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Volta a Catalunya: Sir Bradley Wiggins in third place

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Wiggins third overall and well in contention at Volta a Catalunya after stage three

PUBLISHED:

19:38 GMT, 20 March 2013

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UPDATED:

19:38 GMT, 20 March 2013

Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins climbed to third place at the Volta a Catalunya after stage three's summit finish.

The 2012 Tour de France champion put in a late spurt on the ascent to the ski resort at Vallter 2000-Setcases at the end of the 180-kilometre route from Vidreres, but finished fourth as Colombia's Nairo Quintana (Movistar) claimed the day's honours.

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) moved into the race lead by finishing second, and he is six seconds ahead of nearest challenger Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), who was third today, and 10 clear of Wiggins in the overall classification.

In contention: Wiggins finished fourth in stage three at Volta a Catalunya

In contention: Wiggins finished fourth in stage three at Volta a Catalunya

Emiliano Grillo leads Perth Invitational after two rounds

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Grillo grabs surprise lead in Perth but American stars Dufner and Van Pelt lurk

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UPDATED:

11:59 GMT, 19 October 2012

Argentinian youngster Emiliano Grillo is the surprise halfway leader of the ISPS HANDA Perth International after a second-round 67.

The 20-year-old went into the week just focused on securing his European Tour card for next season, lying 112th in the Race to Dubai standings with the top 115 earning another year on tour.

But he leads by four shots after rounds of 66 and 67 at Lake Karrinyup and is now able to aim higher.

Frustration: Paul Casey couldn't maintain his fine form from day one as he slipped down the leaderboard

Frustration: Paul Casey couldn't maintain his fine form from day one as he slipped down the leaderboard

'I think I hit it better yesterday than today but a couple of eagles and a hole-out from the bunker helped a lot,' he told the European Tour website. 'I just want to have a good week. My goal this week was having a good one to keep my card for next year. If I can win, awesome.'

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Both eagles came in a spectacular front nine as Grillo holed from a greenside bunker at the third before his second to the par-four ninth spun back into the hole. His five-under-par round also featured three birdies and two bogeys.

American Bo van Pelt and home player Jason Scrivener are Grillo's nearest challengers at seven under, Van Pelt recording an eagle and five birdies in a 67 while Scrivener's 69 contained five birdies and two dropped shots.

Roo beauty: Some local spectators watch Ryan Lynch tee off on the fourth hole on Friday

Roo beauty: Some local spectators watch Ryan Lynch tee off on the fourth hole on Friday

Another Australian, Max McCardle, is at six under alongside New Zealand's Michael Hendry, American Ryder Cup player Jason Dufner and Alejandro Canizares of Spain.

England's David Howell shot 68 to reach five under, in a large group sharing eighth place, and was keen to capitalise by sealing a place in the end of season DP World Tour Championship near his home in Dubai.

Howell is 71st in the Race to Dubai and a top-five finish in Perth would leave him in a top-60 place and on track to qualify.

'I have been working really hard to
make the top 60 and I've played really consistently the last two or
three months without any particularly good finishes,' he said.

'I'm going to have to have at least one good one if I'm going to make it, so hopefully I'll have a crack at it at the weekend.

'I live five miles from the course in Dubai and I've missed out the last few years, which is a bit frustrating.'

Compatriots Robert Coles and Richard Bland and Australians Peter Cooke and Stephen Dartnall are also at five under.

Former world No 3 Paul Casey briefly held a share of the lead before slipping back down the leaderboard.

Birdies galore: Josh Geary walks past a line of ducks on the third hole at Lake Karrinyup

Birdies galore: Josh Geary walks past a line of ducks on the third hole at Lake Karrinyup

Casey carded an opening 67 to lie two shots behind joint overnight leaders Hendry and Canizares and after two birdies in his first six holes on Friday, the former Ryder Cup star found himself in front.

However, Casey then dropped a shot at the 18th, his ninth hole, and worse was to come with a double-bogey six at the second. Another six followed on the par-five third and when he also bogeyed the fifth, Casey was on his way to an inward half of 40 and a halfway total of two under par.

