Oct 12, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Domani Jackson (1) intercepts a pass to seal the win over the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings have onboarded five rookies since Thursday night: Caleb Banks (DT), Jake Golday (ILB), Domonique Orange (DT), Caleb Tiernan (OT), and Jakobe Thomas (S). It’s time for about four more from Rounds 4 through 7.
Day 3 brings longer odds, but Minnesota still has useful roster paths to chase.
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has two picks in Round 5 and two in Round 7 on Saturday, absent a 4th-Rounder because of the 2024 Cam Robinson trade. This list eliminates players who will probably be unavailable because of Round 4 draft stock.
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Late-Round Offense and Cornerback Depth Could Be in Play
The prospects are listed in ascending order (No. 1 = top target for the Vikings to consider)
Navy slotback Eli Heidenreich (22) hauls in a touchdown catch against Army at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec 13, 2025, finishing the play during the second half of the Army-Navy game as the Midshipmen offense capitalizes in a rivalry matchup. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images.
Disclaimer
These players would be fantastic for the Vikings, but probably won’t be on the board at No. 159 — or about 60 picks from the start of Saturday:
Jonah Coleman (RB)
Dani Dennis-Sutton (OLB)
Sam Hecht (C)
Connor Lew (C)
Malik Muhammad (CB)
Chandler Rivers (CB)
If Minnesota has a 4th-Rounder, those four would’ve headlined the list.
10. Eli Heidenreich | RB/WR, Navy Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 6-7
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There’s some debate over which position Heidenreich will play in the NFL, with some thinking he’s a slot receiver and others insisting he’s a running back.
We believe a smart offensive coordinator will use Heidenreich as a running back, maybe as a poor man’s Christian McCaffrey. If the current draft trend continues with the Vikings not securing a rookie tailback, they should take a Round 7 flyer on Heidenreich.
9. Mason Reiger | EDGE, Duke Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 7
Reiger actually met with the Vikings, and as an old rookie — 24 in August — he should be more game-ready than most. He scored the defensive MVP and the Shrine Bowl. Minnesota suddenly needs EDGE depth after trading Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles. Tsk tsk.
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8. Logan Fano | EDGE, Utah Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 6-7
Fano will also turn 24 this summer, so edit-copy-paste the scribbling above about Reiger. Let’s face it: a 6th- or 7th-Round outside linebacker cannot be trusted to be immediate depth in Brian Flores’s defense, but one EDGE lottery ticket from the draft is better than zero.
7. Eric McAlister | WR, TCU Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 6-7
McAlister is 6’4″ and ran a 4.53 forty. He’s tall and fast. The Horned Frog will need refinement with route-running, separation, and footwork, but that’s what Keenan McCardell is for. In a utopia, McAlister could battle Tai Felton or a free agent to be named later for the vacant WR3 job.
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6. Brenen Thompson | WR, Mississippi State Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 5
Thompson has WR3 upside and made Bruce Feldman’s famous “Freaks” list. For a 5th-Rounder and a team that needs a wide receiver, why not use a late-round pick on Thompson? He ran a 4.26 forty — yes, you read that right — at the NFL Combine, which is just unholy fast.
The bad part? He’s 5’10 and 165 pounds. Fans will have to hope that nobody can ever tackle him. He’s tiny.
5. Matt Gulbin | C, Michigan State Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 5
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The draft run on centers has already begun, and the Vikings were not part of it. They also don’t have the aforementioned 4th-Round pick, prime territory to draft the “other” two centers in this draft: Connor Lew and Sam Hecht.
So, Minnesota is in a spot of examining players like Gulbin, who will turn 24 in October. He was a team captain at Michigan State and is worth a 5th-Rounder to develop for a year behind Blake Brandel, who appears on deck to start at center in September.
4. Brian Parker II | C/G, Duke Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 4-5
Parker may not be an option for Minnesota; he’s a tweener between Rounds 4 and 5. But he started 32 games in college and is durable. If selected by the Vikings, he could showcase a trait the team loves: versatility. He played tackle at Duke, declaring himself a center for the draft.
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3. Domani Jackson | CB, Alabama Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 6-7
A dirty little secret about this draft: the Vikings have drafted no cornerbacks, despite five opportunities. After Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre on the current depth chart, the club could use an upside youthful alternative.
