Spanish rider Igor Anton took the overall leader’s red jersey after the first mountainous stage of the tragedy-hit Vuelta a Espana on Saturday which was won by France’s David Moncoutie.
Moncoutie of Cofidis finished the eighth stage of the race, a 190km ride from Villena to Xorret de Cati that included five mountain passes, in 5 hours, 14 minutes and 32 seconds, 54 seconds ahead of nearest rival Serafin Martinez of Spain, but the stage took place against a somber background.
A minute’s silence was observed before the start in memory of Team Sky masseur Txema Gonzalez, who died in hospital in Seville on Friday, five days after he was taken to hospital suffering from a bacterial infection that developed into sepsis.
PHOTO: EPA
Team Sky pulled out of the Vuelta in the wake of his death and Anton dedicated his red jersey win to the 43-year-old.
“This is the only decision which we could have taken. It is the right decision, to show our respect to Txema,” the British team’s principal, Dave Brailsford, said.
On Saturday, the 35-year-old Moncoutie was part of a small group that broke away early in the stage, but after the final climb the breakaway group split apart and he was able to outride his rivals to be the first across the finish line.
“I hope to be one of the best climbers of this Vuelta,” Moncoutie said.
Belgium’s Philippe Gilbert, who had held the red jersey since the third stage, was involved in an early tumble which allowed Anton, who finished the stage in seventh place, to take over the overall lead.
“I am surprised. If I did not become the leader, it would not be a trauma,” Anton said. “I am not obsessed now with being the leader. You have to work hard, the Vuelta is long.”
The ninth stage takes the riders 187.7km from Calpe to Alcoy and includes a third category climb just 7km from the finish line.
The 21-stage Vuelta a Espana, which began with a team time trial through the streets of Seville, wraps up in Madrid on Sept. 19.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was