses 'holding crisis meetings'

The bosses at Eurovision are reportedly having crisis meetings ahead of the final starting.

Eurovision News on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted: "EBU hold another crisis meeting, that was reported by SVT & NRK. The reason still remains unclear." The competition have run into a number of issues this year amid Israel's participation in the show.

Statement from Netherlands' Songfestival about Joost Klein

The official page for the Netherlands' Songfestival, which sends contestants to Eurovision, released a statement about the incident that got Joost Klein disqualified.

They said: "An incident occurred after last Thursday’s performance. Against clearly made agreements, Joost was filmed when he had just gotten off stage and had to rush to the greenroom. At that moment, Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed. This wasn’t respected.

Netherlands' Songfestival added: "This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camera woman. This incident was reported, followed by an investigation by the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and police. Yesterday and today we consulted extensively with the EBU and proposed several solutions. Nevertheless, the EBU has still decided to disqualify Joost Klein.”

They went on to say that Dutch radio and broadcaster AVROTOS found Joost's disqualification to be 'disproportionate' and 'very heavy'.

“We stand for good manners – let there be no misunderstanding about that – but in our view, an exclusion order is not proportional to this incident," they said. “We are very disappointed and upset for the millions of fans who were so excited for tonight. What Joost brought to the Netherlands and Europe shouldn’t have ended this way."

Eurovision bosses break silence on Bambie Thug future

Eurovision Song Contest organisers hope that Ireland entrant Bambie Thug will perform on Saturday’s final.

A spokesperson for the European Broadcasting Union said: “Bambie Thug did not perform in dress rehearsal three and the footage of their performance in dress rehearsal two was used in its place.

“They missed the dress rehearsal due to a situation that is currently being discussed with the EBU and song contest organisers. We hope that this will be resolved shortly and Bambie Thug will appear in the grand final show as planned.”

What does disqualification of Dutch entry Joost Klein mean for Eurovision final?

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced a number of changes to the grand final after the disqualification of Dutch act Joost Klein.

The organisers of Eurovision have said that all contestants will keep their official running order. The outcome of the contest is determined by a jury of music industry professionals and viewers’ votes, which each make a 50% contribution to the result.

Each country has its own jury and juries vote on the basis of the second dress rehearsal of each show, which takes place the night before each live show. According to the EBU, the jury results received after dress rehearsal number two on Friday have been recalculated, so that the Netherlands will not receive any points.

Jury members rank all songs from one to 26 – there are now 25 performers. This means that if the Netherlands was ranked ninth by a national jury in any country, the 10th ranked song has now moved down to number nine.

During the grand final no points will be awarded to the Netherlands from the viewing public and the country will not appear on the scoreboard. Dutch viewers are still allowed to vote in the grand final and the Dutch jury result is still valid.

Ireland's Bambie Thug misses dress rehearsal

Ireland’s Eurovision Song Contest entry Bambie Thug said they missed their dress rehearsal following a “situation” which required “urgent attention” from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

On their Instagram story, they wrote: “Dear Coven, There was a situation while we were waiting to go to stage for the flag parade rehearsal which I felt needed urgent attention from the EBU – the EBU have taken this matter seriously and we have been in a discussion about what action needs to be taken. This means I have missed my dress rehearsal – I am really sorry to the fans that have come to see me. I hope to see you on the stage tonight.”,

Following Bambie Thug withdrawing from the dress rehearsals, the organisers of Eurovision confirmed they are looking into what the Irish contestant called an “urgent situation”. A statement from the European Broadcasting Union said: “We are just looking into it.”

Dutch viewers still able to vote

Viewers from the Netherlands are still allowed to vote in the Eurovision Song Contest grand final following the disqualification of Dutch act Joost Klein, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has said.

All contestants will keep their number in the official running order and there will be no song in position number five, the statement said. The jury results received after dress rehearsal two on Friday May 10 have been recalculated so that the Netherlands will not receive any points.

“No points will be awarded to the Netherlands from the viewing public,” the EBU said. “Dutch viewers are still allowed to vote in the grand final and the Dutch jury result is still valid. The EBU will inform all telecommunications partners that the Netherlands is no longer participating, and we will endeavour to block the lines for song five.”

The EBU previously announced the 26-year-old rapper and singer would not be competing at the event following a Swedish police investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

'Sam Ryder struck it lucky with Eurovision, Olly Alexander proves it's still career suicide'

"While many will feel sorry for Olly Alexander's Eurovision stint unwittingly coinciding with Israel's war on Palestine, arguing that he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't, the former Years & Years singer can't be afforded the same grace Eurovision presenters Rylan Clark and Scott Mills have been granted, mainly thanks to his past activism and previous politics.

