Monaco Grand Prix Returns: A Four-Team Battle for Pole Position and High Hopes for Aston Martin

F1 is back with the Monaco Grand Prix hitting the streets this weekend, right in the middle of the Cannes Film Festival.

We’ll be expecting some invites to have floated along the Grand Corniche and onwards to Cannes to help fill the pitlanes, boats and grid walk.

After the drowned out Imola cancellation, the only chance of getting wet here, is diving off the back of a superyacht, or taking to the pool as the winner of the Grand Prix on Sunday. Ted Kravitz thinks it will be a four team race for pole.

Red Bull obviously features heavily, as do Ferrari, but Kravitz is expecting there may be something to see from Mercedes with their new package….and his prediction for the win is Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin car, which is more than capable of winning on this street circuit. And with Aston Martin announcing their engine deal with Honda, spirits are high in their camp. Lawrence Stroll is not a man who does things by half and many neutrals on the grid believe that this could be their race.

Mark Cavendish to retire from cycling after this season

This week Mark Cavendish announced his retirement from the sport at the end of this season.

Mark Cavendish’s career is defined by his remarkable sprinting prowess, which earned him numerous victories in prestigious races. HIs 34 stage wins in the Tour de France, make him the most successful cyclist in its history equal with Eddy Merckx.

Cavendish’s crowning achievement came in 2011 when he won the UCI Road World Championships, securing the coveted rainbow jersey. His victory showcased his exceptional sprinting abilities and cemented his place among cycling’s elite.

One of the most unforgettable moments in his career occurred during the 2023 Giro d’Italia final sprint of stage 17, where a crash unfolded just meters before the finish line. Despite the mayhem, Cavendish navigated his way through the carnage and lunged forward to cross the finish line in a spectacular photo finish, still holding the handlebar of his bike.

The image captured the intensity of the moment.

Game, Set, Match: French Open 2023 soon to Set the Court on Fire!

The French Open begins on Monday and with the King of Clay out injured, the field is pretty open, the most open it has been in 15 years.

There are a number of people looking to wear the Roland Garros crown in 2023. Caspar Ruud, last years’ beaten finalist must think he is in with a great chance. It was almost like he was awestruck last year, but he’ll fancy his chances more against the remainder of the field.

Holger Rune however has just beaten him in Rome. He has a really impressive head-to-head with the top players, although the best of 5 sets is always a different animal to any of the ATP finalists outside of the Majors.

Which is why you wouldn’t bet against Novak Djokovic adding to his majors titles. Even 2 sets to love down, most betting predictors still have him favourite in a best of 5 major final. There is a huge difference between a best of 3 sets and best of 5.

Although, Rune seemed to dispatch Djokovic very well in Rome, he in turn was then himself dispatched by Danil Medvedev, a man who insists he is no favourite on clay…and yet beat Rune the man in form on that surface.

If you want someone to watch as an outsider, I would pick Hungarian Fabian Marouzsan, who played an incredible match to beat Carlos Alcaraz in Rome.

It looks like it will be a fascinating French Open.

Recap of Laureus World Sports Awards Paris 2023

To end the week we would like to again congratulate all of this years winners at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2023.

And a big thanks to all teams we have worked with over the last few months in making this another great awards event.

Laureus World Sports Awards Paris 2023

Congratulations to all the winners at the Laureus World Sports Awards Paris 2023.

After many days and weeks with a number of teams preparing for this event, it turned out to be a resounding success. So good to see nominees, winners and Academy back together again under one roof. A big thank you to all the teams involved in getting the logistics, build, creative, televised show and after party together.

The Nelson Mandela art piece was again reminding us that ‘Sport has the power to change the world’ and the speeches and initiatives underlined this sentiment throughout the awards show.

Well done everyone for a wonderful weekend of sport and congratulations to all of the winners and nominees!