SPORTS Wednesday, September 6, 2017 21 Sky’s British cyclist Christopher Froome cele- Froome takes brates on the podium

LogroñoVueltaminutes for the 40.2km 16th Froome,lead moved the Dutchman his lead all the way to the hris Froome claimed stage from the Navarra motor 27 seconds ahead of Russia’s finish line as Kelderman his second stage win of racing circuit to Logrono. Ilnur Zakarin into third overall. faltered. theC 2017 Vuelta a Espana to “It’s an absolutely amazing Zakarin was fourth with “I was just riding it at extend his overall race lead on feeling to extend my lead now moving the speed I felt best,” added Vincenzo Nibali to 1min 58sec and to be in this position,” said up to fifth in the general Froome. “I wasn’t really getting with victory in the individual Froome. “It’s a great position classification in his final race that many time checks from time trial on Tuesday. to be in now, it’s a good buffer, before retirement with fifth on the car so I didn’t really know Froome beat out Wilco but the race isn’t over.” the stage. where I was. Kelderman and Nibali The Briton, who is aiming “I’ve had a good time trial “Only coming into the last in a time o f to become only the third rider and the most important thing six or seven kilometres I found exactly 4 7 in history to win the Tour is I think I have good legs for out that I was on track to de France and Vuelta in the what remains of the Vuelta,” fight for the stage. “(It was a) same year, now has just four said Contador. really big relief and obviously competitive stages to defend his Froome started slowly on super, super happy to be in this lead before Sunday’s traditional the tarmac of the motor racing situation.” parade around Madrid. circuit more used to hosting Wednesday’s stage sees the However, Nibali’s impressive events on four wheels than two race return to the mountains showing in finishing 57 as the Sky rider was 23 seconds with a steep hors category seconds behind Froome on the down on Kelderman at the first climb to the finish of the day maintained his hopes of a check point after 13 kilometres. 180.5km ride from Villadiego second Vuelta win with a series Yet, the four-time Tour to Los Machucos. 16th stage results of strenuous climbs, including de France champion surged “Tomorrow is going to be Saturday’s queen stage up the through the second sector brutal,” added Froome. A 40.2km from Circuito de Alto de L’Angliru, still to come. to lead by seven seconds “Los Machucos from what I Navarra to Logrono on Tuesday: Kelderman’s second place, by the second check point can see is a wall and a big, big 1. (GBR/Sky) 47min 0sec, just 29 seconds back on and continued to extend GC battle for sure.” 2. Wilco Kelderman (NED/SUN) at 0:29, 3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/BAH) at 0:57, 4. Ilnur Zakarin (RUS/KAT) 0:59, Ag2r throw out two riders for car tow 5. Alberto Contador (ESP/TRE) 0:59, Madrid of the vehicle during Sunday’s which is contrary to our values rench punishing climb up the Sierra and our ethics.” Selected others: cycling team Nevada. However, it isn’t the first 22. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/AST) 02:34, Ag2r-La MondialeF were “The management of the time Ag2r have been caught in 26. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) 3:03, forced to withdraw two Ag2r-La Mondiale team has a car tow scandal as team leader 37. Michael Woods (CAN/CAN) 3:40, riders from the Vuelta a decided to withdraw Alexandre Romain Bardet was thrown 45. Esteban Chaves (COL/ORI) 4:01 Espana on Tuesday after they Geniez and Nico Denz from the out of March’s Paris-Nice for were caught using a team car Vuelta a Espana,” the team said using a team car to allow him Overall to gain ground. in a statement. to make up lost ground from a 1. Chris Froome (GBR/Sky) 62h53:25, Alexandre “The Ag2r-La Mondiale crash. 2. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/BAH) at 1:58, Geniez and Nico Denz were team sincerely apologises to the Four-time winner 3. Wilco Kelderman (NED/SUN) 2:40, Bahrain-Merida’s Italian seen on videos released on organisers and the public for Vincenzo Nibali was also thrown 4.Ilnur Zakarin (RUS/KAT) 3:07, cyclist Vicenzo Nibali social media holding onto the unsportsmanlike behaviour out of the Vuelta in 2015 for a 5. Alberto Contador (ESP/TRE) 4:58, a door and the roof rack of our riders, similar incident. England to host India in 2018 Test series Messi deal ‘signed’ by agent, London ngland will host India in a five-match Test says Barcelona’s Bartomeu series in 2018, the England and Wales CricketE Board announced yesterday. Barcelona agreement with the five-time World contract that Leo’s father has signed.” The teams will play three Twenty20 arcelona’s under-fire Player of the Year in July, but Messi When pressed on the delay in matches in July, followed by three one-day president Josep Maria himself is yet to put pen to paper Messi signing the deal, Bartomeu internationals and then Tests at Edgbaston, B Bartomeu launched amid rumours he is unhappy with the claimed both the player and club’s Lord’s, Trent Bridge, the Rose Bowl and a counter-attack running of the club. hectic start to the season was to blame The Oval. on his critics Messi’s current deal expires in 2018 and that it would be resolved within England’s schedule for the year also yesterday by meaning he could leave Barca for free a month. includes meetings with Pakistan, Australia insisting a four- next summer. “There are no problems. All and Scotland. year contract “It is all agreed and signed,” said that is left is the protocol of the “A five-Test series against India extension for Bartomeu in an interview with signature. We are calm,” he is at the heart of next summer’s Lionel Messi Barcelona-based daily Sport. added. international programme,” said ECB has been signed “There are three contracts: one Bartomeu and his board have chief executive officer Tom Harrison in a by the player’s with Messi’s foundation, that is signed received fierce criticism for their press release. Argentina’s Lionel Messi gestures agent and by the president of the foundation handling of the recently closed “Alongside these, England’s white-ball at the end of the 2018 World Cup father, Jorge and the player’s brother; a contract transfer window as Paris Saint- contests against India, Australia and Scotland qualifier football match against Horacio Messi. with Leo Messi’s image rights, that Germain enticed Neymar away from will give a fascinating guide to form ahead of Uruguay in Montevideo, on August Barca his father and administrator of his the Catalan giants for a world record the ICC Cricket World Cup, to be staged here 31, 2017. The match ended 0-0. announced an company have signed; and the work 222 million euros ($263.7 million). in 2019.”