Froome ready to miss next year’s Tour de France October 22, 2014 BRITAIN’S Chris Froome has dropped a major hint that he is planning to skip the Tour de France next year, after the route for cycling’s most prestigious race was revealed yesterday. Froome, who became only the second Briton in history to win the Tour in 2013, said the mountain heavy route made him minded to [...]
Olympic roof to cost extra £36m October 22, 2014 TOTAL spending on the Olympic Stadium has reached £619m after an extra £36m was sanctioned to cover the unexpectedly complicated work of converting the distinctive roof. The London Legacy Development Corporation has agreed to pay the top-up sum to contractors Balfour Beatty, who are turning it into a home for West Ham United and athletics. [...]
Champions League: Rodgers adamant he will not accept Balotelli’s antics October 22, 2014 LIVERPOOL 0 REAL MADRID 3 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers insists he will discipline Mario Balotelli after the Italian striker swapped shirts with opponent Pepe at the end of a half in which Real Madrid dominated and outclassed their rivals at Anfield last night. The Reds had won all three previous meetings with Real, a trend [...]
Remy: I’ll be OK for United October 22, 2014 CHELSEA striker Loic Remy is hopeful of recovering from a minor groin injury in time to play in Sunday’s Premier League showdown at Manchester United. Remy scored his second Blues goal in Tuesday’s 6-0 rout of Maribor, but hobbled off moments later to join leading scorer Diego Costa on the injury list and leave boss [...]
Pochettino denies Vertonghen rift as Spurs target three points October 22, 2014 TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed suggestions of a falling-out with Jan Vertonghen after the defender was left on the bench for Saturday’s defeat at Manchester City. The Belgium centre-back has been a key figure at White Hart Lane since a £9.5m transfer from Ajax in 2012 but over the summer was linked with a [...]
Lancaster backs Robshaw to end debate over his England future October 22, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has backed Chris Robshaw to cast aside constant speculation over his role in international rugby and prove his pedigree after re-naming the Harlequins flanker as skipper for the autumn internationals. Lancaster has included a trio of uncapped players – Bath winger Semesa Rokoduguni, Saracens second row George Kruis and Northampton [...]
Quigg aims to use title defence as prompt for Frampton clash October 22, 2014 WBA super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg intends to use his fifth title defence against Hidenori Otake as a springboard to fight Belfast’s IBF titleholder Carl Frampton. The 26-year-old’s bout with the Japanese champion will feature on the undercard of Nathan Cleverly’s rematch with Tony Bellew at the Echo Arena, Liverpool in November. Veteran Otake will be [...]
Murray maintains surge to reach ATP Finals October 22, 2014 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray continued his bid to qualify for the season ending ATP World Tour Finals in London by seeing off the challenge of Jurgen Melzer in the first round of the Valencia Open yesterday. The 27-year-old dispatched the veteran Austrian in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to set up a second-round clash with Italy’s Fabio [...]
Evans intent on resuming career after serving custodial sentence October 22, 2014 FORMER Sheffield United striker Ched Evans last night reiterated his intention to prove his innocence and resume a professional football career. Evans has submitted an appeal to the Criminal Cases Review Commission after spending two and half years in prison as part of a fiveyear sentence for rape. The 25-year-old, who has always protested his [...]
Champions League: Mourinho rules out striker crisis as Blues smash six at the Bridge October 21, 2014 CHELSEA 6 NK MARIBOR 0 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho shrugged off talk of a striker crisis for Sunday’s trip to Manchester United after an injury to Loic Remy proved the only stain on a memorable Champions League triumph over Maribor last night. Midfielder Eden Hazard’s brace, veteran Dider Drogba’s first goal since rejoining the Blues, [...]