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Cycling
The Coffee Ride #121, with Reece Homfray
CANCER claimed both of David Baker’s parents and his father-in-law. So there was no lack of motivation when he set out to prepare for the Beat Cancer Tour.
Short and Sweet: Droughts broken and extended
THERE was good news for a triathletes and a basketball team but not for the Wallaroos and some of our top rowers. SHORT AND SWEET sport wrap.
Orica-BikeExchange set to conquer the world
ORICA-BikeExchange admits its incredible breakout season has caught it by surprise, but the Australian outfit believes it can plunder even greater riches next year.
Play of the Week: Duo share Swoop award
A CYCLING legend and a top netballer have both called it quits in the space of seven days to earn SWOOP PLAY OF THE WEEK.
The toughest athlete I’ve ever seen
I’VE been blessed over the years to see some pretty tough athletes in action up close. A few stand out in the memory, writes MIKE COLMAN.
2017 Tour will scale all of France’s mountains
ALL five mountain ranges of continental France will feature in next year’s Tour de France, setting up a gruelling, three-week racing challenge.
World champ headed Down Under
c THE rainbow jersey is returning to Adelaide. Slovakian superstar Peter Sagan will race January’s Tour Down Under as the reigning world champion after successfully defending his title in Doha.
Brave Willoughby’s post-crash terror
AUSSIE BMX star Sam Willoughby has recounted the terrifying moments after the crash that’s left him fighting to walk again.
‘I’m so proud but it’s time to step aside’
ANNA Meares has confirmed her retirement from cycling saying she would have loved to ride on to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 but her body has simply had enough.
Meares ‘a champion against all odds’
RECOVERING from a broken neck to compete in Beijing to winning gold against all the odds at London 2012; Reece Homfray looks at the top five moments from Anna Meares’ career.
Meares ‘a champion against all odds’
RECOVERING from a broken neck to compete in Beijing to winning gold against all the odds at London 2012 — here are the top five Meares moments.
Anna Meares announces retirement
ANNA Meares, the greatest female track cyclist in history, has announced her retirement from the sport with immediate effect.
‘Meares set to announce retirement’
CHAMPION Australian cyclist Anna Meares is expected to resist the lure of a Commonwealth Games swanswong in her home state and instead announce her immediate retirement.
Willoughby draws inspiration from Paralympians
INJURED BMX racer Sam Willoughby is being inspired by Paralympians as he completes two full weeks of rehabilitation in a bid to one day walk again.
Short and sweet: Wins, farewells, heartbreak
WE’VE had wins, dreams realised, heartbreak and fond farewells for two young athletes who have done Australia proud in the Olympic arena. SHORT AND SWEET WRAP.
Turia Pitt finishes Hawaii ironman hell
TURIA Pitt has conquered one of the toughest sporting events in the world — the Hawaii ironman triathlon.
Willoughby back to ‘work’ in rehab
AUSTRALIAN BMX cyclist Sam Willoughby has begun rehab following a training accident that left him with no movement below his chest.
Hawaii ironman triathlon guide
A PAIR of Aussie women are among the favourites to win the Hawaii ironman world championship. Another is set to steal the hearts of sports fans worldwide with her courage.
Underwear model gets his panties in a twist
JEREMY Santucci is a bike rider, underwear model, hissy fit thrower and definitely not the man you want to lend your $10,000 carbon fibre bike to.
Qatar set to ruin another sporting event
WEALTHY Arab state Qatar has been on a spending spree of late snapping up global sporting events as status symbols — here’s another one they’ll ruin.
The Coffee Ride #118, with Reece Homfray
ADELAIDE cyclist Miles Scotson is using the pain of being denied a ride at the Rio Olympics to drive him towards the world championships in Doha next week.
Chaves extends deal with Orica-BikeExchange
ESTEBAN Chaves has extended his contract with Orica-BikeExchange, confident he can win a maiden Grand Tour with the Australian outfit.
Meyer: ‘I still wanted a future in the sport’
FOUR months after succumbing to the rigours of top-level cycling, Australian Cameron Meyer announced his return to competitive racing.
Chaves tops big season for OBE
ESTEBAN Chaves has crowned a glorious season for ORICA-BikeExchange with victory in the Tour of Lombardy.