Alabama defensive back Domani Jackson (1) secures an interception against South Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Oct 12, 2024, making a fourth-quarter play that helps preserve the Crimson Tide lead late in the game. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images.
Jackson could be that guy. He’s 6’1″ and 195 pounds with 4.41 speed. He can play special teams, too. If Alabama trusted him as a two-year starter, Minnesota should spend a 6th- or 7th-Round pick on him.
2. Emmett Johnson | RB, Nebraska Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 4-6
The Vikings met with Johnson a couple of times between the Combine and a Top 30 visit. He’s campaigned on people’s podcasts to join the Vikings because he grew up in Minneapolis.
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Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (21) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, on Nov 16, 2024, finishing a first-half run that helps Nebraska build early momentum on the road. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
Johnson ran a 4.56 forty in Indianapolis, which turned heads, and not in a good way. Later, he rebounded at Nebraska’s Pro Day with 4.49 speed. If Johnson tumbles to Round 5, and Jonah Coleman of Washington is not on the board — he probably won’t be — this may be the Vikings’ running back of the future.
1. Nicholas Singleton | RB, Penn State Where the Vikings Could Get Him: Round 5-6
Go to YouTube and watch some Nick Singleton tape. It’s dazzling. Injuries have sullied his pre-draft lead-up; once upon a time, pundits thought he’d leave the draft in Round 3 or 4. Now, he’s a 5th- or 6th-Rounder. Why? The injuries. He has not palpable pre-draft measurable.
Singleton squats 570 pounds, however and is 6’0″ + 220lb. He is said to have 4.35 speed, though the damn injuries canceled his Combine showing and Pro Day. The 22-year-old has a knack for game-breaking plays, which the Vikings could use when they’re ready to move on from Aaron Jones and/or Jordan Mason.
Former Indian men’s hockey team player Gurbax Singh Grewal, a member of the bronze medal-winning squad at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, passed away on Friday evening at the age of 84 following a heart attack.
Grewal breathed his last at his residence in Zirakpur, near Chandigarh. The 1984 Olympics bronze medallist was born on April 1, 1942, in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad in Pakistan). Grewal was known as a pacey forward who represented India at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, where the team secured a bronze medal.
He also had the rare distinction of playing alongside his brother, Balbir Singh Grewal, at the same Olympic Games, marking a special moment in Indian hockey history, according to Olympics.com.
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In his early 20s, Gurbax Singh Grewal shifted to Mumbai to pursue his hockey career and went on to represent Western Railways, where he established himself as a notable player.
After hanging up his boots, Grewal remained closely associated with the sport, taking up coaching roles and guiding several Mumbai-based teams over the years.
He also served as the Honorary Secretary of the Mumbai Hockey Association, contributing significantly to the administrative and developmental side of hockey in the region.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Olympian Gurbax Singh Grewal. A proud member of the Indian team that clinched bronze at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Gurbax ji served Indian hockey with immense dedication both on and off the field. From representing the nation with pride to contributing to the sport’s growth as Honorary Secretary of the Mumbai Hockey Association, his legacy will always be remembered. Hockey India extends heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Hockey India shared a post on X, while condoling the Olympian’s death.
Invincible Showdown codes present you with an easy way to earn a few extra freebies without grinding. When redeemed, these codes grant you Cash, which you can use to buy various goodies from the in-game shop. The code redemption system is accessible to all players regardless of their current progress level.
This article lists all active codes for Invincible Showdown and goes over how to use them in-game.
Bookmark this article to access the latest Roblox game codes in Invincible Showdown. We’ll keep updating the page whenever new codes for Invincible Showdown are issued.
Active Invincible Showdown codes
Active codes for Invincible Showdown (Image via Roblox)
The following Invincible Showdown codes can be used to redeem freebies like Cash and Spins:
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List of active Invincible Showdown codes
Code
Rewards
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KAIDO
1,000 Cash (Latest)
UPDATETWO
500 Cash (Latest)
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UPDATE2SOON
500 Cash
100KLIKES
3x Spins
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How to redeem active Invincible Showdown codes
How to redeem codes in Invincible Showdown (Image via Roblox || Sportskeeda)
Redeeming codes in Invincible Showdown is straightforward, as detailed below:
Launch the game on the Roblox Player app.