Philippe Gilbert climbs to victory in world road race

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No title repeat for retiring Cavendish as Gilbert climbs to victory in world road race

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UPDATED:

17:45 GMT, 23 September 2012

Belgium's Philippe Gilbert won the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships after breaking away on the final climb of the Cauberg hill in Limberg.

The 30-year-old left rivals Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway and Spain's Alejandro Valverde in his wake towards the end of the 267-kilometre race through Holland.

On the home straight: Philippe Gilbert crosses the finish line in Valkenburg to win the world road race title

On the home straight: Philippe Gilbert crosses the finish line in Valkenburg to win the world road race title

The Belgian team had faced an early challenge from both recent Vuelta a Espana winner Alberto Contador and France's Thomas Voeckler, but Gilbert managed to break away on the final climb.

British rider Mark Cavendish was unable to defend his title after retiring with 111km of the race remaining.

Pleased as punch: Gilbert clenches his fist following victory

Pleased as punch: Gilbert clenches his fist following victoryPleased as punch: Gilbert clenches his fist following victory

The 27-year-old sprinter had already admitted the hilly terrain was ill-suited to his personal style, in contrast to the flat roads of Copenhagen where he raced to glory last year.

Cavendish's Team Sky colleagues and Olympic medallists Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome also dropped out of the arduous race before reaching the final stages.

Away support: A Belgian fan cheers on Gilbert

Away support: A Belgian fan cheers on Gilbert

Earlier, Matej Mohoric of Slovenia claimed the men's world junior title after stunning Australia's Caleb Ewan with a sprint on the final kilometre.

He told limburg2012.nl: 'When the whole bunch arrived at the Cauberg I managed to stay in the front and still had something left. This is incredible, fantastic. I can't believe it.'

Street spirit: Supporters came out in their hundreds to cheer on participants

Street spirit: Supporters came out in their hundreds to cheer on participants

Alberto Contador wins Vuelta a Espana title

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Contador wins Vuelta title as Brit star Froome hangs on to fourth

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UPDATED:

16:21 GMT, 9 September 2012

Alberto Contador has won the Vuelta a Espana title for the second time after he held off the challenge of Alejandro Valverde in the final stage between Cercedilla and Madrid.

The 29-year-old Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank rider maintained a one minute, 17 second advantage over his rival and fellow Spaniard in the 115-kilometre race.

Leading the way: Contador (centre) has won the Vuelta a Espana title

Leading the way: Contador (centre) has won the Vuelta a Espana title

The Tour was Contador's first since he was banned after testing positive for clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France.

The final leg was won by John Degenkolb – his fifth triumph in this year's competition – in two hours, 44 minutes and 57 seconds, with the German rider finishing strongly to outsprint the rest of the field.

Contador finished 54th in the 21st stage and although Valverde came sixth he will have to settle for second.

Joaquin Rodriguez finished third overall, 21 seconds behind Valverde while Britain's Chris Froome was fourth, almost nine minutes back.

Alberto Contador retains red jersey in Vuelta a Espana

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Contador keeps Vuelta red jersey as Froome remains in fourth after 18th stage

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UPDATED:

17:47 GMT, 6 September 2012

Alberto Contador retained the red jersey in the Vuelta a Espana after Radioshack's Daniele Bennati won stage 18 to Valladolid on Thursday.

Contador, riding for Team Saxo Bank in his first grand tour since returning from a drug ban, remains a minute and 52 seconds clear of fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) after the pair were awarded the same time in the peloton.

Leading the way: Contador retained the red jersey

Leading the way: Contador retained the red jersey

But at the front of the pack, it was Italian Bennati who won the sprint for the line ahead of Team Sky's Ben Swift.

A third Spaniard, early race leader Joaquin Rodriguez, lies third in the overall standings and also sports the green jersey as points leader.

Swift's team-mate Chris Froome is fourth, almost 10 minutes off Contador's lead.

