CHRISTIE’S FINAL PUSH ENDS IN FAILURE
Elise Christie’s return to racing brought further heartache for the Livingston skater at the European Short-Track Championships in Debrecen, Hungary yesterday.
The triple world champion missed the first four World Cups of the season and was disqualified in Friday’s 1000m heats, but she advanced safely in the 1500m.
Christie spent the first 12 laps of yesterday’s semi-final at the back of the field before making a dramatic move at the bell. Despite a strong finish, the 29-year-old Scot missed out on a place in the final by less than 0.04secs as Belgian Hanne
speed skating
Desmet and Italy’s Olympic champion Arianna Fontana took the two qualifying spots.
Christie’s time of 1min 28.516secs was not quick enough to go through as a fastest loser and she opted not to take part in the B final later.
cycling
Irishman Sam Bennett was again beaten in the bunch sprint on the penultimate stage of the Tour Down Under.
The Deceuninck-QuickStep rider was forced to settle for third at the finish of the 149km fifth stage from Glenelg to Victor Harbor behind stage winner Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT Pro Cycling) and his fellow-Italian Simone Consonni (Cofidis).
The Irish road race champion had won the opening stage to take up the leader’s ochre jersey, and was second in stage four behind home favourite Caleb Ewan.
Poor second and third stages, however, have left Bennett trailing in 62nd, five minutes and 18 seconds in the general classification behind new leader Daryl Impey of Mitchelton-Scott.