Hit the “Play” button on the title screen to load into the game world.
Once in the game world, click the “Rewards” button to open a sub-menu.
In the ensuing sub-menu, select “Codes” to access the code box.
Enter an active code in the box and press “Redeem Code” to receive the associated prizes.
Repeat for all active codes.
Note that to claim the prizes offered by codes in this title, you need to join the Invincibly Roblox group, the game’s official Roblox group. You also need to Like the game to be able to access the code redemption system.
Invincible Showdown code rewards importance
Codes for Invincible Showdown and their importance (Image via Roblox)
Codes for Invincible Showdown offer two main resources: Spins and Cash.
Spins can be used to perform rolls on the massive Spin board in the game’s lobby. This can potentially yield useful resources like Cash, special Skins, and more. As for Cash, you can use money at the in-game shop to unlock a variety of new gameplay elements, including Skins, Finishers, Emotes, and more.
Below is a list of codes that no longer work in Invincible Showdown:
List of inactive Invincible Showdown codes
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Code
Rewards
SRYFORSHUTDOWN1
Freebies
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SORRYFORDELAY
Freebies
BattleBeastOTW
Freebies
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HappyNewYears!
Freebies
PATCHBEFOREUPDATE
Freebies
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THXFOR15K
Freebies
Where to find new Invincible Showdown codes
New codes for Invincible Showdown are routinely posted on the game’s official Discord server. Otherwise, you can rely on this page for access to the newest codes in the game. We will update the active codes table the moment a fresh set is released.
FAQs on Invincible Showdown codes
What are the latest codes for Invincible Showdown?
The latest codes for Invincible Showdown are “KAIDO” and “UPDATETWO”.
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What are the main rewards for redeeming codes in Invincible Showdown?
The main rewards for redeeming codes in Invincible Showdown are Cash and Spins.
When does Invincible Showdown receive new codes?
New codes for Invincible Showdown are added during major updates, milestone achievements, and holidays.
Conor Benn could be set for a world title shot against Ryan Garcia, but there is one reigning world champion who claims that the Briton recently pulled out of a shot at his belt, despite ‘the whole deal being set up’.
Benn made his Zuffa Boxing debut earlier this month, outpointing Regis Prograis in a 150lb catchweight bout – his first contest below 154lbs in four years – and now looks poised to challenge for world honours as a welterweight.
Although, whilst his position as the WBC mandatory challenger has lined him up for a clash with Garcia, the WBA champion of the 147lb division, Rolando Romero, has claimed that Benn pulled out of a bid for his title.
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Speaking to Fight Hub TV, ‘Rolly’ explained why he doubts whether the Garcia fight will go ahead and revealed that he had been expecting to fight Benn, until ‘The Destroyer’ had a change of heart.
“Conor Benn ducked me, we had the whole deal set up, we were going to fight May 30 in New York for my world title and then he just disappeared out of nowhere.
Conor Benn was over there, begging for the fight with me. We had the whole deal set up, by the way, but he is over there in New York trying to cause all of that commotion and other stuff – he did it for clout. Same thing with this, he might be doing this with Ryan for clout too.
“They are over there trying to make all of this stuff, I don’t do that fake beef. That’s what throws me off, you go and do all of that fake beef and then you come over here, act like a big, tough guy, then you go run off and not fight.
“He might be doing that with Ryan, because Ryan would knock him out cold.”
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) drops back during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sep 29, 2024, scanning the field as he looks to deliver a pass early in the game while leading the offense in a road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.
The NFL draft is in full bloom, and we’re here to deliver Minnesota Vikings-themed rumors right in the middle of it. Each weekend, we provided two batches of rumors; this is the first.
The post-draft rumor cycle is already moving.
After the draft, the Vikings will turn their sights to the NFL schedule release, organized team activities (OTAs), and minicamp.
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QB Chatter Takes Over Minnesota’s Latest Rumor Roundup
It’s the Purple Rumor Mill for April 25th, 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) walks toward the locker room after a loss to Buffalo at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Dec 7, 2025, following a late-game swing in a 39-34 contest as Cincinnati’s offense came up short in a tightly contested AFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-Imagn Images.
Rumor: If the Cincinnati Bengals cut ties with Joe Burrow in the 2027 offseason, the Vikings are a likely landing spot, according to Bleacher Report.