Willoughby ready to try to walk again
SERIOUSLY injured Australian BMX rider Sam Willoughby has been transferred to a rehabilitation centre in the US to begin the long road back to hopefully being able to walk again.
Short and sweet: Farewells, new horizons
SPRINT cycling star Chloe Hosking could not have asked for a more fitting farewell, there’s an AFL surprise and netball shocks in this week’s SHORT AND SWEET.
Doctor questions British hero’s doping use
ONE of British cycling great Bradley Wiggins’s former team doctors has expressed his “surprise” at the decision to allow him to use banned drugs ahead of major races.
‘Work hard and you shall achieve it’
IT’S an old family motto that Sam Willoughby’s brother, Matt, believes can help the Australian BMX star make a full recovery from a broken neck.
Lionhearted athletes on ‘kids bikes’
ON the surface, BMX riders look like grown adults on kids bikes who just couldn’t let go of the freedom that came with getting their first set of wheels. But Sam Willoughby is an elite athlete with incredible determination.
Short and sweet: Frocks and a farewell
THERE’S been a netball pay rise, the naming of a new league, a fashion update and signings galore in the W-League, WBBL and AFL. All this and more in SHORT AND SWEET.
Aussie cycling boss resigns after Rio shortfall
CYCLING Australia’s (CA) high performance boss Kevin Tabotta has resigned in the wake of the sport’s underwhelming Rio Olympic results.
Willoughby out of intensive care
AUSTRALIAN Olympic medallist and world champion BMX racer Sam Willoughby is out of intensive care in a US hospital and recovering from surgery “like the champion he is”, his fiancee says.
Short and sweet: Rings, wins and baby news
THERE’S baby news, special Origin rings and wins for our cyclists and rugby league players. SHORT AND SWEET wrap of woman and sport.
Orica-BikeExchange at home on world stage
FIVE years after its birth, Orica-BikeExchange has arrived as an undisputed international cycling powerhouse.
Orica-BikeExchange clean up in Europe
TEAM owner Gerry Ryan has declared the Vuelta a Espana as Orica-BikeExchange’s best ever Grand Tour and dubbed Sunday as arguably its finest hour after winning three races in three countries.
Willoughby airlifted to US hospital
AUSTRALIAN BMX star Sam Willoughby has undergone surgery and is in a stable condition in a US hospital after being airlifted from the track following a training crash in San Diego.
Aussie’s perfect response to Rio heartbreak
AUSTRALIAN cyclist Caroline Buchanan has shown her champion qualities, winning a world title less than a month after Olympic heartbreak - in a different discipline.
Stories behind our Paralympians
THEY are teachers, advocates, adventurers, cafe owners, AFL referees and Newcastle Knights fans and they are set to take the world by storm in Rio.
Short and Sweet: Medals, farewells and comebacks
THERE was a world silver medal, a stunning win over the mighty US by our baseballers and a sudden retirement. SHORT AND SWEET wrap of sport.
Rio 2016 week 2: How Aussie women fared
IT was gruelling. It was epic. It was emotional. The Olympic Games are over. Our week two SHORT AND SWEET wrap of how our Aussie women fared in Rio.
Tears for Meares as old foe cheers
WITH her Olympics over and the dust settled, Australian team captain Anna Meares has had the chance to reflect on a highlight of her campaign — and it involved an old rival.
BMX big guns well set for semi-finals
AUSTRALIA’S top-ranked male and female BMX riders, Caroline Buchanan and Sam Willoughby, have qualified in the top three ahead of Friday’s semi-finals.
Meares to have ‘free swing’ at sprint title
THE pressure is off Anna Meares who is preparing to have a “free swing” at defending her sprint title in what could her final Olympic Games appearance.
Play of the Day: Anna Meares
IT’S hard to go past Australian track sensation Anna Meares for our Play of the Day, so we’re not.
Why wasn’t this woman banned?
THE Olympic time trial has been engulfed in controversy after Russian cyclist Olga Zabelinskaya won a silver medal despite breaching the IOC’s initial criteria to compete in Rio.
Crash victim Hosking rides to victory
AUSTRALIAN Chloe Hosking crashed but still managed to win the third stage of the Route de France Feminine.
Anna Meares: The numbers game
THE simply remarkable ANNA MEARES claimed the hearts of Australians in London with her gold medal win and is hoping to repeat the feat in Rio.
