THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 SPORTS

Absentees add to uncertainty at world championships

SINGAPORE: The absence of a handful go shoulder surgery, giving up his onships in Barcelona and is also target- missing training and breaching team events in Kazan. The 18-year-old has of the world’s best swimmers, including chance to become the first man to win ting the 50m, hoping to complete a rules. been smashing world records at will for Michael Phelps, has added an air of the blue-riband sprint three times in unique treble. Later that year he was ordered to the last year and seems a sure bet to uncertainty to the 16th world aquatic row. “This is the most important event spend a week in detention after crash- win the three longer races, but the championships, starting in Russia on France’s Yannick Agnel, the reigning outside of the Olympics, everything ing a car that he had driven without a 200m is her toughest challenge. Friday. world and Olympic champion for 200m after this is just warm-ups,” the 23-year- licence. In 2014, he secretly served a Among Ledecky’s big rivals will be Taking place in Kazan from July 24- freestyle, is also skipping the world old told Reuters. three-month ban after testing positive her team mate Missy Franklin, who won August 9, the championships were championships, because of a lung “The Olympics are like the for a banned stimulant. He could have four gold medals at the London meant to be a full dress rehearsal for infection. Wimbledon tennis, you play against the faced a much longer penalty but Olympics as a 17-year-old. next year’s Olympics in Rio but a spate Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, who has same field as in other events but it is Chinese doping officials ruled that Sun Franklin won six gold medals at the of high-profile withdrawals has diluted emerged as one of the major threats to just that the prestige is greater. So the had made an innocent mistake and last world championships in 2013 but the competition. The highest-profile Phelps in the individual medley events, World Championships will be a vital never intended to cheat. has her heart set on seven this time, no-show is Phelps, who came out of withdrew earlier this month after slip- test for me.” Unfazed by the extra attention, Sun and at Rio as well. The powerful US are retirement in 2014 but was subse- ping over on his way to training and Sun, the undisputed king of men’s is targetting the 200m, 400m, 800m again expected to win the lion’s share quently banned from representing the fracturing his elbow. The spotlight for long distance swimming, has been in and 1,500m individual freestyle events, of the medals with Australia and China United States at the world champi- the men’s events in Kazan is now likely the spotlight for all the wrong reasons plus relays, a feat no other swimmer looming as their biggest rivals. The onships after being convicted of drink to fall on South Africa’s Chad le Clos since he became the first Chinese man has achieved. opening ceremony takes place in Kazan driving late last year. and China’s Sun Yang. to win an Olympic swimming gold “When I was little, I watched Michael on Friday and will be followed by a Australia’s James Magnussen, who One of the few men to have beaten medal at London in 2012. Phelps compete in five or six events at a week of diving, water polo and syn- won the 100 metres freestyle gold at Phelps at the Olympics, Le Clos will In 2013, he was suspended by worlds, so I want to try it as well,” he chronised swimming before the eight- the last two world championships, will defend the 100m and 200m butterfly Chinese swimming officials from said. American Katie Ledecky is also try- day swimming programme starts on also be missing after electing to under- titles he won at the 2013 world champi- engaging in commercial activities after ing to win the same four freestyle Aug. 2.—Reuters

Lewis Hamilton in action in this file photo. Formula One regroups in Hungary with heavy heart

BUDAPEST: The head says Lewis Hamilton but hard for everyone,” said Hamilton of a promis- now in its 30th edition, threw up a surprise last has yet to win in Formula One but was third in Hungary with Honda in 2006 from 14th on the those willing to take a more adventurous punt ing talent who died on Friday, nine months season when Australian Daniel Ricciardo won Canada. “We should be looking to have a strong grid, which remains the lowest winning start for might fancy the chances of Valtteri Bottas or after a Japanese Grand Prix crash left him in a for Red Bull, and has done so before. It may be weekend and to build on the good momentum the race, but even starting that low will be a Kimi Raikkonen as Formula One regroups in coma. “I wished I had known him better. just a statistical curiosity but the fact remains we have built.” Raikkonen was second in challenge this time with Honda-powered Hungary with a heavy heart this weekend. “Hungary is a beautiful place, one of my that only English, Australian or Finnish drivers Bahrain, his first top three finish since he won McLaren. Bianchi’s death, the first since 1994 of Hamilton, winner at the Hungaroring four favorites. I will be carrying Jules with me in my have won in Hungary for a decade. with Lotus in 2013, and apart from last season, a driver resulting from a race incident, has put times in eight years and twice in the past three, prayers and thoughts, not only this race but for the 2007 world champion has been on the everything into perspective. “Last weekend’s is the clear favourite as the double world cham- the rest of my driving days. I know he’d want us FINNISH SUCCESS podium in Hungary every year he has raced sad news... means that the grand prix circus pion seeks to stretch his 17-point overall lead to race hard as he did, and so I will.” Raikkonen, who could be replaced by Bottas there since 2006. heads to Budapest with heavy hearts,” McLaren into the August break. The Briton and his rivals The form book points to another battle at Ferrari next season if speculation is correct, Ricciardo is the only Australian on the grid, boss Eric Boullier said. will also be racing with Jules Bianchi in their between Hamilton and Mercedes team mate won with McLaren in 2005 while compatriot and Red Bull have lost hope of winning until “We’ll all remember his life in our own per- thoughts after attending the French driver’s Nico Rosberg, with the pair chasing their sev- Heikki Kovalainen triumphed in 2008. Renault provide a more competitive engine, sonal way, but Formula One will come together funeral in Nice on Tuesday. enth one-two in 10 races, but history offers “I always have a lot of support-it’s almost a and may have to grin and bear it. on Sunday to silently and respectfully mark his “Saying goodbye to Jules was incredibly some hope of a different outcome. The race, Finnish Grand Prix,” said Williams’s Bottas, who Jenson Button took his first F1 win in passing.” —Reuters fan numbers grow... but not in France

