Contador holds off Armstrong to stay in front July 21, 2009 SPAIN’S Alberto Contador remained in pole position in the race for the Tour de France yellow jersey after yesterday’s 16th stage in the Alps, from Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The 26-year-old finished 10th in the Alpine stage and now leads seven-time champion Lance Armstrong by one minute and 37 seconds. Britain’s Bradley Wiggins remains in third, [...]
ERIKSSON SET FOR NOTTS LANDING July 21, 2009 FORMER England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is being lined up for a sensational return to English football – with League Two side Notts County. The Magpies, who were recently taken over by Middle Eastern group Munto Finance have targeted the 61-year-old Swede to work in a director of football role as a sign of their ambition. [...]
Bolt’s fitness concerns July 21, 2009 ATHLETICS: Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt admits he will not be fully fit when he faces Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay at next month’s World Championships in Berlin. Bolt, who won 100m and 200m Olympic gold last summer, and fellow Jamaican Powell will warm up by competing at the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace [...]
Nadal makes tentative return July 21, 2009 TENNIS: World No2 Rafael Nadal has trained for the first time in almost two months. The Spaniard was unable to defend his Wimbledon title because of tendonitis in his knees but practised yesterday at his home in Mallorca. He said: “I am happy to return to training, to have the racquet in my hand and [...]
Brawn: We’ll bounce back July 21, 2009 FORMULA ONE: Team boss Ross Brawn insists his outfit will be back to its best at this week’s Hungarian Grand Prix after being eclipsed by Red Bull in the last two races. Runaway leaders Brawn GP have seen their lead chipped away at by Red Bull one-twos at the British and German Grands Prix. But [...]
AC Milan rule out Beckham bid July 21, 2009 FOOTBALL: AC Milan have denied offering England midfielder David Beckham an early escape route after his stint at Los Angeles Galaxy turned sour. Beckham, 34, was booed by Galaxy fans in his first match back from a loan spell at Milan, but the Italians have ruled out taking him back before the end of the [...]
Hero Flintoff’s still fighting fit July 20, 2009 ANDREW FLINTOFF eased concerns over his fitness for the rest of the Ashes series after firing England to an historic first win over Australia at Lord’s for 75 years. The 31-year-old all-rounder took a match-winning 5-92 to help the hosts claim a 115-run victory in the second Test and open up a 1-0 series lead.But [...]
Ponting: We deserved to lose but will bounce back July 20, 2009 AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting insisted his side still had one hand on the Ashes despite yesterday’s second Test defeat at Lord’s. Ponting vowed not to overreact to a 115-run loss that came just seven days after the tourists roundly outplayed England in the drawn first Test in Cardiff. And with his side trailing 1-0 and [...]
Freddie’s loss is hitting home July 20, 2009 WHILE Andrew Flintoff was signing off his Lord’s Test career in style, the stark reality of his imminent retirement began to hit home. Freddie showed yesterday why he remains England’s most potent weapon with the ball and he will be a huge loss to England once this Ashes series comes to an end. Despite giving [...]
Fergie writes off Man City’s title ambition July 20, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson has written off big-spending Manchester City’s hopes of mounting a serious Premier League title challenge. City have put champions United in the shade with an £80m summer spree on established stars Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry. But Ferguson insists his local rivals will struggle [...]