"In Olly Alexander's Road to Eurovision '24, the It's A Sin actor sobbed as he addressed the calls for him to boycott this year's contest over Israel's inclusion, saying he "wasn't qualified to speak on" the heartbreaking scenes coming out of Palestine, referring to it as an "incredibly complicated political situation."

"Yet in October, before being unveiled as the UK entry for Eurovision two months later, Alexander called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the governing body in Gaza. An open letter from LGBT charity Voices4London signed by Alexander referred to Israel as an 'apartheid regime' aiming to "ethnically cleanse" Palestine."

READ THE FULL OPINION PIECE HERE.

Artists create alternative Eurovision in response to Israel’s participation

An artistic group in Ireland has created an alternative Eurovision event amid calls to boycott Israel’s participation in the contest while raising money for Palestinian organisations.

Apartheid-Free Arts, a group of artists supporting human rights and advocacy groups in Palestine, hosted an event called Shine On Palestine: The Alternative Eurovision featuring Irish and Palestinian musicians and poets.

The alternative event was live-streamed from the Axis in Ballymun, Dublin, and Leisureland in Galway on Friday but will be rebroadcast from 7.30pm on Saturday during the Eurovision final in Malmo, Sweden.

Dutch viewers may not be able to vote in the final

Following Joost being booted out of the final, it's not yet known if Dutch viewers will be able to vote in this evening's Eurovision Song Contest final.

Taking to Twitter (X) moments ago, James Rowe wrote: "One big question remains for tonight: Will Dutch viewers be able to vote as usual? If not, will they be able to vote and have their say in the Rest of the World vote? I have asked the EBU for comment. #Eurovision."

In an additional update, he told his followers: "The EBU tell me that a decision on whether or not Dutch viewers can vote tonight will "hopefully be made in the next 30 minutes". #Eurovision ."

Dutch act out!

Dutch act Joost Klein will not compete in the Eurovision Song Contest grand final while Swedish police investigate a complaint of inappropriate behaviour, the European Broadcasting Union said.

A statement from the EBU said: “The Dutch artist Joost Klein will not be competing in the Grand Final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Swedish police have investigated a complaint made by a female member of the production crew after an incident following his performance in Thursday night’s Semi Final.

"While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the Contest. We would like to make it clear that, contrary to some media reports and social media speculation, this incident did not involve any other performer or delegation member.

“We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour at our event and are committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for all staff at the Contest. In light of this, Joost Klein’s behaviour towards a team member is deemed in breach of Contest rules. The Grand Final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest will now proceed with 25 participating songs.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Olly Alexander told 'do the right thing'

Olly Alexander has been told “once you take the stage on Saturday there is no going back” just hours ahead of tonight’s final.

The singer's fans have pleaded with him to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest and begged the under-pressure star to “do the right thing”. Olly's Eurovision journey has been clouded by controversy due to Israel's participation in the contest amidst ongoing military actions by Benjamin Netanyahu against Palestine.

The UK's hopeful, who had previously signed a letter denouncing Israel as an "apartheid regime" before his December reveal as the UK's contestant, has faced backlash from fans and activists for not pulling out of this year's event.

Within a lengthy statement shared on social media, Queers For Palestine told Olly: “Olly, as a beloved queer icon you have substantial influence. As drag queen @crystal.will.see.you.now said on BBC Newsnight yesterday to all of us, 'This is something you can do. Boycott.' We will be boycotting Eurovision until Israel is banned. You can still join us. You will be rich in our love and admiration, and in your heart for having done the right thing.”

READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE.

Man questioned by police over Eurovision incident as Dutch act misses rehearsals

A man has been questioned by police over allegations of threats at the Eurovision Song Contest.

It is not known whether the Netherlands’ act Joost Klein will perform in the final on Saturday, having missed two scheduled dress rehearsals on Friday while an investigation into an incident was carried out.

The 26-year-old rapper and singer qualified in the semi-final on Thursday with his up-tempo song Europapa, a tribute to his late parents. Swedish news outlets have reported that he is being investigated after an incident involving a television production worker.

A spokeswoman for the Swedish Police Authority said in a statement to the PA news agency: “A man is suspected of unlawful threats. The crime is said to have been committed at Malmo Arena on Thursday evening. The man is questioned by the police but not detained. The plaintiff is an employee at Eurovision.

“The police have taken all essential investigative measures and questioned the suspect, plaintiff and witnesses. The investigation has been completed by the police. The case follows the normal legal process. The police have used faster prosecution and the case will now go to the prosecutor within a few weeks.”

Police confirmed the plaintiff is not a Eurovision act. READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

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Two-Time Eurovision Champion Loreen Says She ‘Practiced Even More’ for Her 2024 Victory Lap Performance

The Swedish singer will perform "Forever" at the grand final.

