The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Contador battles knee injury and the Schlecks

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 08:45 AM PDT

MURAT, July 11 – Alberto Contador, nursing a troublesome knee problem, has nevertheless piled the pressure on major rivals the Schleck brothers by declaring that the duo must attack soon if they are to have any chance.

The Spaniard (picture), a three-times Tour champion, has crashed twice since the race started on July 2 but today was enjoying the first rest day of the three-week race as the Tour prepares to head towards the fearsome Pyrenees climbs.

"Yesterday, I hurt the same knee as the first time I crashed. This time it was on the internal side, though. I am a bit worried," the 28-year-old told a news conference.

Contador lies 4:07 minutes behind leader Thomas Voeckler after nine stages.

"The rest day is welcome. The doctor put a lot of ice on his knee and he spent as much time as possible with his leg lifted," his Saxo Bank team sports director Bradley McGee told Reuters.

Saxo Bank manager Bjarne Riis added: "It's normal that he's worried, but it's not very serious."

Contador, who is racing the Tour while waiting for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to rule on last year's failed dope test, remained "optimistic".

"I must control the pressure and transform it into motivation," he said.

Lying over a minute behind Frank and Andy Schleck of Luxembourg as well as Australian contender Cadel Evans, Contador will not ride the Pyrenean stages with all guns blazing, however.

"Evans is the best placed rider and the Schleck brothers know that there is a time trial at the end of the Tour so they are the ones who have to attack," he said.

The Tour de France could be decided one day before the Champs Elysees parade in a 42.5km time trial that should favour the Spaniard and Evans as the Schlecks have always failed to shine in efforts against the clock.

"I will, depending on my knee, choose the right moment to attack," he said.

The 10th and 11th stages will be relatively flat and should not change much in the overall standings.

The battle between the overall contenders should start on Thursday in the 12th stage with a finish in Luz Ardiden at the end of a 13.3km climb at an average gradient of 7.4 per cent. – Reuters

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Golf: Open champion Oosthuizen drawn with Mickelson, Kaymer

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 06:48 AM PDT

SANDWICH, July 11 – Holder Louis Oosthuizen has been drawn to play alongside world number six Phil Mickelson and US PGA champion Martin Kaymer in the first round of the British Open, organisers announced today.

Oosthuizen (picture), Mickelson and Kaymer will tee-off at 1421 local time on Thursday. Their three-ball is one of several eye-catching groupings set for the Royal St George's course in the south east corner of England.

Rory McIlroy, the runaway winner of last month's US Open, teams up with 2002 British Open champion Ernie Els and young American prospect Rickie Fowler.

World number one Luke Donald, winner of the Scottish Open on Sunday, was drawn with his former Ryder Cup partner Sergio Garcia and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa.

Lee Westwood, ranked two in the world, will play alongside Sunday's John Deere Classic winner Steve Stricker and US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

Oosthuizen, a rank outsider at last year's championship, romped to a shock seven-shot victory at St Andrews to claim his first major title.

The 28-year-old South African missed the cut at last week's John Deere Classic and at the US Masters in April but will take heart from a strong showing at the US Open, having finished tied ninth at Congressional.

The 140th British Open carries a record prize fund of £5 million (RM24.15 million), with £900,000 going to the winner. – Reuters

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Isnin, 11 Julai 2011

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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