CYCLING
Costa retains Suisse title
Portuguese rider Rui Costa won his second successive Tour de Suisse on Sunday after an impressive ride in the ninth and final stage, a 26.8km time trial in Flumserberg, Switzerland. The 26-year-old, who rides for the Movistar team, timed 51 minutes, 57.58 seconds to easily make up the 13 second gap between him and overnight leader Mathias Frank of Switzerland. “This has been as perfect a day as it could be,” Costa said. “It was touching to see how many Portuguese fans turned out to encourage me, and I have to thank my teammates for riding so well throughout the race and setting up this great finale for me.” Frank, who had led the race since the third stage, faded badly to finish fifth overall and was virtually inconsolable after he crossed the line. Dutchman Bauke Mollema finished second overall, more than a minute in arrears, while the Czech Republic’s Roman Kreuziger filled the final spot on the podium.
RUGBY UNION
Roberts doubtful for first Test
British and Irish Lions center Jamie Roberts is a “grave doubt” for Saturday’s first Test against Australia because of a hamstring strain, team doctor James Robson said yesterday. There was better news about the hamstring injury to Welsh winger George North, who has a “great chance” to play, Robson said, while England center Manu Tuilagi was progressing well with his shoulder problem. Although Robson stressed the briefing was a “snapshot,” he thought only Irish winger Tommy Bowe, who has a broken bone in his hand, was likely to join Roberts in being ruled out when he reports on player availability to Warren Gatland tomorrow. “Jamie’s very well this morning, his scans indicate one thing, his demeanor another, [but] he is a grave doubt for this weekend,” Robson told reporters at the North Sydney Oval.
SOCCER
Kinnear back at St James’
Former Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear on Sunday confirmed he is returning to the club as a director. The 66-year-old left Newcastle in 2009 after suffering a heart attack. He was only in charge for six months, leaving in April 2009 just before United were relegated from the Premier League. “It’s an interesting role for myself and I don’t think I could be at a better club to do it,” Kinnear told Sky Sports News. Kinnear insists he is returning to the club to help manager Alan Pardew achieve success, not to undermine the position of a man who signed an eight-year contract extension in September last year. “Alan’s aware of the situation and I’m hoping to meet Alan sometime on Monday to go through the team itself and where it’s glaringly clear we need to improve,” said Kinnear, who has also managed Wimbledon and Nottingham Forest.
SOCCER
Almeria, Girona in playoff
UD Almeria and Girona will play for the third and final promotion place into La Liga after they eliminated UD Las Palmas and AD Alcorcon respectively on Sunday. Almeria won 2-1 at home to Las Palmas after extra-time in their semi-final second leg for a 3-2 aggregate victory, while Girona saw off visiting Alcorcon 3-1 for a 4-2 aggregate success. The first leg of the final is tomorrow, with the return leg on Saturday. Almeria were relegated in the 2010-2011 season and the south coast club finished seventh in the second division last term. Catalonia-based Girona, founded in 1930, have never featured in the top flight. Alicante-based Elche, the second division champions, and Villarreal secured the other promotion berths.
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