CYCLING
Cavendish pulls out
British sprinter Mark Cavendish has withdrawn from the Tour de France in a bid to improve his medal chances at next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Team Dimension Data made the announcement on Tuesday on the race’s second and final rest day, with five stages remaining. Cavendish has won four stages on this year’s Tour and is preparing to race on the track at the Olympics, where he is to compete in the omnium event. “After the heat and intensity of the previous stages, we analyzed my fatigue levels and decided I’m at a point that would have a detrimental effect on my other big goal for the year, the Olympic Games,” Cavendish said on the team’s Web site. “To leave a race and organization that I hold so much respect for and a team that I have such a special bond with, has not been an easy decision at all.” Cavendish would have been a contender to win the final stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Chapman hits 105.1mph
A 105.1mph (169.1kph) pitch from Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman to Baltimore’s J.J. Hardy matched the fastest since Major League Baseball began tracking speeds in 2008. Chapman also threw a 105.1mph fastball for Cincinnati against San Diego on Sept. 24, 2010, MLB said on Tuesday. During Monday night’s game, which New York won 2-1, Chapman’s fastest heater was taken for a ball by Hardy. The New York lefty got the save over one innings, with pitches ranging from 104mph to 105.1mph. He has thrown a big league-high 217 pitches of 100mph or more, and 46.1 percent of his 471 pitches have reached 100mph. MLB originally installed a PITCH f/x system to track pitches and implemented a Statcast system last year that uses Doppler radar.
TENNIS
Federer, Nadal withdraw
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have pulled out of the Rogers Cup, leaving the Toronto tournament without three of the world’s top four men’s tennis players. Tennis Canada announced the withdrawals on Tuesday, a day after Wimbledon champion and world No. 2 Andy Murray said he would not defend his Rogers Cup title this year. No. 3 Federer is coming off a run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, where he lost in five sets to Canada’s Milos Raonic. Fourth-ranked Nadal has not played since withdrawing from the French Open after sustaining a wrist injury. The tournament is to begin with the start of qualifying on Saturday.
BALLOONING
Record bid reaches halfway
The son of a 65-year-old Russian adventurer says his father is battling sleep deprivation, freezing temperatures and ice in his oxygen mask as he nears the end of his record attempt to fly solo in a balloon around the world nonstop. Fedor Konyukhov had drifted more than halfway around the world by yesterday after he lifted off from Northam in Western Australia state on July 12 in a helium and hot-air balloon. Oscar Konyukhov said his father was on track to return to Australia on Sunday — 12 days after he started. The previous record of 13 days and eight hours was set by American adventurer Steve Fossett in 2002. Oscar estimated the balloon had flown 20,000km by yesterday and had 13,000km to go.
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