By Fred Bronson

Fred Bronson

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How One Fan Brought Luxembourg Back to Eurovision After a 31-Year Gap

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But first Loreen will headline Birmingham Pride 2024, the Isle of Wight Festival, Stirling Summer Sessions and Manchester Pride. She will also play major festivals in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.

Billboard took the half-hour train ride from Malmö to Copenhagen to sit down with Loreen and talk about her new release, her Eurovision triumphs and her time on Sweden’s version of Idol .

Let’s start with the present day and talk about your new single, “Forever,” released today (May 10). I’ve heard it described as “spiritual pop.”

It seems like there is a connection between “Forever” and your Eurovision winner, “Tattoo.”

The song “Tattoo,” and the whole performance, is a representation of life. Pain, love, struggles, up-and-down life, the journey of life. Because you saw a lot of emotions there. There was masculine, there was feminine, there was vulnerability, all of that that is human. “Forever” is like the last chapter. What’s the conclusion? The conclusion is love. When you’ve seen all of that, you’ve accepted the pain. You’ve accepted everything. Love is what everything is about. Because everything is energy. That’s physics. Let’s just skip the spiritual and speak about quantum physics. Everything is everything. There is no separation. If we are waves, that means if I generate positive energy, it’s going to affect you. Love is the only thing we get to keep with us when we pass on to the next life or whatever we do.

The funny thing is that I didn’t have the song before I had the narrative. I knew that I was going to perform it [in Eurovision] and I felt in my body that this is an opportunity. This is an important moment, because 200 million people are connected to this. It’s a pretty huge gathering, so I knew exactly what I needed to say. I went into the studio with the performance in my head. All the details you’ll see on Saturday.

You have all the knowledge within you. You don’t have to go and look for it. You just have to trust it. That’s how my creative process works. I take the microphone and I just sing without any judgment and then certain sentences come out and I listen back to it.

Was the starting point for “Forever” the melody, the lyrics or the harmonies?

You’ve competed twice in Eurovision, but Saturday night you will be on that stage and no one will be voting. Will it feel different than when you were in a contest?

With “Tattoo” I managed to block out the fact that it was a competition. I worked really hard to block that out, because if I had those thoughts in my head that I was in a competition, that would totally distract and disturb my energy. So I have a way thinking, “It doesn’t exist.” I do it purposely. My team didn’t talk about the competition. I did other things. The only thing that mattered was generating my energy and sending it out. I don’t like the word pressure. I like the word important. This moment is important to me, because I understand what it can do. I have a huge respect for the fact that there are millions of people spending their valuable time watching this. What I’m going to feel is very focused and very much love, definitely. I can tell you that I practiced even more for this song then I did with “Tattoo.” You’ll see what I mean.

Compare your “Euphoria” experience with your “Tattoo” experience. With 11 years in between the two Eurovision performances, were they very different?

In 2004 you were a contestant on the first season of Idol in Sweden. Did that prepare you to be on a larger stage, like Eurovision?

Idol was very interesting for me. It was educational. Because I was a spiritual kid, I sang from a very sacred place. I didn’t think I was going to be an artist. That was not my idea. It was just a sanctuary, a safe space. Idol came with all these rules. It was an energy I wasn’t used to, but it was so important for me. They told us, “This is right. This is wrong. Stand like this.” At that time in my life, it confused me, which was a good thing. It was such an important lesson because after Idol , I knew I needed to learn all these things. I needed to learn about my voice. I needed to learn about producing. Idol shook me in a good way. I didn’t feel it then. It’s always like that, isn’t it? Without Idol , I don’t see how that process could’ve started. I was thinking, “I’m going to make it on my own. I’m going to start understanding things.” Looking back, I’d like to thank Idol for being such a big teacher for me, pushing me in the right direction. It’s good to get feedback sometimes and ask, “What am I?”

Loreen will perform on the grand final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Viewers in the U.S. can watch the four-hour live broadcast on Peacock at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 11.

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Viktor Hovland gikk nok en ujevn runde i PGA-turneringen i Charlotte lørdag. Dagen besto blant annet av to slag i vannet.

Hovland var på vei mot en runde under par, men en lei dobbeltbogey på nest siste hull spolerte det. Da slo han i vannet på par tre-hullet og trengte flere slag på å finne koppen.

Vannbesøk ble det også på hull sju, men da reddet han bogey. Nordmannen endte runden ett slag over par etter fem birdier, fire bogeyer og en dobbeltbogey.

Totalt er Hovland tre slag over par på 45.-plass. Turneringen i Charlotte er en del av PGAs rekke av turneringer med litt høyere status enn andre. Det gjør at bare 68 spillere får delta, og det er ingen cut etter to runder.

Sisteplassen får med seg 40.000 dollar, mens vinneren får en utbetaling på 3,6 millioner dollar (42 millioner kroner).

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