■ CYCLING
Freire takes lead in Spain
Victory in stage two of the Tour of Spain on Sunday gave Spaniard Oscar Freire the lead in a major stage race for the first time in his career. The three-times world champion outsprinted Paolo Bettini of Italy and Colombian Leonardo Duque in a tough uphill finish to clinch both the stage and the lead. After Sunday's 143km trek from Allariz, the Rabobank rider leads overall ahead of German Erik Zabel, with Duque in third. "I had a tough day on stage one with an upset stomach," Freire told reporters. "But today I felt stronger and stronger as the stage went on. That kind of uphill dash for the line suits me down to the ground."
■ SOCCER
Clarke `fortunate' to survive
After surviving while others who suffered similar problems died, Leicester City defender Clive Clarke has been reflecting on his good fortune. The on-loan Sunderland player suffered a double heart failure during a League Cup match against Nottingham Forest last week, collapsing at half-time before being taken to hospital. But while he is now recovering from his ordeal, others such as Sevilla fullback Antonio Puerta, were not so lucky. "I know I am extremely fortunate to be here," Clarke said. "In the light of recent events involving footballers who have suffered heart attacks, I am the real lucky one, because I have survived," he said.
■ ROWING
Britain win two golds
Britain took two Olympic class gold medals to end the world championships in Munich, Germany, on a high note on Sunday. The British women's quadruple sculls led from start to finish to take a comfortable victory over Germany and China and make it a third successive world title for Britain. The other British win came in the men's lightweight four, with Richard Chambers, James Lindsay-Fynn, Paul Mattick and James Clarke coming from behind to beat France and pacesetters Italy. Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Quist of Denmark successfully defended their lightweight men's double sculls title, while Poland won the men's quadruple sculls.
■ BASKETBALL
Garbajosa cleared for Euros
Toronto Raptors power forward Jorge Garbajosa has been cleared by the NBA club to play for Spain at the European championship, the Spanish Basketball Federation said on Sunday. The 29-year-old's participation had been in doubt after he fractured his left fibula and damaged ankle ligaments during an NBA game in March. Just a week ago, the Raptors said it was too risky for Garbajosa to return to action, but an insurance agreement in case of further injury was agreed upon by the federation and the Canadian NBA side. "After negotiations with the Raptors, which went on all through the night, the Federation have been able to include Jorge in the list for the tournament," federation president Jose Luis Saez said.
■ BOXING
Torres defends WBO title
Colombia's Ricardo "Mochuelo" Torres successfully defended his WBO junior welterweight title, stopping US fighter Kendal Holt in the 11th round. US referee Yino Rodriguez stopped the fight after Torres, who was down in the judge's cards, was hitting Holt almost at will in the Saturday night fight. Torres was beating Holt with solid punches from both hands to the challenger's face, plus a left hook to the chin that sent Holt to the canvas. The US fighter got up and leaned on the ropes, but Torres came back with a new flurry of punches and Rodriguez intervened.
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