CYCLING
Pinot maintains Suisse lead
Sprint specialist Peter Sagan of Slovakia tied a Tour de Suisse record with his 11th career stage win in the 82-year-old race, and Thibaut Pinot retained the overall lead on Thursday. Sagan’s victory in a 193km sixth stage from Wil to Biel tied him with Swiss greats Hugo Koblet and Ferdi Kuebler, who raced in the 1940s and 1950s. The Tinkoff-Saxo rider outpaced Jurgen Roelandts of Belgium and Alexander Kristoff of Norway after more than four-and-a-half hours in the saddle. Pinot conceded five seconds in the overall standings to Geraint Thomas of Britain, who placed 11th and trails the Frenchman by 42 seconds. The nine-day race, the last major warm-up for the Tour de France, should be decided in a final time trial stage tomorrow.
RUGBY UNION
ARU announces three Tests
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has announced a three-Test series against England scheduled for June next year in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The ARU yesterday said that the Tests would be in Brisbane on June 11, Melbourne on June 18 and Sydney on June 25. The Melbourne Test is to take place at the 30,000-capacity AAMI Park rather than the 53,000-seat Docklands Stadium used in the past, while the last match is to be at the 45,000-capacity Sydney Football Stadium and not the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium in the city’s west. The ARU said smaller venues would improve the atmosphere for fans. It will be the first time that Australia and England, who first played each other in 1909, have met in a three-Test series in Australia.
EUROPEAN GAMES
Mustafina secures title
Russian gymnast Aliya Mustafina won the inaugural European Games women’s all-around title to lay down a marker to her rivals for Olympic gold medals next year. Mustafina won with a score of 58.566 points, exactly one point lower than the score that won her Olympic bronze in 2012. Second place went to Switzerland’s Giulia Steingruber on 56.699, with bronze for Lieke Wevers of the Netherlands, who scored 55.065. Mustafina can add to her medal haul tomorrow, when four gold medals are on offer in individual apparatus events. Also on Thursday, Ukraine’s Oleg Vernyaev won the men’s all-around with a 90.332, with silver for Azerbaijan’s Oleg Stepko on 89.065 and bronze for Russian Nikita Ignatyev on 87.365.
BOXING
Lemieux, N’Dam to face off
David Lemieux and Hassan N’Dam are to clash today for the vacant International Boxing Federation middleweight world title, both eyeing elite status in one of boxing’s hottest divisions. Canada’s Lemieux is an explosive puncher who hopes a title will put him in line for potentially lucrative bouts with the likes of unbeaten Kazakh Gennady Golovkin and the devastating Miguel Cotto. “I’ve been waiting for a long time to be able to become a world champion. It is my time,” said Lemieux, who has won eight straight fights since enduring back-to-back defeats in 2011. With 31 of his 33 career victories coming by knockout, Lemieux believes he has the warrior mentality that fight fans crave — and that makes him a worthy opponent for the division’s best. “I want to destroy people and win the fight. That’s what people want to see,” he said. The 33-2 Lemieux and N’Dam — 31-1 with 18 knockouts — will be fighting for the title stripped in February from Jermain Taylor, who is contesting assault charges in Arkansas.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely