SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015 Valverde grabs fifth stage O’Sullivan pulls Thomas wins E3 Harelbeke in Belgium out of China Open LONDON: Former world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan VALLS: Spain’s Alejandro Valverde has withdrawn from the China Open for health reasons, claimed his second stage win in four World Snooker announced yesterday. days as Australian Richie Porte moved O’Sullivan has won the world title five times and into the overall lead at the Tour of would have been the major attraction at the Beijing Catalonia yesterday. event, which he qualified for with a 5-1 victory against The Movistar rider came home in a Luca Brecel last month. time of 4hr 25min 52sec to edge out But a statement from World Snooker read: “Ronnie Colombian Rigoberto Uran and Italy’s O’Sullivan has pulled out of next week’s China Open Paolo Tiralongo by five seconds on the world ranking event for health reasons. 195.4 kilometre fifth stage from Alp to “O’Sullivan was due to meet either Robin Hull or Yan Valls. Porte finished fourth on the day Bingtao in his opening match in Beijing on the evening and that was enough to move him into of Tuesday March 31, so the winner of that match will the overall lead, five seconds ahead of receive a bye to the last 32.” Domenico Pozzovivo with two-time O’Sullivan suffered a 10-7 defeat against Judd Tour de France winner Alberto Contador Trump in the World Grand Prix final in Wales recently a further two seconds adrift. and his next scheduled tournament will be the World It was another poor day for Roche’s Championship in Sheffield next month. Sky teammate Chris Froome, though, as Even without snooker’s most recognisable star, the the Briton finished back in 83rd and is tournament should retain its appeal as China’s Ding now nearly 37 minutes down on the Junhui, the reigning champion after beating Australia’s leaders. By contrast, Valverde revealed Neil Robertson in last year’s final, will start the defence his fine form has convinced him to ride of his title against Scotland’s Marcus Campbell in the in the Tour of Flanders for the first time first round. on April 5, as well as the Ardennes clas- The event begins next Monday, with matches con- sics early next month. tested over the best of nine frames in the early stages, “I would like to ride like this until the 11 in the semi-finals and 19 for tomorrow’s final. — AFP Ardennes and this year will be the first time I go to the Tour of Flanders,” he said. “I want to get to know it and I would like to do well, but obviously it is California just to try it out.” Porte and Valverde were among the beneficiaries when strong winds split the peloton into three Chrome poised groups with just under 50km to go and overnight leader Bart de Clercq was for glory unable to stay with the leaders. Valverde was always well-positioned at the front of the leading group and made his suc- DUBAI: California Chrome’s owners believe they have a cessful break for the line three kilome- perfect draw in the outside nine gate to land the 20th run- tres from the finish to move himself up ning of the $10 million Dubai World Cup, the world’s rich- to fourth in the general classification, 16 est race today. seconds off Porte, thanks to the 10 “I love it. Nine is a perfect position for our horse,” trainer bonus seconds for winning a stage. Art Sherman said of the favourite, the 2014 American Indeed with Uran just two seconds Horse of the Year after landing Kentucky Derby and further back, the top five are separated Preakness Stakes victories. by just 18 seconds with two stages to “I’ve got all the speed horses to the inside of me and he loves to run from the outside. Connections have been hap- go. “The race is a long way from over,” BELGIUM: British rider Geraint Thomas of Team Sky celebrates with his trophy on py so far how the four-year-old has performed in early said Porte. “Not only for me, but for the podium after winning the 58th edition of the E3 Harelbeke ycling race. — AFP morning workouts at the Meydan’s new dirt track since a those behind me as there are plenty of Stybar was left for dead as Thomas pow- cobbled classic, the Paris-Roubaix, on long 25-hour flight to the United Arab Emirates. riders bunched together in the general ered to the line but Sagan was clearly the two following Sundays. “He jogged great, stood in the gate good so we’re classification looking for the bonus sec- suffering after his exertions and was Cancellara, 34, won the Tour of ready. Tomorrow we’ll gallop and take him to the pad- onds. “The next two days could be dan- unable to keep in touch, allowing the Flanders in 2010, 2013 and 2014 and dock,” Alan Sherman, assistant to his father, told Reuters gerous, but especially in Barcelona it will peleton to overtake him at the death. Paris-Roubaix in 2006, 2010 and 2013. after Chrome’s light track work on Thursday. “He has not be hard.” Today’s 194.1km ride from The race had earlier been marked by He was one of a number of riders who missed an oat, he’s eaten fantastic so we just hope we’ll Cervera to Port Aventura should suit a the injury to three-time winner Fabian went down in the spill, 40km into the get a good trip and put on a good show,” he said. sprint finish, so the overall victory is like- Cancellara of Switzerland, who suffered race, and although he was able to After the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, California ly to be decided tomorrow’s hilly two fractured veterbrae in a crash and remount and continue he was in obvi- Chrome finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes, failing in his 126.6km circuit around Barcelona. will miss the rest of the Spring Classics. ous pain, and only a few kilometres later bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed Meanwhile, Geraint Thomas came The crash, on the cobbles of the first he pulled up. “It all happened so fast. in 1978. However, the rags to riches story of the horse, who home alone to win the E3 Harelbeke in classic of the season, also took down a Someone slammed the brakes and there cost his owners a mere $10,000, captured the imagination Belgium yesterday. The British Sky team couple of the other favorites, John was no way to go, just straight into it,” of the nation and drew swathes of followers. rider finished nearly half a minute clear Degenkolb and Lars Boon, although he said. “He lost the Triple Crown and the Breeder’s Cup Classic of Zdenek Stybar of the Czech Republic. they carried on. “I flew over a couple of riders and by less than two lengths. That’s a pretty amazing test for Matteo Trentin of Italy led the chasing Three other riders, however, were then landed in a pile of bikes. There any horse. Just to be good enough to be invited over here pack across the line, 38sec behind taken to hospital. “X-rays have con- were riders everywhere. I fell so hard, that’s the icing on the cake,” co-owner Steve Coburn said. Thomas. firmed the worst: 2 fractures of verte- and felt pain everywhere. It was sort of In the 10-furlong race in Dubai, California Chrome will Thomas’ victory was built on an brae in lower back for @f_cancellara reflex to get back on the bike but the face strong challengers that include another American audacious attack 40 kilometres out means no spring campaign. #E3H,” pain was hard, in my lower back, left runner Lea, Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia and last year’s when only Stybar could keep pace with tweeted Cancellara’s Trek Factory wrist, and my ribs on the back. “I felt World Cup champion African Story from the Godolphin him. However, the pair were later joined Racing team. right away that it was a serious crash, stable. by Peter Sagan of Slovakia, one of the The injury is a massive blow for but I wanted to try to keep going. I had Lea is the second favourite and trainer Bill Mott believes pre-race favourites, and the trio pulled Cancellara, coming in a race referred to to stop; the pain was too much. We that his horse has potential to upset California Chrome further away from the chasing pack, as a mini (218km) Tour of Flanders as it went to the hospital for scans and this despite missing most of the 2014 season due to a virus. opening up a lead of almost a minute at takes in many of the same brutal climbs confirmed the pain.” He added: “There is “I feel very good about him. California Chrome is proba- one point. And it was Thomas who and cobbled sections. This race leads nothing you can do with this injury - no bly a legitimate favourite but we feel like we should be a found the strength to make a final into the Ghent-Wevelgem on Sunday cast, no surgery - but just biting the good challenger,” said Mott, who won the inaugural Dubai breakaway four kilometres from home. before the Tour of Flanders and the final pain.” — AFP World Cup running with Cigar in 1996.