Vuelta a Espana 2012: Alberto Contador takes lead

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Rodriguez loses Vuelta lead to Contador as Froome clings on to fourth place after 17th stage

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UPDATED:

16:49 GMT, 5 September 2012

Alberto Contador of Team Saxo Bank assumed the overall lead of the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday as Joaquin Rodriguez endured a dreadful 17th stage.

Rodriguez (Katusha) went into the final five legs of the 21-stage race with a healthy 28-second lead after outpacing his fellow Spaniard in Monday's gruelling mountain climb.

But his prospects of winning a first-ever major race are now in jeopardy as he struggled to attack the Collado La Hoz, a second category climb towards the finish line at Fuente De.

Seeing red: Alberto Contador retook the lead in the Vuelta on Wednesday

Seeing red: Alberto Contador retook the lead in the Vuelta on Wednesday

Gruelling: Contador was in tremendous shape on the 17th stage of the race

Gruelling: Contador was in tremendous shape on the 17th stage of the race

Pushed into third place by Alejandro Valverde of Movistar, who with Contador outsprinted chase leader Sergio Henoa (Team Sky) to the line, Rodriguez now sits two minutes and 28 seconds off the lead with four stages remaining.

Contador established his daunting one minute and 52 second lead over Valverde before getting out of his saddle to pass Henoa and solo over the line to claim the red jersey.

Following a rest day, today's 187km route began in Santander with Gabriel Rasch of FDJ-BigMat mounting an early attack.

Rodriguez was soon caught out as the peloton split at the halfway stage, just about managing to regain his place in the leading pack with Contador steadily extending his lead on the Collado La Hoz.

But Rodriguez floundered without the help of his team-mates and was totally left behind as Contador turned the Vuelta standings upside down with a searing sprint to the finish line.

Team Sky's Chris Froome remains five minutes off the pace but held on to fourth place in the overall classification on Wednesday.

Oh dear: Joaquin Rodriguez had a miserable stage and lost his lead

Oh dear: Joaquin Rodriguez had a miserable stage and lost his lead

Oh dear: Joaquin Rodriguez had a miserable stage

Vuelta a Espana: Chris Froome falls back as Joaquin Rodriguez keeps lead

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Froome falls back as Rodriguez fends off Contador to keep Vuelta lead

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UPDATED:

18:32 GMT, 2 September 2012


Leaders: Spanish cyclists Joaquin Rodriguez (right) of Katusha and Alberto Contador (left) of tSaxo Bank-Tinkoff

Leaders: Spanish cyclists Joaquin Rodriguez (right) of Katusha and Alberto Contador (left) of tSaxo Bank-Tinkoff

Joaquin Rodriguez withstood the attacks of fellow Spaniard Alberto Contador to defend his overall lead on the 15th stage of the Vuelta a Espana on a day which saw Chris Froome lose further ground on the leaders.

The stage was won by Caja Rural's Antonio Piedra who escaped a small breakaway group with 10 kilometres to go on the 186.5km stage into Lagos de Covadonga in the Picos de Europa mountains to win in a time of five hours, one minute and 23 seconds.

Ruben Perez of Euskadi-Euskaltel, Lloyd
Mondory of Ag2r La Mondiale and Piedra's team-mate David de la Fuente
were next, just over two minutes in arrears.

Rodriguez, of Katusha, had beaten Contador to the 14th stage win and spent today making sure his rival could not get away in the battle for the leader's red jersey, particularly on the final special category climb at the end of the stage at the summit in Lagos de Covadonga.

In the overall standings Rodriguez remains 22 seconds ahead of Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank's Contador, with Movistar's Alejandro Valverde one minute 41 off the lead and Team Sky's Froome now 2:16 in arrears of Rodriguez.

Vuelta a Espana: Froome drops further behind

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Froome drops further behind Rodriguez after Vuelta sprint finish in Barcelona

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UPDATED:

16:57 GMT, 26 August 2012

Joaquim Rodriguez further extended his lead over Chris Froome at the top of the Vuelta a Espana general classification after finishing second behind Philippe Gilbert on stage nine on Sunday.

Belgian Gilbert (BMC) earned his first victory of 2012 after beating Rodriguez in a sprint finish at the end of the 196.30-kilometre ride from Andorra to Barcelona after the pair had broken clear on the final climb of Montjuic.

Joaquin Rodriguez, of the Katusha Team, celebrates remaining in the overall lead of

Joaquin Rodriguez, of the Katusha Team, celebrates remaining in the overall lead of “La Vuelta” after stage nine from Andorra to Barcelona

The results of the stage mean Britain's Chris Froome, of Sky Procycling, slipped 33 seconds behind leader Rodriguez

The results of the stage mean Britain's Chris Froome, of Sky Procycling, slipped 33 seconds behind leader Rodriguez

Barcelona-born Rodriguez may have missed out on the stage win in his home town but the Katusha rider can take satisfaction from the fact he now boasts a 53-second lead over nearest challenger Froome of Team Sky in the race to finish first overall.

Briton Froome slipped 33 seconds behind the Spaniard yesterday and he lost more ground today after finishing in the chasing pack.

In third place on stage nine, seven seconds behind the leading pair, was Italian Paolo Tiralongo while two seconds behind him came the quartet of Tomasz Marczynski, Daniele Bennati, Alejandro Valverde and Nacer Bouhanni. The main group were three seconds further back.

The Belgian Philippe Gilbert shakes hands with Rodriguez after winning the 196.3km (121.975 mile) ninth stage between Andorra and Barcelona

The Belgian Philippe Gilbert shakes hands with Rodriguez after winning the 196.3km (121.975 mile) ninth stage between Andorra and Barcelona

Overall, Alberto Contador remains in third spot, seven seconds behind Froome and now a minute behind Rodriguez, with another Spaniard Valverde in fourth place, one minute and seven seconds off the red jersey.

Monday is the first rest day of the 2012 Vuelta before the race resumes on Tuesday with the 166km-stage 10 from Ponteareas and Sanxenxo.

Froome runs out of steam as Valverde bursts through to claim stage eight

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Froome runs out of steam as Valverde bursts through to claim stage eight

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UPDATED:

22:08 GMT, 25 August 2012

Alejandro Valverde claimed his second
stage win of this year's Vuelta a Espana as Andorra resident Joaquim
Rodriguez enjoyed home support on his fourth day in the red jersey.

Rodriguez, of Katusha, was second in
an all-Spanish sprint finish to stretch his lead in the general
classification to 33 seconds over Team Sky's Chris Froome.

Delight: Alejandro Valverde of Spain (L) wins the eighth stage

Delight: Alejandro Valverde of Spain (L) wins the eighth stage

The British Olympian attacked several times as he sought to claw back the deficit to Rodriguez, but dropped back at the end of the steep climb to the finish on the Collada de la Gallina.

That left Valverde to burst for the line ahead of Rodriguez and Alberto Contador – who also lies third in the overall standings, 40 seconds off the lead and now only seven behind Froome.

Valverde is a further 10 seconds back after adding to his win on stage three to Eibar and also holds the polka dot jersey for the leading climber, while John Degenkolb of Team Argos-Shimano leads the points standings and Robert Gesink's Rabobank outfit lead the team standings.

Tour de France 2012: Bradley Wiggins edges closer after stage 17

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Wiggins edges closer to Tour de France victory with strong stage 17

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UPDATED:

16:01 GMT, 19 July 2012

Bradley Wiggins moved within three days of becoming the first British winner of the Tour de France after successfully negotiating the final day in the Pyrenees and putting further time on his rivals for glory.

Wiggins began the 143.5-kilometre route from Bagneres-de-Luchon to Peyragudes in the yellow jersey for a 10th day and with a lead of two minutes five seconds over Team Sky colleague Chris Froome, with Italian Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) 18 seconds further adrift.

Getting nearer: Bradley Wiggins keeps the yellow jersey

Getting nearer: Bradley Wiggins keeps the yellow jersey

TOUR DE FRANCE

Click here for the overall classification

No other rider was within five minutes
of the triple Olympic champion and Nibali knew he had to make a move,
with Wiggins likely to perform better than him in Saturday's penultimate
day time-trial.

