CYCLING
Gaudin wins prologue
Frenchman Damien Gaudin, riding for Europcar, won Sunday’s Paris-Nice prologue, a 2.9km time trial around Houilles west of Paris. Gaudin bagged the yellow jersey after seeing off compatriot Sylvain Chavanel and Dutchman Lieuwe Westra as the 26-year-old garnered his first career win five years after turning professional. Yesterday’s first stage proper was a 195km ride from Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Nemours.
RUGBY UNION
Sexton in, O’Gara dropped
Flyhalf Jonathan Sexton has been included in Ireland’s 32-man training squad for Saturday’s Six Nations game against France, but there was no place for Ronan O’Gara. Flyhalf O’Gara, Ireland’s most capped player and scorer of a record 1,083 points for his country, has struggled for form and was relegated to third-choice No. 10 for last month’s match against Scotland that Ireland lost 12-8. Sexton, who tore a hamstring during the 12-6 defeat by England on Feb. 10, Paddy Jackson, who made his debut against Scotland, and uncapped Ian Madigan were the three flyhalves named in the squad by the Irish RFU on Sunday. Locks Mike McCarthy and Donnacha Ryan and wing Craig Gilroy were named in the squad, despite nursing injuries. Ireland are fourth in the Six Nations table with one win from three matches.
FOOTBALL
Female kicker limps out
Lauren Silberman’s history-making NFL tryout ended quickly. Silberman, the first woman to take part in a regional scouting combine sponsored by the NFL, suffered a leg injury after two kickoffs on Sunday and had to bow out. According to a report, Silberman appeared to be in discomfort after her first kick, which went about 15 yards, at the New York Jets’ indoor training facility. She tried another kickoff and it traveled only 14 yards. Silberman, a 28-year-old New York City resident who played club soccer at the University of Wisconsin, said she aggravated an injury she suffered last week while training.
TENNIS
Gulbis captures title
Ernests Gulbis celebrated his second Delray Beach International title after edging French journeyman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 on Sunday. Latvian Gulbis, the 2010 champion, found himself in his first final since 2011 after the top seeds all crashed out and after weathering a stiff challenge in the first set, was too strong for the 105th-ranked Frenchman. “I’m really happy. I worked hard,” the 24-year-old told reporters. “I’m exhausted now. [This is] my favorite tournament. It’s the only tournament in the world I am winning.” The 67th-ranked Gulbis was understating his record, but only slightly, having sandwiched his Delray Beach wins with the Los Angeles trophy in 2011 for a career total of three ATP titles. The 29-year-old Roger-Vasselin was playing in his first final, however, and the gap in experience showed as Gulbis saved a set point before forcing a tiebreak which he comfortably won 7-3. Gulbis rode the momentum through the second set to quickly wrap up the match, but Roger-Vasselin was not too disconsolate with the loss, having previously held a 0-5 record in quarter-finals. “When you lose in a final, it’s tough, but it was a great week for me,” he said. “It will give me confidence for the next tournament.” US duo James Blake and Jack Sock defeated Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Horia Tecau of Romania 6-4, 6-4 to claim the doubles title.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about £2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Less than a week after splashing out a world-record fee for Naomi Girma, Chelsea has spent big again to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to the English Women’s Super League. Walsh left European champions Barcelona after more than two years to join Chelsea for a reported £400,000 (US$496,000) on Friday. Walsh was the world’s most expensive player for two years after moving to Barcelona from Manchester City for a reported £400,000 in 2022. That status now belongs to Girma, the US defender who cost Chelsea a reported £900,000 to sign from the San Diego Wave. Still, it means 27-year-old Walsh — a technically