Assefa's Achilles "Rupture" and a Near-Miss Marathon World Record / Vollering and McNulty Win the Road Worlds / UCI Crash Data on Road Cycling

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This week, Tigst Assefa's Achilles injury and a near-miss marathon world record in Berlin, Demi Vollering and Brandon McNulty's world titles in Montreal, and the UCI's long-overdue crash and injury data:

• (00:00:31) Assefa was on world record pace through 40km of the Berlin Marathon before her Achilles tendon gave way. Ross doubts anyone could run the last 2.2km on a complete rupture, and we discuss whether her super shoes helped, and whether pushing on was brave or foolish
• (00:17:43) Adidas sweeps both Berlin podiums, and we look ahead to Chicago and Valencia, where Ruth Chepngetich's tainted world record may not last long, and Sawe's 2026 record is also under threat
• (00:20:04) Vollering adds the world title to her Giro and Tour triumphs, beating Kasia Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini in a fantastic women's race
• (00:23:49) McNulty wins a chaotically competitive men's race with help from Quinn Simmons and Matteo Jorgenson, as the chase sits up within ten seconds of him. Is "second group syndrome" ever rational? Plus Paul Seixas's cramps, and a junior double not seen since Remco Evenepoel
• (00:36:41) New UCI data shows women suffer 4.3 times more head injuries and 2.5 times more fractures in crashes than men. We explore bone health, low energy availability, skill gaps in the peloton, and how this research may open up evidence-led opportunities for rider safety
• (00:47:35) Does looking fabulous make elite athletes faster? A debate about Keely Hodgkinson's skinsuit (and beige) gets out of hand on Instagram
• (00:53:52) And finally, a six-year-old Rubik's Cube world record holder, a 15-year-old skateboarder given anaesthetic injections at the Asian Games, and what to do with prodigious talent

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