Kruijswijk stretches lead, Valverde bags Giro stage
Italian champ Nibali remains in second
MILAN, May 24, (AFP): Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk moved closer to a history-making Giro d’Italia triumph Tuesday after stretching his lead over Esteban Chaves and Vincenzo Nibali in a thrilling 16th stage won by Alejandro Valverde.
Kruijswijk, of the Lotto team, started the hilly 132 km race from Bressanone to Andalo with a 2min 12sec lead on Colombian Chaves (Orica) and 2:51 on 2013 champion and pre-race favourite Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).
Kruijswijk didn’t have enough in the tank to stop Movistar team leader Valverde, 36, from claiming his maiden stage win on the race after a two-up sprint at the finish.
After leaving Nibali nearly five minutes in his wake however, he said: “I wanted to give my team a win but it’s an ideal situation for the pink jersey as I’m now three minutes ahead of Esteban Chaves and the others.”
On his Giro debut, Movistar leader Valverde has done better than expected as years of racing experience, and good legs, came to the fore for the Spaniard when he launched a telling attack inside the final 15 kms.
“It’s a good day for me as I move up in the overall standings, although I wanted a stage win as a gift for the mechanics, soigneurs, directors, my family... all the people who have helped me overcome the day I had on Saturday because of the altitude,” said Valverde.
“We wanted to break the race up today. It’s a great feeling to win for the first time at the Giro.”
Chaves crossed the finish line 42secs in arrears, with Nibali finishing nearly two minutes behind alongside compatriot Domenico Pozzovivo.
Spain’s Alejandro Valverde of team Movistar celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 16th stage of the 99th Giro d’Italia, Tour of Italy, from Bressanone
Brixen to Andalo on May 24. (AFP)
Grimmel had won also the first world cup stage of the season, in Bangkok, last March, and he’s now in the spotlights on the road to Rio.
“In the lead-up to the Olympics I am trying to do what I normally do, staying focused on my technique. Because at the end it’s a competition like any other competition, the guys are the same, more and less, the pressure is higher of course, but I am trying to keep it simple!”
The 2004 Olympic Champion Matthew Emmons of USA, 35, an experienced 30time world cup medalist, finished in third place today, pocketing the Bronze medal with 187.2 points.
The winner of the first world cup stage of the season in Bangkok, Zhang Fusheng of the People’s Republic of China, 22, ranked 5th in the world, secured Gold at the following 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich.
The young Chinese shooter beat the current world cup title-holder Jean Quiquampoix of France (20), with a score of 29 to 28 hits.
Quiquampoix arrived here in Munich after winning a Bronze at the pre-Olympic world cup in Rio de Janeiro, one month ago, and he’s currently ranked sixth in the world in this event, and is considered one of the favorites on the road to Rio 2016.
Today he beat Germany’s top-ranked rapid fire shooter, Beijing 2008’s Olympic Bronze medalist Christian Reitz, 29, who claimed Bronze with 24 hits. The German shooter had to pass through three
different shoot-offs to climb up on the podium, surviving one elimination after the other. On his way to the medals, Reitz left behind him Kim Jun Hong of the Republic of Korea (4th with 20 hits), Spain’s Jorge Llames (5th with 17 hits) and the reigning Olympic Champion Leuris Pupo of Cuba (6th with 12 hits).
After six out of eight events conducted, the People’s Republic of China solidly leads the overall medal standings of the world cup stage, with 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medals. Denmark, Spain and Serbia follow in second place, with 1 Gold medal each.
The ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup in Munich, Germany, keeps on rolling. Day4 of the competition will see the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions final taking place at 11.30 (GMT+1), and the men’s 10m Air Pistol Final at 13:15. The finals will be broadcasted live on www.issf-sports.org and competition in a particular sport. PSA is a non-political, non partisan and non-governmental organization, founded by Muhammad Irfan Adil on Aug 14, 2013. Headed by Maqbool Ahmed & powered by Sports lovers. PSA is organizing sports events & festivals, among community with collaboration of local sports authorities and will work together with local organizations and charities to enhance the standing and awareness of the benefits of sport & exercise.
At the end Younas Shahid VicePresident, Thanked all the guests for witnessing the thrilling game of cricket.