Jacob Whitehead
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jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Jacob Whitehead
@jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
5.5K followers 250 following 320 posts
✍️ Reporter for @theathleticfc.bsky.social.

Investigations with a bit of cycling and #NUFC. Read books, climb hills, make soup. 📚🏔️🥣
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jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Jacob Whitehead @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social · Nov 16
Kenya produces the world's best runners — but their female athletes face a femicide crisis.

Since 2021, four elite women have been killed by their partners. Many others face violence.

Travelled to Iten — these athletes' stories deserve to be heard.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/591...
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Wout van Aert is one of cycling’s superstars; his win over Montmartre one of the year’s top moments.

We spoke about post-injury doubts, managing his own demanding nature, and his big offseason adventure in the USA.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Wout van Aert interview: Dropping Tadej Pogacar, recovering from injury and what cycling can learn from the NBA
The Belgian star on a season of recovery and redemption: 'I just wanted to show that I’m still there, that I can be among the best riders'
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Jacob Whitehead
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Amid all the long throws and set pieces that have dominated the Premier League season, plenty of fans have been expressing their displeasure at the way their team have been playing.

@jacobwhitehead.bsky.social went to three matches in two days to try to find out what they really want to see.
What are supporters really seeking from their team: style, substance or something else?
Even fans of top-half clubs have been expressing dissatisfaction at the way their teams have been playing so far this season
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:49 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Went on a mini roadtrip around the Premier League this weekend. Are teams' style making us miserable? Or are we really in search of something else?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
What are supporters really seeking from their team: style, substance or something else?
Even fans of top-half clubs have been expressing dissatisfaction at the way their teams have been playing so far this season
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by Jacob Whitehead
georgecaulkin.bsky.social
Very chuffed that
@podonthetyne.bsky.social
has been nominated for club podcast of the year alongside some truly brilliant shows.

Huge thanks to the FSA for this honour & to our lovely listeners for their amazing support for our independent pod. #NUFC ❤️

thefsa.org.uk/news/fsa-awa...
FSA Awards 2025 - vote now! - Football Supporters' Association
We are pleased to announce the shortlists for the 2025 Football Supporters’ Association Awards – voting is open now and fans can back their favourites here. 91 candidates are battling it out across 16...
thefsa.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:36 PM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
On the politics of clapping. And truly, how did we ever get here?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
Does it matter if players don’t clap their fans?
Spence and Van de Ven declined to take part in football's post-match applause ritual. It is a breach of an unwritten rule but also... fine
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:23 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
#WHUFC 3-1 #NUFC — and in truth, it could have been more.

Complacent first-half performance turned into tired drudgery in the second.

Once more, Newcastle's identity threatens to be inconsistency — are there parallels with two seasons ago?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
West Ham 3 Newcastle 1 – Why are Howe’s side so bad away from home? Where does it leave them?
Analysis of Newcastle's Premier League game away to West Ham
www.nytimes.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:11 PM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Oier Lazkano released by Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe after UCI detect biological passport abnormalities.

Basque rider returned suspicious results between 2022 and 2024 while riding for Movistar. Hadn't ridden since Paris-Roubaix in April.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
Cyclist Oier Lazkano leaves Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe after suspension for alleged doping violation
A UCI statement said “unexplained abnormalities” had been found in Lazkano’s biological passport between 2022 and 2024.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 PM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
How did Saudi Arabia and Qatar receive such hugely favourable conditions for World Cup qualification?

Asked FIFA and the AFC about their home advantage, extra rest days, reduced away allocations...

Answers? Not forthcoming.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying controversy
Saudi Arabia and Qatar's opponents have complained about advantages the two countries had in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:10 PM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
A first ascent of Ventoux for the Femmes. Alpe d'Huez climbed twice by the men?

Always optimism and excitement in previewing the Tour de France, nine months out, but there's a lot to like in this route, from Montmartre to sprinters' chances.

Analysis:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
2026 Tour de France route analysis – Mont Ventoux for the women, Alpe d’Huez (twice) for the men
Next year's races will begin in Spain and Switzerland respectively, with fresh twists and some old favorites along the way
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Jacob Whitehead
chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social
⚫ Pope's (remarkable throwout) 1st-ever assist! ⚽
⚪ Barnes' brace of a cameo 🏹
⚫ Gordon keeps delivering in #UCL - now to do so in PL 🌟
⚪ 7th clean sheet 7️⃣
⚫ Huge morale-boosting win 🙌

📝 #NUFC 3-0 Benfica analysis, w/ @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Gordon steps up again on superb night for Howe’s wingers
Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes all contributed to an impressive Champions League performance and result for Newcastle
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:02 PM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Tadej Pogacar's Monuments season has been arguably the best of all time — the first man to finish on the podium at each, the first since Merckx to win three in one year...

To mark a special season, this is the story of those five races — in 20 pictures:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
The story of cycling’s 2025 Monument races in 20 photographs
The images that tell the story of the biggest one-day races in cycling's calendar this year
www.nytimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Of course it was Tadej Pogacar. Dominance reprised, Evenepoel second again, another long-distance attack.

But genuine excitement about 19-year-old Paul Seixas' bronze medal — this is a rider who will be in these podium pictures for some time to come.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Tadej Pogacar launches 75km solo attack to win European Championships road race
Pogacar is now the reigning champion at the Tour de France, the Worlds, and the European Championships
www.nytimes.com
October 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Luke Donald became captain somewhat by accident, and then that was the last thing left to chance.