PARIS: Interest in the Tour de France is growing world- wide despite cycling’s battle with doping, but the host nation is bucking trend, according to a study released yesterday. France is a rare country where interest in the Tour has fallen over the past three years, according to the Repucom sports data company. Globally, though, there has been a rise, with 23 percent of people saying they follow Tour news, up from 20 percent in 2012. FRANCE: Germany’s Simon Geschke celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the FRANCE: A teammate helps Tejay van Garderen of the US (left) after he fell ill during Repucom said it polled 11,000 people across 11 seventeenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race. —AP the seventeenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race. —AP countries, covering adults and teenagers in the general population. It found France was the only country to record a drop, from 33 per cent of the population in 2012 to 32 percent now. Geschke wins Tour stage In the United States, home of shamed former cham- pion Lance Armstrong, interest has grown four percent- age points to 18 percent of the population. FRANCE: German Simon Geschke won the Geschke at the time but ended up fourth. stage from Digne-les-Bains to Pra Loup. and you can master your trajectory alone,” In Britain, where current leader comes first Alpine stage of the Tour de France this is up to third, although he “It’s a very difficult descent, not so much said the AG2R rider. from, the rise is one percentage point to 22 percent. The year yesterday’s 17th stage as Chris Froome was distanced by Froome and Quintana in because it’s technical but because the road “It’s perhaps the only moment in modern Netherlands and Spain have the highest interest at 38 maintained his overall lead. the final 500-metres. surface is not very good,” said reigning cham- cycling when a lone rider can go faster than American Andrew Talansky finished the Meanwhile, nerves are set to jangle in the pion Vincenzo Nibali. the peloton.” Certainly Froome is expecting percent. The Spanish market is stable from 2012 but in 161km ride from Digne-les-Bains to Pra Loup Tour de France peloton with the hair-raising The Sicilian gained time on the other some attacks at that juncture, notably from the Netherlands, the rise is three percentage points. in second at 30sec with Colombian Col d’Allos descent awaiting them in the overall contenders on Monday after a daring , Alejandro Valverde or the In Italy, home of reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali, Rigoberto Uran third at one minute. Alps. descent into Gap, having attacked just before latter’s Movistar teammate - the figure has risen eight percentage points to 30 per- Froome was 18th and crossed the line just French talent said the the summit of the final climb, the Col du the Briton’s closest rival at 3min 10sec. “I cent of the population. behind his nearest challenger Nairo Quintana 15.9km descent, in which riders drop more Manse. expect people really to take on the race In new markets such as the United Arab Emirates, but their gap remains constant at 3min than a vertical kilometre in the space of 15 Nibali is widely regarded as one of the there,” said Froome, 30. interest has rocketed 14 percentage points to 20 per- 10sec. Alberto Contador, who had started the minutes, is “one of the most dangerous in best descenders in the world and with “Nibali, maybe the guys from Movistar, cent, the study said. day fifth, crashed on the difficult final France”. almost eight minutes to make up on Frome, Alberto Contador-it wouldn’t be the first time descent off the Col d’Allos before the climb And the peloton is on red alert after race he’s likely to try his luck off the Col d’Allos. he’s taken on the race on a descent.” According to Repucom, the popularity rise can also to the Pra Loup finish. leader Chris Froome’s Sky teammate Geraint “The key is balance and you get balance One who won’t be attacking, though, is be seen among commercial backers undeterred by the He lost around two minutes to the other Thomas survived a terrifying moment on from doing a lot of mountain biking in train- American Tejay Van Garderen, currently third sport’s drug problems. The race, which finishes in Paris overall challengers. American Tejay Van Monday’s descent into Gap. The 29-year-old ing,” added Nibali. One person who knows at 3min 32sec. “At a certain point in the race on Sunday, now has five top-level sponsors. Garderen, who started the day third, quit the Welshman was baulked by an out-of-control the descent well is Frenchman Romain people start to get a bit desperate, if they “Following the doping scandals that rocked cycling race due to illness with 70km left to ride, hav- Warren Barguil and sent over a precipice, Bardet. don’t have the legs on the climb they try to over the last 10 years, we are now seeing that the sport ing been dropped by the peloton. World banging his head on a lamppost along the He won an identical stage at last month’s take big risks (on the descent),” said the BMC is turning a corner, in terms of fan popularity and in champion Michal Kwiatkowski was another way. Criterium du Dauphine, which likewise fin- team leader. “That’s not my favorite part of terms of sponsorship,” said Repucom market research to abandon the race. Thomas was fine to carry on but many rid- ished with the 6.2km-long 6.5 percent aver- racing, I don’t like it when people risk life and vice president Mike Wragg. —AFP Also crashing on the final descent was ers are likely to be wary on the Col d’Allos age gradient climb to Pra Loup. “I like these limb to gain a few seconds-but that’s part of Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, who was chasing descent during Wednesday’s 161km 17th little roads, when the bends close in on you bike racing.” —AFP