Giro d’Italia winner Alberto Contador slipped nicely into gear ahead of the Tour de France with victory in the four-day Route du Sud on Sunday.
The Spanish rider, bidding to become the first rider since the late Marco Pantani in 1998 to claim the Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double in the same year, defended his lead on the final stage to finish 17 seconds ahead of Movistar’s Nairo Quintana.
“I’m happy with this victory at the Route du Sud, but this doesn’t change anything in view of the Tour de France,” the Tinkoff-Saxo team leader told reporters. “It would be a mistake to change the mindset right now, thinking that this win would give me more confidence.”
Photo: EPA
“We still have another 13 days until the start of the Tour de France and I will keep my focus on my preparation in order to reach the start in the best shape possible,” he added.
Meanwhile, Simon Spilak of Slovenia won the Tour de Suisse in Berne, five seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas of Britain.
Thomas, who began the final time trial as favorite to win the race, overtook the 34-second lead of overnight leader Thibaut Pinot of FDJ, before Katusha’s Spilak closed down a 13-second gap on the Team Sky rider.
“After a lot of second and third places, finally I have managed again to win a big race. Of course, this is the biggest victory in my career,” Spilak told reporters.
“This was a main objective in the season and I was very motivated, so to get this victory is incredible,” he said.
Tom Dumoulin of Giant-Alpecin won the stage, 18 seconds ahead of Spilak, to take third place in the general classification.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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