SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2014 CYCLING Froome back to challenge rampant Quintana in Spain MADRID: Chris Froome will go head-to-head with in-form Colombian rider Nairo Quintana when the final Grand Tour of the season, the Tour of Spain, gets underway in Jerez today. Froome’s defense of the Tour de France was ended by hand injuries after a series of nasty falls just five stages into the race last month, but he has recovered in time to try and make up for that disappointment to take his place as Team Sky leader. “This is exactly the sort of challenge that I need after the dis- appointment of withdrawing from the Tour de France,” the 29-year-old Kenyan born star said. “You can’t dwell on disap- pointment, you have to move on quickly to the next thing and the Vuelta has become the perfect race for me to focus on.” The grueling 21-stage race features eight mountain finish- es, two individual time trials and gets underway with a team time-trial through Jerez. In a break from tradition the final stage will also be an individual time trial into the northwest- ern city Santiago de Compostela rather than the final day parade around Madrid. Sky sporting director Dario Cioni is hoping a fast start can give Froome the upper hand. “With the team time trial straight away we have an opportunity to give Chris a head start,” he told skysports.com. “We’ve got a strong team here so why not aim to have a fast start and get a good result for the team? And a good result is going to be to try and win the stage.” PARAMUS: Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, tees off on the fourth hole during first-round play at The Barclays golf tour- Movistar’s Quintana has been in sublime form this season nament on Thursday, Aug 21, 2014 in Paramus, NJ. — AP as he claimed his first Grand Tour victory in the Giro d’Italia in June before also winning on his return to action in the Tour of Burgos last week. He should also be fresher than his rivals hav- Van Pelt leads The Barclays ing not competed in the Tour de France despite coming sec- ond to Froome in 2013. The 24-year-old, though, has stiff competition just to be the lead rider in his own team as logjam as McIlroy struggles Movistar have named both he and 2009 Tour of Spain winner Alejandro Valverde as co-leaders for the race. “Having Nairo and Alejandro we have to start with the intention of fighting Eight share second at FedExCup opener to win,” said Movistar’s general manager Eusebio Unzue. “Nairo, after 70 days without competing, has return to PARAMUS: Bo Van Pelt chipped in for eagle at adequate time into my game over the past takes me back to being a kid.” Entering the show his professionalism to get to the start line in great condi- the par-five 17th hole for a 65 that pushed week for obvious reasons,” he told reporters elite 122-man field in 104th place, Van Pelt tion and we know Alejandro is a very important man for us him past a crowd of eight players and into the after his first over-par round in competition said he had no expectations, content to be and can also be in the fight for the general classification.” first-round lead at The Barclays on a Thursday since the final round of the US Open in June. included after a dismal start to a season However, Unzue is still wary of the threat caused by Froome. when Rory McIlroy played poorly. The “So I’m going to grab a bite to eat here and go marked by five missed cuts in a row. “As poor- “Froome has been dominant in the Grand Tours over the past Northern Irishman, winner in his last three to the range this afternoon and work on a few ly as I played at the start of the year, I’m just few years and therefore out of respect he ought to be starts including the British Open and PGA things and really catch up on some practice kind of glad to be here,” he said, illustrating favorite.” Two-time winner Alberto Contador will also be mak- Championship, shot a three-over-par 74 and that I probably missed out on over the past his relaxed approach by taking up an invita- ing his return after a broken shinbone forced him out of the trailed Van Pelt by nine strokes. week. “I probably just needed to give myself a tion to go fishing. “I went striper fishing on Tour de France. However, the Spaniard has played down Among the long queue tied for second at little bit more time,” added McIlroy, who did Tuesday. I caught some fish in the East River, expectations that he can challenge for the overall victory giv- five-under 66 in the opening tournament of some promotional work with Tiger Woods so maybe that was my good luck charm this en his lack of preparation time. the four-event FedExCup playoffs were Jim and also appeared on a late night talk show week.” Mahan used a string of three birdies “I know that it is a Tour of Spain that I will have to plan very Furyk, who stood third on the points list, his with him. “But I wasn’t going to do that. I was from the 15th to grab a share of the lead, rely- differently from what I had intended at the start of the season old Ryder Cup team mate Hunter Mahan and enjoying myself.” ing on a steady driver to stay out of the thick or how I planned at the start of the Tour de France. “But I think England’s Paul Casey. They were joined by rough. “Hit fairways, hitting greens, giving Back to youth yourself a lot of good looks is the best way to I can come into the race thinking about ending the season Brendon de Jonge of Zimbabwe and Americans Charles Howell III, Cameron Van Pelt, refreshed after two weeks off and play this golf course,” said Mahan, who said he well and starting next year with more guarantees. “Perhaps in Tringale, Ben Martin and Brendon Todd on a a successful fishing trip on the murky East benefitted from perfect greens, being in the the last week I will be able to fight for a stage victory.” course softened by overnight rain. The 25- River, said touring the classic A.W. Tillinghast third group off the tee. Tringale, playing in the Defending champion American Chris Horner will be aiming to year-old McIlroy blamed his poor play on a Ridgewood Country Club course took him same group as Mahan, birdied the last two repeat his remarkable surge to victory last year which saw him lack of preparation and not on fatigue despite back to his youth. “The course I grew up on is holes for his 66. “We had great rhythm in the aged 41 become the oldest ever champion in a Grand Tour. taking time to celebrate his blistering run and similar,” the Indiana native said. “A lot of trees round. Everyone was playing well and hitting Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez is also likely to cause a threat in attending to added business commitments. “I and bent grass. “I love coming up here to bent a lot of quality shots, so it kind of felt like I was the mountains as he rides for Katusha.— AFP think it’s more to do with just not putting the grass ... and stuff that I’m used to. Kind of just trying to keep up.” — Reuters Swimming champ Magnussen tips hot final; Phelps hits form GOLD COAST: World champion James Magnussen said it forward to the challenge,” he said. “It will take a 47 (seconds) “The times (at the nationals) those guys put up weren’t would take one of the year’s fastest times to win the Pan to win it, so I think there will be a few of us under that 48-sec equal to the quality of swimmers that they were, so you could- Pacific Championships 100m freestyle after American stars barrier.” Only Magnussen and McEvoy have gone under 47 n’t risk anything today.” Australia’s world champion Cate Michael Phelps and Nathan Adrian threw down the gauntlet seconds this year, with Brazilian Cesar Cielo holding the world Campbell was imperious in cruising to the fastest time in the yesterday. Adrian, who nudged out Magnussen by one-hun- record at 46.91sec. women’s 100m freestyle heats. The newly crowned dredth of a second to win the Olympic 100m gold in London, Phelps, 29, the 18-time Olympic gold medallist, looks to be Commonwealth Games champion powered to a meet record topped yesterday’s qualifiers with 48.05 seconds. Australia’s returning to form after failing to win at this month’s US and the year’s best time of 52.62sec in coasting to victory, two-time world champion was just 0.2sec behind, with Championships. “(Coach) Bob Bowman and I have been work- 0.88sec ahead of her sister Bronte with American star Missy Olympic great Phelps surging into contention on the back of ing just on the stroke and today my stroke actually felt easier Franklin clocking 53.65sec. Campbell said she was not reacting 48.45, just four-hundredths of a second ahead of another than it normally had,” Phelps said.