BR’s Moe Moton identified several trade landing spots for Burrow in 2027, in the event that the Bengals don’t reach the postseason, and the Vikings were on the list.
He wrote, “Among the possible landing spots, the Vikings would have the best structure in place for Burrow. He would reunite with his former LSU teammate, Justin Jefferson, who’s one of the league’s top receivers, easing the sting of leaving another star wideout, Ja’Marr Chase. Furthermore, as the Vikings’ lead skipper, Kevin O’Connell has won Coach of the Year and fielded a top-six passing offense in three of four seasons.”
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“Regardless of Murray’s performance in the upcoming term, the Vikings should monitor Burrow’s situation in Cincinnati. They would need to clear some cap space to offer him a deal comparable to what other teams with more financial flexibility can offer, though. Minnesota is projected to have slightly less than $50 million in cap space next offseason.”
The Burrow rumor will persist as long as Justin Jefferson remains in Minnesota, thanks to their strong LSU connection forged during their 2019 National Championship season. If Burrow is on the trade block, Minnesota will be whispered. Simple as that.
Rumor: Cris Carter believes J.J. McCarthy still has a path to the Vikings’ QB1 job.
Carter chatted with Heavy.com last week, and to the surprise of some, he dropped a flavorful McCarthy take.
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“J.J. McCarthy, he’s still going to get an opportunity because most quarterbacks aren’t going to stay healthy for 17 games, so there will be an opportunity for him not only to learn and get better, but also to watch and learn from a guy like Kyler Murray … But I’d expect Kyler to be the starter this season,” Carter said.
Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter watches pregame action at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec 23, 2019, observing the field before a matchup with the Green Bay Packers as the Hall of Famer returns to a familiar setting tied to his decorated NFL career. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.
He noted on the Vikings’ offense, “Kevin O’Connell has proven with this offense when he’s had a healthy QB, he’s been able to win 12, 13, 14 games during the regular season. If you look at the nucleus of players they do have coming back … you’d have to be looking at the Vikings to be back in the playoffs and competing for the NFC.”
“Their offensive and defensive lines are more fortified than they were 2 years ago; they just need consistent quarterback play and the ability to allow that defense to be able to turn the ball over and get after the quarterback.”
Last year, Carter vocally criticized McCarthy, so when he struck a different chord this offseason, his argument resonated.
Murray has missed 26% of his career games due to injury. McCarthy, indeed, could get his chance in 2026.
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Rumor: Former Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones’s Achilles tendon recovery is on track — or even ahead of schedule.
NFL.com ran a comprehensive round on non-draft storylines, and for Indianapolis, the focus landed on a positive development involving Jones.
NFL.com’s staff collectively wrote, “QB Daniel Jones (Achilles) has begun throwing the football and is performing well on his dropbacks, head coach Shane Steichen told reporters Tuesday. Jones underwent surgery in early December after suffering the season-ending injury.”
The timeline often stretches close to a year for an Achilles recovery, which would put a November injury in jeopardy. Jones looks ahead of that curve based on the April update.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones (13) lines up against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan 13, 2025, focusing on the defense before the snap as Minnesota navigates a high-stakes postseason matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
ESPN’s Stephen Holder on Jones’s recovery: “The Colts have said throughout the offseason that they and their doctors believe a return for the start of the 2026 season is well within reason. To ensure that happens, the approach to Jones’ rehab has been an all-hands-on-deck approach for the organization.”
“To that end, Shane Steichen said he has consulted with Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens on how the team oversaw the Achilles recovery of Boston star Jayson Tatum, who sustained a torn Achilles in the 2025 postseason but has returned to the lineup and become a force for the Celtics. Both Tatum and Jones also shared the same surgeon for their Achilles repair.”
The Colts have Super Bowl odds similar to the Vikings’. They’re at +4000, and Minnesota checks in at +4500. Sportsbooks evidently believe Jones will be just fine.
LINCOLN, Ala. – NASCAR’s high-stakes Jack Links 500 race is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, where 41 drivers will take on the league’s largest track in front of an estimated 100,000 race fans.
The legendary track attracts visitors from “all 50 states and multiple countries,” according to track officials.