Piece on the small edges which gave Europe their two point Ryder Cup victory — including VR headsets, Dodo, and beautiful smelling hair.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
How Europe won the Ryder Cup with $47 shampoo, Federer’s video and Moneyball
Revealing the little details that made for an historic triumph for the visitors at Bethpage
www.nytimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Jacob Whitehead
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Billy Guyton and Shane Christie were Super Rugby players — and best mates. Both lost their lives to suicide after suffering head injuries.

Spoke to their families about the answers that exist, and whether they're being introduced quickly enough.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...
Shane Christie, Billy Guyton and the brain injuries behind two rugby deaths
They were best friends, who took their own lives, after the same career, within three years of each other and their families have questions
www.nytimes.com
September 28, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Reposted by Jacob Whitehead
theathletic.com
Shane Christie and Billy Guyton were two ‘free spirits’, two talented rugby players who lived, played and, ultimately, died the same way.

Each suffered brain injuries playing a sport they loved.

Their friends and families believe rugby's authorities failed them.

@jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Shane Christie, Billy Guyton and the brain injuries behind two rugby deaths
They were best friends, who took their own lives, after the same career, within three years of each other and their families have questions
theathletic.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:01 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Tadej Pogacar is world champion again - he is the first man to win both the Tour de France and rainbow jersey in successive years.

Some brutal, attritional racing in Rwanda. Full analysis here:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Road Cycling World Championships: Pogacar solos to another rainbow jersey, but was Evenepoel unlucky?
The Athletic reviews a memorable week of racing in the Rwandan capital Kigali
www.nytimes.com
September 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Jacob Whitehead
stevemadeley78.bsky.social
A year ago today, Mark Townsend went to watch West Brom at Hillsborough and did not come home. Tomorrow, his relatives will be back in Sheffield for the start of an inquest that they hope will lead to answers. #WBA @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...
September 28, 2025 at 8:53 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Billy Guyton and Shane Christie were Super Rugby players — and best mates. Both lost their lives to suicide after suffering head injuries.

Spoke to their families about the answers that exist, and whether they're being introduced quickly enough.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...
Shane Christie, Billy Guyton and the brain injuries behind two rugby deaths
They were best friends, who took their own lives, after the same career, within three years of each other and their families have questions
www.nytimes.com
September 28, 2025 at 7:18 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
One year ago today, Muriel Furrer died at the World Championships, having not been found for 90 minutes.

Has safety improved? The number of stakeholders makes improvements slow — but in fresh news, teams are discussing an independent parcours regulator.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...
A year on from Muriel Furrer’s death, is cycling’s attitude to safety shifting?
A sport that witnesses death too often needs change. There is no shortage of ideas but right now there is a lack of consensus
www.nytimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:31 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Juan Ayuso joins Lidl-Trek after his acrimonious departure from UAE Team Emirates.

Lidl-Trek have their GC contender, Ayuso has sole leadership — but questions still remain on both sides.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...
Juan Ayuso joins Lidl-Trek after early UAE Team Emirates exit
Ayuso, 23, is considered one of the peloton’s best young climbing prospects but endured a turbulent season at UAE.
www.nytimes.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:30 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Dominant TT performance from Remco Evenepoel. Back? Or had he never left? Either way, overtaking Pogacar after being overtaken by Vingegaard at the TdF was a powerful moment.

So pleased for Marlen Reusser to taste a global gold as well.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Remco Evenepoel, Marlen Reusser claim time trial titles at World Road Championships
Vine and Van Wilder came second and third in the men's event, with Van der Breggen and Vollering second and third in the women's.
www.nytimes.com
September 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Ben Proud seems naive at best, misled at worst. Further reporting here about the 'greatest (medical) specialists' employed by the Enhanced Games.

But make no mistake — this is not just dangerous for Proud, but for governing bodies & sport at large.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Ben Proud’s doping defection is dangerous for him and for sport
The British swimmer's decision shows that 'clean sport' can no longer dismiss the threat posed by the Enhanced Games
www.nytimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:55 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
One week of the Vuelta remaining — a race I did not think would be alive at this point. Joao Almeida has raced Jonas Vingegaard brilliantly.

Takeaways from the last seven days here: including Pidcock's podium bid, thoughts on UAE's dominance, and 🐶🐶🐶.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Vuelta a Espana week two: More protests, more UAE victories, and a closer battle for the red jersey than expected?
Jonas Vingegaard remains in the lead as the race enters its final week – but Joao Almeida is pushing him all the way
www.nytimes.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:58 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
The number of local players in the Premier League is getting smaller. In 1995, there were 6.5 per squad. In 2010, it was 3.7. Now, it's just 2.7.

PSR-enforced sales? Definitely a factor — but academy competition for 14-16 year olds is driving this fall.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
How many local players each Premier League team has – and why they’re on the decline
If fans feel a special sense of pride when local players make their debuts, is something being lost?
www.nytimes.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:54 AM
jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
Unbelievable strength from Joao Almedia to win atop the Angliru.

A career-best performance to lead through the belly of the beast and still outsprint Jonas Vingegaard to the line.

Elsewhere, Tom Pidcock's Vuelta podium dream still looks to be on...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
Joao Almeida beats Jonas Vingegaard on Vuelta a Espana queen stage
Stage 13 contained the Alto de l'Angliru climb and was billed as one of the most decisive stages of the Vuelta.
www.nytimes.com
September 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM