Chavanel seizes Tour lead as rain causes havoc

By Julien Pretot

SPA, Belgium (Reuters) – Sylvain Chavanel’s Tour de France chances were nearly ruined by a crash two months ago but more drama on the same Belgian roads gave him the race leader’s jersey after the second stage on Monday.

The Frenchman’s stage victory and overall lead after a long breakaway were well deserved but the 201-kilometre journey from Brussels really shook up the peloton.

Spa is known for its water but there was far too much on the roads for most riders and a series of crashes involving the leading Tour contenders led the peloton to stage a protest by refusing to sprint to the finish line.

Swiss Fabian Cancellara, the prologue winner and overall leader, went to the car of race technical director Jean-Francois Pescheux to warn him that the bunch would take it easy in the final stages to avoid more crashes.

As a result, Chavanel won by nearly four minutes and now leads Cancellara by two minutes and 57 seconds, an advantage the Frenchman looks capable of holding for some time.

“It goes to show that the wheel can turn quickly in cycling,” said Chavanel who was seriously injured two months ago on the same roads in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic.

Cancellara’s decision to ask the peloton to relax was largely due to the fact that his team leader Andy Schleck came close to wiping out in a massive pile-up on the descent of the Stockeu climb, 30 kms from the finish line.

LIKE WARFARE

Schleck, runner-up behind Alberto Contador in last year’s Tour, clutched his bleeding right arm on the side of the road but was able to start again on a bike belonging to a team mate.

None of the other contenders was spared on roads made slippery by rain and probably oil spills on the tarmac.

Seven-times winner Lance Armstrong and Contador also hit the ground.

“I did crash. I think most of us crashed today. It’s bad luck. The road surface was so slippery there was no way to stand on the bike,” Armstrong told reporters.

“I have a big bruise on my hip but that’s OK. When I made it back on the bike, it was crash after crash after crash. It was like warfare.”

Contador’s manager Yvon Sanquer said the Spaniard only suffered “scratches.”

Shortly after the crash, riders were scattered all over the course but most of the favourites managed to regroup and decided to call for a lull.

“There was something on the road and the end of the course was simply too much. I believe no one wanted to win the Tour because another contender crashed,” said Frank Schleck.

“Usually, cycling is competition but today it was solidarity between the main team leaders. I thank them all,” he added.

Only one big name dropped out of contention, American Christian Vande Velde finishing 9:49 adrift and heading to hospital for checks.

Amidst all the fuss, Chavanel was left alone to savour his victory and he made it clear he did believe it had been overshadowed by the crashes.

“I think my win owes nothing to the crash. If the peloton decided to relax, it’s good for me,” he said.

“I believe great Tour riders should be good on all terrains and I’m going to fight to keep this yellow jersey for as long as I can.”

Tuesday’s 213-km third stage, which includes seven cobbled sections, promises more controversy.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

Maradona says his “chapter” over as coach – report

By Luis Andres Henao

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina coach Diego Maradona told a local newspaper on Monday his “chapter had ended,” although the country’s local football association and a close friend told Reuters he had not resigned.

“It’s done, my chapter has ended,” Cronica newspaper quoted Maradona as saying, two days after Germany’s resounding 4-0 win over Argentina. “I gave everything I had.”

A spokesman for the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said Maradona had not officially resigned and that AFA President Julio Grondona would meet with Maradona after the World Cup had finished.

A close friend of Maradona’s told Reuters: “I still can’t confirm it, (the resignation) is something that’s being discussed.”

The friend said Maradona’s decision would be announced during a press conference but he did not say when.

Maradona returned to Buenos Aires along with the rest of the national team on Sunday, a day after Germany trounced Argentina 4-0 to advance to the World Cup’s semi-finals.

(Writing by Hilary Burke, editing by Jon Bramley)

By Luis Andres Henao

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina coach Diego Maradona told a local newspaper on Monday his “chapter had ended,” although the country’s local football association and a close friend told Reuters he had not resigned.

“It’s done, my chapter has ended,” Cronica newspaper quoted Maradona as saying, two days after Germany’s resounding 4-0 win over Argentina. “I gave everything I had.”

A spokesman for the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said Maradona had not officially resigned and that AFA President Julio Grondona would meet with Maradona after the World Cup had finished.

A close friend of Maradona’s told Reuters: “I still can’t confirm it, (the resignation) is something that’s being discussed.”

The friend said Maradona’s decision would be announced during a press conference but he did not say when.

Maradona returned to Buenos Aires along with the rest of the national team on Sunday, a day after Germany trounced Argentina 4-0 to advance to the World Cup’s semi-finals.

(Writing by Hilary Burke, editing by Jon Bramley)

Palmer, Player, Trevino among Champions Challenge captains

By Tony Jimenez

LONDON (Reuters) – Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Peter Thomson, Tom Weiskopf, Bob Charles and Roberto de Vicenzo will captain the seven teams in the Champions Challenge to be held on the eve of next week’s British Open at St Andrews.

World number one Tiger Woods features in five-times winner Thomson’s team along with Nick Faldo and Mark Calcavecchia.

Trevino will have 1970s playing rival Tony Jacklin as a team mate plus Padraig Harrington and Paul Lawrie.

“We anticipate a very special occasion,” said the organising R&A’s director of championships David Hill in a news release. “I am sure all supporters of the Open championship will be excited by the prospect of seeing so many legends of the game.”

The four-hole Champions Challenge will be played on July 14, with the best individual score at each hole counting as the team score. The winners will receive a cheque for 50,000 pounds to be donated to charities of their choice.

Glitch Causes Omission of BET Award to Guru and Others

By Felix Onuah

ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday reversed a ban on the national soccer team taking part in international tournaments after the football federation pledged to disband the side and rebuild it.

Jonathan last week suspended the team from international competitions for two years following an embarrassing performance in the World Cup. The Super Eagles were knocked out in the first round after failing to win a game.

The presidency said Jonathan had reversed his decision after a meeting with the NFF at which the federation told him of their decision to disband the team.

“They assured the President of their commitment to evolving an enduring football development programme, and grow a new senior national team that will bring glory, rather than consistent embarrassment to Nigeria on the world stage,” the presidency statement said.

“Based on these assurances, and the appeals of well-meaning Nigerians, including former leaders, President Jonathan has decided to review the earlier two-year ban on the country from all international football competitions.”

Soccer world governing body FIFA had given Nigeria until Monday evening to change its decision and escape being barred from all FIFA-related activities.

The NFF on Sunday fired its top two officials and offered an “unreserved apology” for the team’s dismal performance in a last-minute bid to reverse Jonathan’s directive.