Sport in brief
CYCLING Adam and Simon Yates will sit out this year’s Tour de France to concentrate on the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana, their Orica-Scott team have announced.
Englishman Adam Yates was a revelation at last year’s Tour, winning the best young rider’s classification and narrowly missing out on a podium place.
This year, the Australian team plan to send their emerging Colombian star Esteban Chaves to France to carry their general classification hopes, while the 24-year-old Yates twins gear up to ride two Grand Tours in the same season for the first time in their careers.
Orica-Scott sport director Matt White said: “People on the outside might think it’s a bit strange that we are not sending a lad that finished fourth last year to the Tour.
“But it’s simple, we want to give the guys a bigger foundation for the future because that’s where their biggest potential lies.” SNOOKER Scottish snooker’s new sensation Scott Donaldson is back on the green baize in the opening round of the Shoot-Out in Watford later today,
The Perth youngster claimed a series of major scalps on his way to last week’s Welsh Open semi-finals in Cardiff, and he is now a marked man ahead of today’s match with Malaysian Thor Chuan Leong.
Former world champion Graeme Dott, Indian Open winner Anthony McGill and world semi-finalist Alan McManus are other high-profile Scots in first round action today. TODAY Football Europa League, Tottenham v Gent - BT Sport 2 1930, eir Sport 1 2000; Lyon v AZ Alkmaar - BT Sport 1 2000. Cricket First Test, India v Australia - Sky Sports 2 0350. Golf European Tour, Joburg Open - Sky Sports 4 0830 and 1200; PGA Tour, Honda Classic - Sky Sports 4 1900. Tennis ATP, Rio Open - Sky Sports 3 1800; WTA, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - BT Sport 1 1300. Rugby League Super League, Hull FC v Catalans Dragons - Sky Sports 2 1900. Basketball NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers v New York Knicks - BT Sport 1 0100 (Fri); Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Clippers - BT Sport 1 0330 (Fri). Snooker Snooker Shoot-out - ITV4 1145 and 1845. Rugby Union Super Rugby, Rebels v Blues - Sky Sports 3 0840. Cycling Tour of Abu Dhabi - Eurosport 2 1115. Darts Premier League Darts - Sky Sports 1 1900. Skiing Nordic World Ski Championships - Eurosport 1 1430.