“It’s like a vacation for them. There’s people that just see each other twice a year here, and they meet up here at Talladega Superspeedway,” Patrick Barfield, Senior Director of Venue Experience and Guest Services at Talladega Superspeedway, said. “They all have their little parties and groups, and it’s a great site.”
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Josh Harris, Regional President at Talladega Superspeedway, credits the charm of the track to its unpredictable pack racing at extreme speeds exceeding 200 mph. The track, at 2.66 miles, is the longest in the NASCAR Cup Series, and drivers must complete 188 laps to finish the 500-mile race.
Track officials expect about 100,000 fans to attend the Jack Links 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama.(FOX News)
“Everything’s just a little bit bigger here at Talladega, and that’s how we like it,” Harris said.
The Jack Links 500 is the tenth race in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, and drivers are already fighting for their spot in the playoff standings.
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“Drivers are positioning themselves. They want to be in that top 16 come Daytona in August and be able to jump themselves into the chase,” Harris said.
Talladega is always challenging for drivers, according to Harris, both physically and mentally. As the NASCAR Cup Series continues into Spring and Summer, he said the inside of a race car can exceed 100 degrees on an 85-degree day.
Many fans, however, are taking advantage of the warm weather. Thousands of fans started camping outside the track and in the infield over the past week.
Riley Eubanks traveled from Indianapolis, Indiana, with his cousin and friend. The three of them are spending their first Talladega race together in a small tent inside turn one, living on “plenty of food and water” and a constant game of poker.
Some race fans started camping out in the infield of Talladega Superspeedway in the week leading up to the Jack Links 500. (FOX News)
“We spent hundreds, if not thousands on meat and plenty of water,” Eubanks said. “We’re able to provide food to others if they want to come by, but we have got plenty to eat here for a few days.”
Many fans said they were excited to see the track’s infamous 33-degree banking in its four turns, the steepest in stock car racing. The turns are engineered to allow drivers to maintain 200 miles per hour without losing traction.
Talladaga Superspeedway is home to the steepest banking in stock car racing with a 33 degree banking in its four turns. (FOX News)
“The coolest thing is getting over here and checking out how high up that wall really is. Seeing it for the first time. Just crash after crash over years. After years of watching, I got to see it,” Caleb Eubanks said.
Modern sport is obsessed with exclusive clubs: take tennis’ much-lauded ‘Big Three’, the all-conquering trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Cycling has various permutations that never quite stick: a Big Six, a Big Five, Big Four, and now increasingly – with Primoz Roglic in the somewhat drawn-out twilight of his career – a Big Three of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. Cycling’s problem is that Pogacar stands alone; a Big One is a daft idea.
But the last few weeks of ever-ratcheting hype have given rise to the idea that, if not now, certainly in the next couple of years, a new Big Two could dominate. And this weekend’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege is its first litmus test.
27-year-old Pogacar is in his prime, no longer the dazzling young upstart. His potential has been realised. But Paul Seixas? A wholly different story.
Some readers may not be familiar with the young Frenchman, although those numbers will be diminishing as rapidly as he pedals uphill. The 19-year-old only took his first WorldTour victory this month, at Itzulia Basque Country, a stage race in which he joined luminaries including Roglic, Juan Ayuso, and two other young sensations, Isaac del Toro and Florian Lipowitz on the start list. Del Toro was second in last year’s Giro d’Italia, Lipowitz third at the Tour de France; Seixas blew them all out of the water, winning the individual time trial, two gruelling mountain stages, and all four classifications, wearing yellow from stage two until the end.
His command of the race was astonishing, but it only confirmed what we already knew. Last autumn he was one of only 17 riders to finish a nasty edition of the European Championships, with 3,400m of climbing to surmount. He played a patient game then burst away to finish a clear third-best of the field, behind only Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel.
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This spring he finished second on the rolling Tuscan hills of Strade Bianche, then warmed up for Liege-Bastogne-Liege by winning this week’s La Fleche Wallonne, surging to victory on the infamous Mur de Huy, eating up its 15 per cent gradients with ease. It made him the youngest-ever winner of the Classic. Other records will inevitably follow. Evenepoel and Pogacar both opted to skip the race to conserve their energy for the weekend – but they will have been watching with interest.
