French cyclist Coquard wins opening stage at Oman Tour
Froome starts season in Ruta del Sol
MUSCAT, Feb 13, (AFP): French cyclist Bryan Coquard (Vital Concept) won the first stage of the Tour of Oman on Tuesday, edging out Britain’s Mark Cavendish and Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo in the final sprint.
Coquard cycled the 162.5 km (101 mile) route, from the city of Nizwa to Sultan Qaboos University campus in the capital Muscat, in just under four hours.
The second stage of the Tour of Oman starts Wednesday, a 167.5 kilometre stretch featuring four classified climbs from Muscat to the coastal village of Al Bustan. First Stage Results: 1. Bryan Coquard (FRA/VC) 3hr 58min 41sec; 2. Mark Cavendish (GBR/Dimension Data) s.t.; 3. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA/Trek-Segafredo) s.t.; 4. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/Cofidis) s.t.; 5. Maximilian Walscheid (GER/Sunweb) s.t.; 6. Adam Blythe (GBR/Aqua Blue) s.t.; 7. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/Emirates) s.t.; 8. Bram Welten (NED/Fortuno) s.t.; 9. Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN/Astana) s.t.; 10. Boris Vallee (BEL/Wanty) s.t. Overall Standings: 1. Bryan Coquard (FRA/VC) 3hr 58min 41sec; 2. Mark Cavendish (GBR/Dimension Data) at 0:04; 3. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA/ Trek-Segafredo) at 0:04; 4. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/Cofidis) at 0:06; 5. Maximilian Walscheid (GER/Sunweb) at 0:08; 6. Adam Blythe
Coquard
(GBR/Aqua Blue) at 0:08; 7. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/Emirates) at 0:08; 8. Bram Welten (NED/Fortuno) at 0:10; 9. Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN/Astana) at 0:10; 10. Boris Vallee (BEL/ Wanty) at 0:10.
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Chris Froome returns to competition on Wednesday in the Ruta del Sol but he will be riding under a cloud after the revelation in December of an abnormal doping result.
Froome has the right to ride because salbutamol, the substance that showed up in the test, is an anti-asthma drug which can be taken legally and so does not lead to an automatic ban.
Cycling’s international governing body (UCI) still has to make a ruling on the case and has asked Froome to explain why twice the allowed limit showed up in his sample. But the reaction of other riders suggests that the presence of the four-time Tour de France winner in the five-day race through Andalusia may provoke some resentment in the peloton.
UCI chief David Lappartient said last month that Froome should be suspended over the adverse test and some of the rider’s main rivals have hit out at cycling authorities for failing to ban him.
Despite the criticism, Froome, who has not raced since September, is preparing to start his 2018 season in the same country where he returned the controversial test on Sept 7 as he headed for victory in the Spanish Vuelta.
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Elfrid Payton scored 29 points in his second game since being acquired at the trade deadline from Orlando.
Pelicans 118, Pistons 103 In Detroit, Anthony Davis had 38 points and 10 rebounds to lead New Orleans in another one of his strong performances against Detroit.
Davis is averaging 30.4 points per game against the Pistons, his highest total against an NBA team. He scored a career-high 59 against them nearly two years ago.
That’s one reason the Pelicans have won 11 of the last 12 games against the Pistons.
Detroit attempted to defend Davis with Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin, but they were no match for Davis inside, off the dribble or on the outside. The All-Star was 14 of 24 from the field, including 3 for 6 on 3-pointers.
Nikola Mirotic helped the Pelicans pull away in the third quarter and finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Griffin scored 22 on 8-of-17 shooting. Drummond had 13 points and 21 rebounds.
76ers 108, Knicks 92 In Philadelphia, Dario Saric scored 24 points to lead Philadelphia to its fourth straight win.
J. J. Redick had 18 points and Joel Embiid scored 17 for the 76ers, who won their 10th straight at home to remain in playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Reserve T. J. McConnell had a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
Michael Beasley scored 22 points for the Knicks, who have dropped seven in a row. Courtney Lee had 18 points in his first game coming off the bench this season for New York.
Clippers 114, Nets 101 In New York, Lou Williams scored 20 points and DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 17 rebounds, lifting the balanced Clippers to the road win.
Los Angeles put seven players in double figures and shot 56.5 percent from the field in its Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) drives around San Antonio Spurs center Joffrey Lauvergne in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Feb 12, in Salt Lake City. (AP) fourth win in five games, bouncing back nicely from a loss in Philadelphia.
Austin Rivers scored 17 points, and reserve Montrezl Harrell collected 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting.
The Clippers made 19 of their first 26 shots and won for the 12th time in 17 games.
D’Angelo Russell and Joe Harris each scored 16 for the Nets, who dropped their sixth straight.
Bulls 105, Magic 101 In Chicago, Zach LaVine had a tiebreaking dunk for Chicago after stealing an inbounds pass in the closing seconds.
The Bulls blew an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter but still came away with their second win in three games after dropping seven in a row.
LaVine stole Jonathon Simmons’ inbounds attempt with 15 seconds left and finished with a thunderous slam. He added two free throws after Mario Hezonja missed a 3-pointer.
Lauri Markkanen scored 21 points, and LaVine finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.
Hezonja led Orlando with 24 points, and Evan Fournier scored 22.