SPORTS SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016 Froome: Dumoulin time-trial favorite MEGEVE: Chris Froome believes Tom around Dumoulin will be the favorite. “He’s Dumoulin proved his versatility last year in Even before Froome had finished, Dumoulin Dumoulin will be the man to beat in the time- certainly the man to beat in Rio. He’s made it coming sixth at the Vuelta, having led the had admitted it would be hard to hold onto trial at the Rio Olympics next month. Froome a big objective and focused a lot on it,” said race until late on. He won two stages during the lead. “It wasn’t my best time-trial but also beat the Dutchman in Thursday’s second Froome. “After freshening up after this year’s that race, including a time-trial, just as he has not a bad one,” he said. “I’ve been over my time-trial at the Tour de France this year, but Tour de France he’ll be the man to beat.” done at this year’s Tour de France. His best limit sometimes. The GC (general classifica- he was bested by Dumoulin in the first one On a flatter course, three-time world time- finish yet in the world championships was tion) riders should be able to do better. In his last week. Thursday’s time-trial was just 17km trial champion Martin would probably be the second behind Martin in 2014, but the mix of best form, Chris Froome would beat me.” long and almost all uphill, whereas the one favourite, or even veteran Fabian Cancellara, a climbs and flat should suit Dumoulin, who is It proved to be an accurate prediction, Dumoulin won was more than twice as long four-time world champion, although one getting better every year. The lumpy course although it was more surprising that none of and although it had two climbs, most of it was whose best years are now behind him. But it is will also favor Froome, who has proved him- the other specialist climbers could do like- flat. Dumoulin’s ability to be strong on climbs as self an able time-trialer as well as climber. wise. Dumoulin has said before he believes he The Rio time-trial will be 54.5km long with well as on a flat speed test that makes him the will one day challenge for Grand Tour success four climbs, suiting specialist time-trial expert favorite for Froome. “He’s a great rider, he’s Hot seat but he’s not quite ready yet. If he manages to Dumoulin. And Froome, who was third in the shown already what he can do in Grand Tours, Dumoulin sat in the hot seat for one and keep improving his climbing, that day could time-trial in London four years ago behind he’s been very close to winning the Vuelta (a a half hours on Thursday waiting to see if any come sooner rather than later. But in the British team-mate Bradley Wiggins and Espana). “Let’s see, he’s got great potential. rider would beat his time. In the end one did, meantime, he has a special prize to go for in German Tony Martin, believes this time Let’s see what he can do in Rio.” the very last one, but only by 21 seconds. Rio. — AFP Woman takes on Olympic builders RIO DE JANEIRO: If the world’s strongest and fastest ath- letes in Rio’s Olympic Park want to see a real champion they should look across the fence for Maria da Penha Macena. Penha, 51, may not have sporting muscles, but she’s proved her strength in taking on Rio’s powerful may- or and the Olympic construction machine in refusing to leave the place she calls home. The area, called Vila Autodromo, was a working class favela where Penha had lived 23 years before the authorities said the whole neigh- borhood had to be torn down to make way for the Olympic Park. After long resistance, nearly everyone agreed, in many cases swapping their homes for generous financial com- pensation or a place in a newly built housing complex. But Penha and a handful of others stayed on, standing their ground as the streets around them were razed. Against all odds they won: Penha’s original house was knocked down but the government agreed to build her a new dwelling nearby. “I am happy because what I wanted above all was to stay in this community and we were victorious,” Penha, a cleaning lady, says. However the long drama came at huge cost. “Out of the 600 families that used to be here there are only 20 now,” she said amid noise and dust from Colombia’s Nairo Quintana trains prior to the start of the 17 km individual time-trial, the eighteenth stage of construction on her house. the 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 21, 2016 between Sallanches and Megeve, French Alps. — AFP Thorn in mayor’s side Mayor Eduardo Paes is used to getting his own way when it comes to staging the Olympics, which start August Rain not shine the key 5. And starting in 2013 he saw the Vila Autodromo, a laid back and largely unregulated community, as an eyesore in the way of the Olympic Park and his glitzier vision of Rio de Janeiro. Eviction orders were issued, backed by compensa- to Quintana revival tion packages, and immediately resistance started, divid- ing neighbors as they debated over whether to accept. Penha turned into a leader of the stay camp, literally ALBERTVILLE: With the rain comes hope, although not in terms of overall although too late to save his hopes of fighting for her right to remain: her nose was broken dur- hope, at least that’s what Tour de France victory. overall victory. Instead he is embroiled ing violent scuffles with city security forces at one protest. fourth-placed rider Nairo Quintana in a thrilling battle for the minor plac- Vocal and a frequent presence in the international media, believes. Following the oppressive heat Searing heat ings. “I hope that with the rain that is she became a constant thorn in Paes’ side. At one point of the last few days in the Alps, the After the searing heat, Friday’s expected, I’ll feel better and will be able she was being offered the equivalent of $614,000 to leave- Colombian is hoping for a change of for- 146km 19th stage from Albertville to to fight for the podium,” he said. Bauke a huge fortune for most Brazilians-but still refused. “I tunes as radical as Friday’s altering skies. Saint Gervais Mont Blanc is due to be Mollema in second is just 1min 08sec believe in the right not to sell. Happiness, rights and Quintana has been a shadow of himself ridden under thick, dark clouds with ahead of Richie Porte in sixth with four respect, they have no price,” she said. at this Tour, sitting fourth overall at intermittent rain. The temperature too categorized climbs on Friday’s menu, On March 8 this year, a construction crew flattened her 4min 37sec off his great British rival and will drop around 10 degrees Celsius. including the first category ascent to the house, breaking her heart. “It was as if they were gradually race leader Chris Froome. And Quintana, who until Thursday was finish. destroying the history of my life,” she said. The house The 26-year-old Movistar leader had at a loss to explain his sluggish form, Another four categorized climbs will gone, Penha was forced to move in with relatives. But been expecting to challenge the Tour’s claims that will allow him to finally, and be tackled on Saturday’s 20th stage and while she looked defeated, she had her supporters: that Caesar and many even believed, given truly, express himself. “I didn’t expect to while Froome’s Sky armada will unlikely same day, the local legislature recognized her in honor of the mountainous course, that this year be feeling like this, it’s not fatigue that be troubled, the rest should at least International Women’s Day. And Penha was still not giving would see a passing of the baton from I’m feeling, but my body isn’t respond- scrabble amongst themselves in the up. “They can knock down my house, but not me,” she told England’s finest Kenyan import to the ing,” complained Quintana following fight for a top three finish. Quintana is journalists at the time. pride of the Andes. Yet instead, the uphill time-trial in which he finished currently outside of that, but he is only Quintana has found himself impotent, a disappointing 10th. 45sec behind Mollema and just 21sec off New life uninspired and overrun during a Tour in “I could have at the moment a type third-placed Adam Yates, the 23-year- Amazingly, her patience was awarded. In April, City which he’s been unable to launch an of allergy because I’m not able to oxy- old Briton and surprise package of this Hall accepted a new development plan for the area which attack or acceleration to change the tide genate my legs very well. “It might be an Tour. Also in the hunt are Frenchman would include housing for 20 families, including Penha’s. of a race that’s been strangled by allergy from this area that I have and Romain Bardet and Australian Porte. Construction is underway and expected to end soon. Froome’s all-conquering Sky team.