Cycling is full of young prodigies who never quite live up to early hype – Cian Uijtdebroeks, who was the next best thing a couple of years ago before a troubling couple of seasons with illness and injury problems, is one such cautionary tale and another on the startlist in Belgium.
Seixas won three stages and all four classifications at Itzulia Basque Country (AFP via Getty Images)
But it’s hard not to get excited about Seixas.
The Decathlon CMA CGM rider has the weight of all of France’s hopes and expectations on his shoulders – and riding for a French team, it seems more and more likely that he will be thrust further into the spotlight with a first Tour start this summer. But he seems a measured and confident character despite the noise. He told The Athletic earlier this year: “I really need to stay calm because I guess there’s a lot of pressure on me. I take it as a positive effect, I manage it well,” and credited the “very wise” team around him for keeping him grounded.
He’ll need to be, because for all the hype, the youngster from Lyon still has a way to go. Pogacar, the three-time champion, remains the five-star favourite. The two-time world champion can so far reflect on a successful spring – a long-awaited Milan-San Remo triumph the highlight – but he was again thwarted in Paris-Roubaix and hasn’t looked quite as imperious as normal.
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Pogacar is back on firmer ground in Liege after being pipped for the second year in a row at Paris-Roubaix (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
But after the bone-battering rock slabs of northern France, we are now firmly back in Pogacar’s preferred territory: hills, hills, and more hills. Those of Liege-Bastogne-Liege are punchier than the climbs Seixas distinguished himself on in the Basque Country, but he showed a remarkable aptitude for them on the Mur de Huy. The teenager may not be best suited to this race now, but it offers another chance for him to test himself against the best on this terrain.
Two of the best, in fact: Pogacar and Seixas’ major competition on Sunday is Remco Evenepoel, arguably a better one-day racer than a Grand Tour rider despite his best efforts to get into Tour-winning shape. He has two wins from three starts at Liege-Bastogne-Liege and warmed up for it with a dominant performance at Amstel Gold last week, when he easily got the better of Mattias Skjelmose in a two-up sprint having done much of the heavy lifting until that point.
The Belgian’s positioning in races and his impetuosity sometimes work against him, but he appears to have gone some way recently to correcting these weaknesses, and if he can keep his head screwed on should be best placed to challenge Pogacar.
Amstel Gold winner Remco Evenepoel completes the line-up of favourites (ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Normally Tom Pidcock would be a contender too, but after falling down a ravine at the Volta a Catalunya and sustaining bone bruising, ligament damage, and stress fractures to his tibia, 260km of flat-out racing may be a step too far. But the Brit – who returned less than four weeks after his crash, having been given an eight-week timeline for recovery – still won a stage at the Tour of the Alps this week and just having him back racing, after initial fears his entire season had been derailed, is promising.
But the focus this weekend will all be on two figures: Pogacar, and the gangly youngster hoping to shadow him. The final Monument of this spring, the coda to this part of the season, offers something of a prologue to cycling’s future. On the one side, Pogacar; on the other, life beyond Pogacar.
It may not arrive this weekend; Seixas has conceded himself he “doesn’t have the level” to beat the Slovenian. But it doesn’t mean we can’t await with bated breath what’s to come.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025–26 NBA Most Improved Player.
The Atlanta Hawks guard receives the George Mikan Trophy after a significant jump in performance this season.
Alexander-Walker increased his scoring from 9.4 points per game last season to 20.8 this year, a rise of 11.4 points. That places him among a small group of players over the past few decades to make that level of jump while playing full seasons.
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He also becomes part of a notable run for Atlanta. Following Dyson Daniels, the Hawks are now the first team to produce back-to-back winners of the award.
The voting was decided by a panel of 100 media members, and had Alexander-Walker finishing ahead of Jalen Duren and Deni Avdija.
The award recognises the player who has shown the most progress over the season, and this year, that recognition goes to Alexander-Walker after a clear step forward in his game.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 24: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in front of Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Friday night in the NBA playoffs saw three Game 3 matchups, with all three road teams picking up wins to shift their series.
The Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 to take a 2-1 lead. Jayson Tatum led the way with 25 points and a good fourth quarter that helped Boston close out the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers edged the Houston Rockets 112-108 in overtime to move 3-0 up in the series. The Lakers came back late in the fourth quarter to force overtime before taking control. LeBron James finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, while Marcus Smart added 21 points and 10 assists.
