P23 Day of Upsets SPORTS 2424 Monday, January 23, 2017

Adelaide ustralia’s won his first after finishing safely in the peloton on the Afinal 90-kilometre stage through the streets of yesterday. Porte, who seized the ochre leader’s jersey after the third stage, led the race from that point on and virtually Richie Porte celebrates assured himself of the title when he won his second stage his win in the stage six of on Saturday. the Tour Down Under in The Tasmanian took a lead of 48 seconds over Adelaide Colombia’s into the final stage and his BMC Racing team controlled the peloton throughout, ensuring there was no chance of a breakaway spoiling Porte’s party. The stage, 20 laps of an Adelaide street circuit, was won by Australia’s in a mass sprint, with world champion of Slovakia finishing second and Slovenia’s Marko Kump third. It was Ewan’s fourth stage win of the week and confirmed his position as one of the rising stars of world sprinting. However, the day belonged to Porte, who had finished second at the season-opening event the previous two years.The 31-year-old’s BMC Racing team is setting the Tasmanian up for this year’s Tour de France and sent a strong team to Australia to support him in the opening World Tour event of the year. He never looked like losing once he rode away from the field on the climb into Paracombe on Wednesday and then underlined his dominance when he did the same to win at the top of Willunga Hill on Saturday. “The Tour Down Under was good for me this year, two hilltop finishes,” Porte said. “It’s just Stage incredible to come here 1. Caleb Ewan (AUS/Orica-Scott) and win after 2. Peter Sagan (SVK/Bora-Hansgrohe) being so close 3. Marko Kump (SLO/UAE Abu Dhabi) the past two General Classification years. 1. Richie Porte (AUS/BMC Racing) “After 2. Esteban Chaves (COL/Orica-Scott) crashing 3. Jay McCarthy (AUS/Bora-Hansgrohe) in Rio and King of the Mountain injuring myself quite 1. (BEL/Lotto Soudal) nastily (where 2. Richie Porte (AUS/BMC Racing) Porte broke 3. Esteban Chaves (COL/Orica-Scott) his scapula) Sprint it wasn’t too 1. Caleb Ewan (AUS/Orica-Scott) hard to be 2. (NED/Team Sky) motivated for 3. (AUS/Team Dimension Data) this race,” he said. (AFP) Ogier grabs Monte Carlo win

Monaco along the Col de Turini orld champion Sebastien Final standings: mountain pass but eased to WOgier launched his bid 1. Sebastien Ogier-Julien Ingrassia (FRA/Ford Fiesta RS) 4hr 00:03.6, a fourth straight Monte Carlo for a fifth consecutive title by 2. Jari-Matti Latvala-Miikka Anttila (FIN/Toyota Yaris) at 2:15.0, victory -- the fifth of his career winning the season-opening 3. Ott Tanak-Raigo Molder (EST/Ford Fiesta RS) 2:57.8, -- as organisers cancelled Monte Carlo Rally in the snow 4. Dani Sordo-Marc Marti (ESP/Hyundai i20) 3:35.8, the penultimate stage due to fan safety yesterday for his first victory 5. Craig Breen-Scott Martin (IRL-GBR/Citroen DS3) 3:47.8 since joining Ford. concerns. Selected: The Frenchman, who moved The decision to Ford after Volkswagen 15. Thierry Neuville-Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL/Hyundai i20) 30:52.5 came after announced their shock exit from Thursday’s opening the competition in November, finished crashed his Hyundai on Saturday’s special was abandoned after

over two minutes clear of Finland’s final stage and Ogier took a 47-second New Zealander Hayden Porte Jari-Matti Latvala with Estonian Ott lead over fellow Ford driver Tanak Paddon’s Hyundai was French driver Sebastien Ogier (R) and his Tanak third. Ogier had inherited the into Sunday’s four concluding specials. involved in a fatal collision co-driver Julien Ingrassia (L) celebrate on lead when pacesetter Thierry Neuville He drove cautiously as snow fell with a spectator. (AFP) the podium

Hon.Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Responsible Editor Mahmood AI Mahmood | Managing Editor Soman Baby | Managing Director P. Unnikrishnan | Adviser Med Jones Advt : Strategic Publicity & Advertising Co.W.L.L | Tel: 17270710, Fax17256470, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 17579911, Fax17250150, Email: [email protected] Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing | Subscription & circulation: Tel: 38444698/17579877/Fax17250150, Email:[email protected] | Website: www.dt.bh