Pantani’ Stage
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MONDAY, MAY 25, 2015 SPORTS Contador repels Astana on Giro’s ‘Pantani’ stage MILAN: Spaniard Alberto Contador failed Campiglio - the scene of Italian Marco to commemorate the memory of stricken Pantani’s infamous exclusion from the race Marco Pantani but held off the threat of in 1999, an incident which is widely rival team Astana to stretch his lead over believed to have led to the former champi- Fabio Aru on the 15th stage of the Giro on’s downfall and death from acute cocaine d’Italia yesterday. poisoning in a Rimini hotel room in Contador came over the finish line of February 2004. the 165km ride from Marostica to Madonna Contador, who is bidding to become the Di Campiglio in third place at five seconds first man since deceased Pantani in 1998 to behind stage winner Mikel Landa with Aru complete the Giro d’Italia-Tour de France finishing a further second behind to remain double in the same year, did not have to second overall but see his gap on Contador fret until the final 3km when an accelera- grow to 2min 35sec. tion by Landa sparked the hostilities. “I would have liked to win this stage Contador was soon on the Spaniard’s because of Marco Pantani, who was a big wheel but despite pulling in front the race inspiration for me when I was younger,” leader struggled to stretch his lead. Aru said Contador. and Trofimov soon pedalled their way back “But it was a very difficult stage and to the leading pair with just over two kilo- Landa was strong in the finale, when there metres remaining. Landa tested his fellow were a lot of attacks. “It was hard to control Spaniard with another burst of speed but, everything.” again, Contador countered the move. A day after regaining the race lead from Trofimov then launched a futile attempt Aru following his third place finish on the for the stage win when he seared past his 14th stage time trial, Contador further fellow leaders at the one kilometre to go underlined his status as race favourite with flag, but the Russian did not have the legs a commanding performance on the first to open up a telling gap. day of climbing in the spectacular With Trofimov tiring and the finish line Dolomites. in sight, Landa seized his chance and accel- But the Spaniard added: “A lot can still erated past Trofimov in the last few hun- happen in the race and we have a lot of dred metres to claim his maiden Grand FRANCE: Switzerland’s Roger Federer serves in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Alejandro Falla of Colombia work to do.” Contador’s Tinkoff team had Tour victory. at the Roland Garros stadium. —AP shouldered the burden of setting the pace “It’s an important win for me as much as on the penultimate climb, the 8km-long for the team,” said the Spaniard.”We tried to Passo Daone-a strategy which left two-time attack Contador because we outnumbered race runner-up Rigoberto Uran struggling him... it’s given us some hope for the final Federer blasts French to keep pace. stages this week. “It was a brutal day,” said Etixx rider “Nothing has changed in the team. Uran, whose bid for a podium finish now We’re here to help Aru win the pink jersey Open after security scare looks decidedly over after he trailed home and he is still our leader.” Contador finished among the also-rans. third at five seconds behind Landa to col- Tinkoff’s tactic also produced the lect a time bonus which could prove useful PARIS: Roger Federer blasted French Open Two years ago the final, which featured Rafael Ilham were separating but he was furious to dis- unwanted result of leaving Contador isolat- over the coming days of climbing in the organisers yesterday after a fan breached tight Nadal, was also held up when a spectator, bran- cover that his personal problems were the focus ed among several Astana riders for the final mountains. Today the peloton will enjoy security and raced on to court to grab a ‘selfie’ dishing a flare, leapt from the stands and onto of the website’s preview of his opening round climb, after Australian teammate Michael their second and final rest day of the race with the Swiss great. the court before he was wrestled away by securi- match. Rogers had trailed behind before the race before tackling arguably the hardest stage The 17-time Grand Slam winner had just ty officials. “For a Grand Slam website, it should be an through the valley. of this year’s 98th edition on Tuesday, a 174 completed a routine 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Tournament director Gilbert Ysern admitted article about the tennis,” said Wawrinka. “It was a However Contador, a former two-time km ride beginning in Pinzolo which fea- Colombia’s Alejandro Falla when he was shocked that Federer was right to be “pissed off” and that shit article.” Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori winner of the Tour de France who also won tures six climbs including the final punt to to see a young fan sprinting towards him on the the youth, who had been sitting in the courtside enjoyed a 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 win over France’s Paul- the Giro in 2008, acquitted himself hand- the summit finish at Aprica. The race finish- showpiece Philippe Chatrier Court. sponsors boxes, had been banned from the Henri Mathieu and next faces either Australia’s somely on the final climb to Madonna di es next Sunday in Milan. —AFP It was particularly embarrassing as security at event. Marinko Matosevic or Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil. this year’s French Open has been tightened fol- “But it’s not the end of the world,” said Ysern. Latvian 24th seed Ernests Gulbis, who lowing January’s deadly Islamist attack on Paris- “It’s embarrassing. It shows that we made a mis- knocked Federer out in the fourth round last based satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. take and we have to correct it to make sure it year on his way to the semi-finals, defeated Although the male fan was quickly manhan- doesn’t happen again.” Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) for only dled away, 33-year-old Federer was furious with Federer, the 2009 champion and seeded two his third win all year. the lapse in security, claiming he had also been this year, goes on to face Spain’s Marcel Romania’s Simona Halep, the 2014 runner-up targetted in practice on Saturday. Granollers for a place in the last 32. Federer, one and third seed, saw off Russian world number 91 “I am not happy about it. It happened yester- of a record 39 men over 30 in the first round, is Evgeniya Rodina 7-5, 6-4 and next faces Mirjana day in the practice, too. It’s just a kid, but then desperate to make the most of a kind draw Lucic-Baroni, the Croatian player who knocked three more kids came. And today on centre which dumped top seed Novak Djokovic, nine- her out of the US Open last year. court where you would think this is a place time champion Nadal and third seed Andy Serbian seventh seed Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 where nobody can come on, just wanders on Murray all in the opposite half. champion, battled back to defeatc Kazakhstan’s and nothing happens,” said Federer. Federer’s Davis Cup teammate Stan Yaroslava Shvedova, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. “Something needs to happen quickly. Wawrinka, the eighth seed, took just 96 minutes Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Makarova Normally I only speak on behalf of myself, but in to make the second round, seeing off Turkey’s breezed past US wildcard Louisa Chirico 6-4, 6-2 this situation I think I can speak on behalf of all Marsel Ilhan 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. while Spanish 21st seed Garbine Muguruza, who the players, that that’s where you do your job, Wawrinka, who made the last-eight in 2013, shocked Serena Williams in the second round that’s where you want to feel safe. “And so clearly goes on to face either Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic. last year, beat Croatian qualifier Petra Martic 6-2, I’m not happy about it...it wasn’t a nice situation But he too was unhappy with organisers after 7-5. to be in.” Federer was also involved in a security the tournament’s official website went into sur- Croatian 18-year-old Donna Vekic, coached scare in the 2009 final at Roland Garros when a gical detail regarding his private life. by 1997 champion Iva Majoli, put out French fan ran on to the same court and placed a hat on Former Australian Open winner Wawrinka 31st seed Caroline Garcia 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 for her first the star’s head. announced last month that he and his wife win at the tournament. —AFP Warriors lead Rockets 3-0 ITALY: Spain’s Mikel Landa celebrates as he crosses the finish line of the 15th stage of the Giro díItalia, Tour of Italy cycling race. —AP HOUSTON: The Golden State Warriors are one victory away from the NBA Finals after routing the Houston DeGale wins IBF super Rockets 115-80 in Game Three of the Western Conference finals on Saturday. Guard Stephen Curry scored 40 middleweight title points, including seven-of-nine from three-point range, in the Warriors’ near- BOSTON: James DeGale became the first straight left hand to DeGale’s chin with no record road victory that gave them a 3- British fighter to win an Olympic gold effect.