Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013 42 Armstrong’s admission overshadows Froome dominance PARIS: Almost every year cycling reaches throughout all seven of his record number of lence and domination of the greatest race of crashes early on in the race and was left iso- peak interest at the end of July with the cul- Tour de France successes, of which he had them all was accompanied by a steady lated on stage nine, the day after his imperi- mination of the Tour de France, but 2013 was already been stripped by the US Anti-Doping stream of unsavoury speculation. Time and ous victory up Ax 3 Domaines had put him in the year in which Lance Armstrong ensured agency (USADA). But he stopped a long way again Froome was forced to answer ques- yellow. Only gritty determination ensured he mid-January saw the sport’s defining short of lifting the lid on the hows, whys and tions about doping, about whether he was lost no time to the relentless attacks moment. Armstrong took to the US airwaves who were involved of his sordid past, leaving involved and about whether cycling could launched by a particularly sprightly Movistar to finally admit what everyone already knew, many viewers feeling a sense of frustration at emerge from its tainted past into a bright team, whose leader Alejandro Valverde that he had been a drugs cheat throughout having been told no more than was already new, and clean, future. would eventually be eclipsed by younger his career. Accepting an invitation from the widely suspected. Froome himself was majestic, winning statesman Quintana. Froome’s super-domes- queen of chat-show hosts Oprah Winfrey, But the end of that long-running saga, the Grand Boucle by more than four minutes tique Richie Porte had cracked that day but whose inexperience as an investigative which had seen Armstrong relentlessly pur- from talented Colombian climber Nairo he came back to form in the final week to reporter-or perhaps due to contractual obli- sued by journalists aiming to uncover his Quintana. And he also did so without the help his leader extend his lead with victory gations - made for a rather shallow and unre- dodgy dealings throughout his career, and dominance from Team Sky that his team- on Mont Ventoux. It capped a fine year for vealing admission, Armstrong began the then by a subsequent federal inquiry fol- mate and predecessor Bradley Wiggins had Froome in which he won the Tour of Oman, quest to rebuild his reputation by coming lowed by a USADA investigation, promised enjoyed the previous year. He had crashed in Criterium International, Tour de Romandie clean. He admitted to have taken doping to cast a shadow over the entire season. And the neutral zone on the very first stage in and Criterium du Dauphine, while finishing products, notably the blood-booster EPO, so it proved as Briton Chris Froome’s excel- Corsica, effectively lost two team-mates to second in the Tirreno-Adriatico. —AFP Big partnership revives Olazabal determined to end Royal Trophy pain Windies after collapse GUANGZHOU: Former Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal is aiming to fill a void in his trophy cabinet by lead- HAMILTON: Shivnarine Chanderpaul and in the hour following lunch. Chanderpaul and Ramdin’s partnership ing Europe to victory in this week’s Royal Trophy against an Denesh Ramdin rebuilt West Indies’ first Both men rode their luck, however, ensured the visitors ended the day with a Asian team led by Y E Yang. Twice previously the Spaniard innings with a 200-run partnership to with New Zealand’s bowlers frustrated as marginal points victory after losing the guide their side to 289 for six at the close balls flew just short or wide of fielders, toss and being asked to bat first. “It looks a has been a losing captain in the matchplay contest that was of play on the first day of the third and while Ramdin was dropped twice after he pretty good wicket but we have bowled founded by the late Seve Ballesteros. final test against New Zealand yesterday. passed 50. Ramdin brought up his century on flatter and slower wickets before so it’s It is a record Olazabal hopes to put straight when the sev- Chanderpaul was in sight of his 29th test when he flashed a Trent Boult delivery no excuse,” Southee told Radio Sport enth edition of the annual event tees off on Friday at the century on 94 with captain Darren Sammy over backward point for his 18th bound- when asked if the pitch had given them Dragon Lake Golf Club in the southern Chinese province of on nought at stumps in Hamilton after ary, though he had earlier been dropped much assistance