But Wiggins, with able support from Froome, distanced Nibali on the finishing ascent.

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won the stage, Froome was 19 seconds behind in second place, with Wiggins on his wheel in third.

Nibali finished 37 seconds behind in seventh, conceding 18 seconds to Wiggins and falling 2mins 41secs behind.

Friday's 222.5km 18th stage from Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde features three classified climbs, but could end in a sprint.

Team-mates: Chris Froome held back to cross the line with Wiggins

Team-mates: Chris Froome held back to cross the line with Wiggins

Valverde led in the closing stages of the route as Wiggins took to the front of an eight-man group 4km from the summit of the day's final ascent, the 15.4km climb to Peyragudes.

Jurgen van den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) attacked, increasing the pace, before Froome took to the front, keeping the tempo high.

The relentless pace saw the group disintegrate and Nibali lost contact 3km from the summit.
Froome forged on and Wiggins latched on to his wheel.

The Team Sky duo pushed on as their rivals lost touch and the Britons closed in on Valverde.
Froome implored Wiggins to keep up, eager to distance Nibali in his own
bid to make it on to the podium – something no Briton has done before in
98 previous Tours.

Mountain mist: Wiggins speeds down Mente pass in dense fog

Mountain mist: Wiggins speeds down Mente pass in dense fog

Triumph: Alejandro Valverde won the stage

Triumph: Alejandro Valverde won the stage

Valverde passed through 2km to go with an advantage of 40 seconds and Froome continued to push.

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-Bigmat) bridged
the gap to the Team Sky duo, with Froome leading Wiggins and Nibali
struggling to stay in contact.

Froome and Wiggins pushed forward as
they finished second and third on the stage to enhance their places at
the top of the general classification standings.

Pinot was fourth, three seconds
further adrift, with Pierre Rolland (Europcar) fifth and Van den Broeck
sixth, both 26 seconds behind Valverde.

Van den Broeck remained fourth, but fell 5:53 behind Wiggins.

The pack: Wiggins looks likely to win the Tour de France

The pack: Wiggins looks likely to win the Tour de France

Scenic route: Wiggins cycles past various animals

Scenic route: Wiggins cycles past various animals

The final mountain day of the 99th Tour was a late opportunity to eat into Wiggins' advantage.

Nibali made a short-lived move on the descent of the day's opening climb, the 9.3km category one ascent of the Col de Menthe, but was rejected by the seven-man breakaway group, who believed his presence would end their escape.

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) had beaten Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana), his nearest rival for the polka dot King of the Mountains jersey, to the top and did so again on the category two Col des Ares and category three Cote de Burs.

Nibali's Liquigas-Cannondale team led the peloton and kept the pace high on the fiendishly steep Port de Bales.

Four Team Sky riders and Wiggins were immediately behind. Up ahead Valverde and his team-mate Rui Costa joined forces and forged forward. Valverde powered on alone and went over the summit 2:25 ahead of the peloton.

Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Costa, who made a wrong turn at the foot of the final climb, were in pursuit of Valverde as the peloton swept up the rest of the day's break.

On your marks... Riders wait at the start of stage 17

On your marks… Riders wait at the start of stage 17

The tempo set by the maillot jaune group saw Martinez and Costa caught and with Valverde the only rider up the road, Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol) made a late attempt to catch the Spaniard.

Defending champion Cadel Evans lost touch with the maillot jaune, leaving his BMC Racing team-mate Tejay van Garderen alongside 14 others.

Van den Broeck attacked with the peak of the Col de Peyresourde in sight, with Rolland and Pinot going with him.

Vanendert was quickly caught and Nibali, Wiggins, Froome and Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan-Trek) bridged the gap.

Pinot then took the initiative, stringing out the group in the mist before the short downhill section and the final 3.6km climb to the finish, where Wiggins and Froome enhanced their positions in first and second place overall.

More to follow.