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In the final game, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-108 to take a 2-1 lead. Stephon Castle scored 33 points, while Dylan Harper added 27 points off the bench to lead the comeback after trailing in the second half.
These results mean Boston and San Antonio now lead their series 2-1, while the Lakers are one win away from advancing.
The stable of Ciaron Maher has dispatched Seraphox to Melbourne targeting a Stakes race which could provide various directions for the young horse.
In the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday, Seraphox arrives after two Sydney races, including a triumph at Warwick Farm last time out.
The colt impressed the Maher team sufficiently from the outset to launch him in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last month; he placed second last but trailed the winner by a mere four lengths.
Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer at Ciaron Maher Racing, affirmed the high regard the stable has for the colt Seraphox.
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“He’s a beautiful horse,” Turnbull said.
“It’s the right trip and it’s the right time to bring him down.
“He debuted in a good race on a Saturday in Sydney and did a few things wrong, and then he won his maiden next time around.
“He’s been down here a couple of weeks, and he’s taken to the left-handed direction without a problem.
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“He’s a placid animal and has taken no extra work to settle him in, he’s been very natural and very straight forward.
“He will be a very interesting horse because he will continue to get better as he’s only young and whatever he does over 1400 (metres) you can potentially look to the spring, if he takes that step.”
Saturday’s performance will dictate the next steps for Seraphox, as per Turnbull, who hasn’t excluded a Brisbane trip over winter.
“There are races in Brisbane if we wanted to push on, or we could put him away and go through the pathway of trying to get him to the (Caulfield) Guineas in the spring,” Turnbull said.
From Sydney, two-year-old Nialah enters the Anzac Day Stakes having run third in her maiden debut at Wyong.
Nialah took a while to adapt and become race-ready, Turnbull observed.
“Early in her career she was very fast and fierce, but she’s settled a bit now and we were pleased with how she ran at Wyong,” Turnbull said.
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“Joe and the team up there in Sydney were pretty keen to step her up in trip, so she’s come down for an early chance at some Black Type.”
George Russell has backed a comment made by Lewis Hamilton regarding the new Formula 1 regulations, which are set to take effect in 2026.
The FIA has introduced several changes for 2026, including cars that are smaller and lighter, with a greater emphasis on battery power. The aim is to make racing more exciting and improve the overall spectacle.
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But not everyone is convinced. Max Verstappen has been vocal in his criticism, calling the new rules ‘anti-driving’ and suggesting they could harm the sport more than help it.
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The Dutchman didn’t hold back, even likening the changes to playing Mario Kart rather than real racing. After Verstappen’s remarks following the Japanese Grand Prix, there were reports he might consider leaving F1 at the end of 2026.
George Russell pushes back against negative feedback on F1’s 2026 rule changes
Russell spoke recently on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast about the backlash against F1’s new rule changes.
The 28-year-old noted that he doesn’t share the same outlook as some of his fellow drivers, including Verstappen, who compared the new era to ‘Mario Kart’.
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Russell also pointed out a ‘great point’ Hamilton made in favour of the 2026 regulations.
He said: “I definitely don’t share that at all. I’m personally really enjoying the car. The power unit and the engine are definitely different. And it just needs some fine-tuning to really optimise it.
“But it’s given an opportunity to battle harder, and back-and-forth racing. We’re here at a kart track now. And Lewis made a great point – in a kart race, you overtake one corner, he overtakes back. And they overtake again.
“And no one’s ever called that Mario Kart or yo-yo racing or whatever the terminology is. We actually call it pure racing and great racing. It’s easy to highlight things we don’t like and forget about a lot of the goodness of it.”
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George Russell confident that new rule tweaks will benefit F1 drivers
Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Russell explained why he believes the changes will make life easier for everyone involved.
“There are some small quirks, which the FIA have done their best to eradicate those quirks. These are details that are sort of so complicated, and honestly, fans don’t really need to understand,” he said.
“From this race forward, with these minor changes the sport are making, it will make our life easier. We’ll be flat out in the straights on a qualifying lap, and we won’t have to lift off to manage any of the energy.”
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With the first test of these tweaks set for Miami, fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see if they deliver as promised.
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