throughout the day. “It is Guangdong. The two-times US Masters champion, who mas- wicketkeeper Ramdin was dismissed for by Kane Williamson and by Tim Southee. a good cricket wicket. “Ramdin played terminded Europe’s stunning Ryder Cup triumph at Medinah 107, his fourth century, with three overs He did not last much longer after passing extremely well. He came out and played remaining in the day. The pair had manu- the milestone, jamming down on a Corey his shots and had a good innings so it was last year, admitted the lack of a Royal Trophy win was a “blot factured a salvage operation after they Anderson delivery that caught the edge nice to get a fresh one (batsman) out there on his record as a captain”. “I serve notice to Asian captain Y E had been thrust together with West Indies and flew to wicketkeeper BJ Watling with for the morning.” Yang and his players that I do not intend to allow this state of in deep trouble at 86-5 after the home the umpires checking to see if the ball had affairs to continue,” he said. attack had taken four wickets for nine runs hit the ground first. SEIZED INITIATIVE “I take the captaincy very seriously and the Royal Trophy is Kieran Powell was the only wicket to very special to me because my dear friend Seve Ballesteros fall in the first session when he tried to cut asked me to take over from him as the team leader in 2009. a rising Neil Wagner delivery, having tried a similar shot earlier but missing the ball, “We all still mourn Seve’s passing two years ago. Wanting to to be caught by Watling for 26. New fulfill his faith in me adds another dimension to my determi- Zealand’s pace bowlers then seized the nation to emerge as a winner in the competition he dreamed initiative when they took four wickets for up, and then brought to glorious fruition.” However, Olazabal nine runs in the hour after lunch. The visi- acknowledges it will not be easy to wrestle back the trophy, tors, who must win the match to halt which Asia won for only the second time in Brunei last year. Brendon McCullum’s side from winning “We are aware that this is a very strong Asian team - but I their first test series against a major crick- eting nation since 2006, were 71-1 at think you will see that so is ours,” said Olazabal. lunch, with Kraigg Brathwaite well set on The eight-man European line-up is Bernd Wiesberger of 41 and Kirk Edwards on three. Austria, Danish player Thorbjorn Olesen, Belgium’s Nicolas The dismissal of Brathwaite sparked the Colsaerts, Englishman David Howell, Spaniard Alvaro Quiros collapse when he was unable to get over and the Scottish trio of Paul Lawrie, Stephen Gallacher and the top of a Southee delivery that reared Marc Warren. “We have world-class players, Ryder Cup win- off a length and steered it to Williamson in ners and players who have won tournaments all over the the gully for 45. Edwards followed shortly world. We have respect for our opponents, but it is our inten- HAMILTON: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (center) of the West Indies plays a after for six when he got a faint edge to a shot during day one of the third international cricket Test match Southee delivery before Marlon Samuels tion to go out and kick ass,” said Olazabal. Five of the between New Zealand and the West Indies at Seddon Park in Hamilton then wafted at a wide Anderson ball with- European team are ranked in the world’s top 100. The high- yesterday. —AFP out moving his feet and Williamson took est-placed player in the Asian team is 46th-ranked Thai the sharp catch in the gully. Thongchai Jaidee, who will spearhead Yang’s team. SCOREBOARD Anderson struck again shortly after Yang, Asia’s sole major winner following his victory at the when he trapped Narsingh Deonarine in 2009 PGA Championship, is confident Asia can retain the front for two which left the visitors’ strug- HAMILTON: Scoreboard at stumps on the opening day of the third Test between gling. “We got some stern words at Royal Trophy for the first time, although he conceded that New Zealand and the West Indies at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday: lunchtime because our standards are the late withdrawal of Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama through West Indies 1st innings Total: (6 wickets; 90 overs) 289 higher than what we showed in that first injury was a blow. “I think we have one of the strongest and K. Brathwaite c Williamson b Southee 45 Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Powell), 2-77 session,” Southee added. “After lunch, we best balanced teams Asia has fielded so far,” he said.