WORLD CUP ADDS ALPINE SKI RACES AT ASPEN, TAHOE
PARK CITY, UTAH » The World Cup circuit will be making two more ski racing stops in the United States by adding Alpine events at Palisades Tahoe in California and Aspen, Colorado.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the new competitions Tuesday, which will join two American stops already on the schedule: Killington, Vermont, and Beaver Creek, Colorado. It’s the most World Cup Alpine stops on American snow in a season since 199697.
“The expansion gives us a signature opportunity to bring more attention to the sport domestically and inspire the next generation of U.S. athletes,” U.S. Ski & Snowboard president and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt said in a statement.
The first World Cup stop in the U.S. this upcoming season will be when four-time World Cup overall winner Mikaela Shiffrin takes center stage over Thanksgiving weekend for a women’s slalom and giant slalom in Killington. A week later, Beijing Olympic super-g silver medalist Ryan Cochran-siegle and the men’s tour take part in a super-g and two downhills along the Birds of Prey course in Beaver Creek.
Sato, Honda strong on opening day of Indy 500 practice. INDIANAPOLIS » Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato shot to the top of the speed chart late Tuesday on the first day of preparations for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Sato went 228.939 mph (368.44 kph) around Indianapolis Motor Speedway to bump six-time Indycar champion Scott Dixon as fastest on opening day. Dixon’s lap of 227.768 mph had topped the scoring pylon for several hours until Sato’s big run in a Dale Coyne Racing entry.
Jimmie Johnson was third fastest followed by teammate Marcus Ericsson. Chip Ganassi Racing drivers were second, third, fourth and sixth fastest (reigning Indycar champion Alex Palou).
It was a strong day for Honda, which has been beaten by Chevrolet in four of five races so far this Indycar season. Honda scored its first win of the season Saturday with Colton Herta on the road course at Indy.
Ten Honda drivers cracked the top 12 on Tuesday. The fastest Chevy driver was Rinus Veekay of Ed Carpenter Racing in fourth. Veekay was the fastest driver without a tow at 221.552 mph.
Fire’s Shaquiri becomes MLS’S highest-paid at nearly $8.2M. NEW YORK » Chicago Fire midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is Major League Soccer’s highest-paid player, jumping past Los Angeles FC attacker Carlos Vela and breaking Zlatan Ibrahimović’s league record.
The 30-year-old Swiss international, who joined Chicago this season from Lyon, has a base salary of $7.35 million and total compensation of $8,153,000, according to figures released Tuesday by the Major League Soccer Players Association.
He is expected to be passed by Italian winger Lorenzo Insigne, who joins Toronto this summer from Napoli.
Ibrahimović had the previous high of $7.2 million with the LA Galaxy in 2019.
Austria stuns Czechs, Sweden routs Britain at hockey worlds. TAMPERE, FINLAND » Austria pulled off a major upset at the ice hockey world championship on Tuesday, stunning the Czech Republic 2-1 after prevailing in a penalty shootout.
It was Austria’s first victory over the Czechs at a major tournament. Austria’s Peter Schneider was the only player to convert his penalty in the shootout.
It was Austria’s first win of the tournament after two losses, moving the team up to fifth place in Group B with three points, trailing the Czechs in fourth by a point.
In another Group B game, Anton Bengtsson had two goals and an assist and Rasmus Asplund scored twice as Sweden routed Britain 6-0 to join Finland atop the standings. Britain is last with one point.