Aussie cyclist in hospital after track crash
AUSSIE track cyclist Melissa Hoskins has been taken to hospital after the women’s team pursuit squad crashed at training in Rio, three days out from competition.
Ewan gives ORICA an extra gear
ORICA-BikeExchange has crowned a stellar transfer season by retaining one of the Australia’s best emerging sprinters.
Matthews to swap Orica for Giant
STAR sprinter Michael Matthews is poised to leave Orica-BikeExchange as the emerging Australian team signed gun Czech rider Roman Kreuziger.
Great Ocean Road Race joins elite
VICTORIA has its first ever WorldTour cycling event after the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race was elevated to sport’s top shelf.
Orica gaining a winning edge
AUSTRALIA’S first World Tour cycling team, born Orica-GreenEDGE in 2011, is in the middle of a coming-of-age season on the other side of the world.
Porte sets sights on Rio after Tour frustration
A BITTERSWEET Tour de France has left Aussie cycling star Richie Porte confident he can be a medal contender in the time trial and road race at the Rio Olympics.
Hosking grabs win on cycling’s biggest stage
AUSSIE Chloe Hosking lived up to her pre-race favouritism to grab victory in the 2016 La Course by Tour de France in exciting sprint finish.
Aussie Hosking claims huge win in Paris
SPRINTER Chloe Hosking has produced an historic moment for Australian cycling by winning La Course by Le Tour on the Champs Elysees in Paris overnight.
Rocky ride but Froome defends his TDF crown
BRITON Chris Froome cemented his status as one of the greatest Tour de France riders when he secured his third title after three dramatic weeks.
Porte makes a Tour de France point
RICHIE Porte went into the Tour de France hoping to win and although he has just missed the podium his fifth-place finish has made a significant statement, says Reece Homfray
Aussie cyclist ready for women’s La Course
SHE feels “super strong” but Australian cyclist Chloe Hosking admits she is nervous ahead of the La Course women’s race on the circuit the Tour de France riders will race just hours later.
Froome poised to land third Tour title
CHRIS Froome has virtually secured his third Tour de France title, holding on to his overall lead in the last competitive stage, won by Spain’s Ion Izagirre.
Froome set to make Aussie start again
CHRIS Froome’s dominant performance at the Tour de France means he is almost certain to open his season in Australia for the second year in a row in 2017.
Clarke expecting the unexpected in Rio
SIMON Clarke has warned riders to expect chaos in the men’s road race at the Rio Olympics after earning an 11th-hour call up to make his Games debut.
Froome crashes but keeps yellow
RAIN and crashes played havoc at the Tour de France overnight with Chris Froome hitting the ground and Richie Porte moving up the general classification.
Simon Clarke called up for Rio
VICTORIAN all-rounder Simon Clarke has been added to Australia’s cycling team for the Rio Olympics as a late replacement for the injured Simon Gerrans.
Froome extends, Porte closer to podium
CHRIS Froome won the mountain time trial and opened up a seemingly insurmountable lead over his closest challenger in the Tour de France, while Aussie Richie Porte edged closer to the top three.
The Coffee Ride #114, with Reece Homfray
ROHAN Dennis says he will spend the next fortnight “living on my time trial bike” after leaving the Tour de France to prepare for the Rio Olympics overnight.
The rider everybody fears
BRITAIN Chris Froome has dominated this year’s Tour de France, but it’s not the Team Sky leader that strikes fear into the heart of the peloton.
Pantano realises Tour ‘dream’ with stage win
JARLINSON Pantano showed he is a master of the descent by taking the 15th stage of the Tour de France as Chris Froome reinforced his overall advantage.
Life begins at 30 for TDF’s biggest stars
THIS year’s Tour de France has at times descended into a farce but two things haven’t changed — Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome are still the best in the world at what they do.
Gerrans out, Rio hopes now rest on Richie
AUSTRALIA is poised to back Richie Porte as its outright leader for the road race at the Rio Olympics after Simon Gerrans was forced to withdraw due to a broken collarbone which ended his Tour de France.
Top Aussie cyclist ruled out of Rio
AUSTRALIA’S Olympic road cycling medal hopes have taken a blow with star rider Simon Gerrans forced out through injury.
Sprint battle heats up as Cavendish rules again
MARCEL Kittel insisted he was still the top sprinter despite again being beaten by Mark Cavendish in a controversial finish at the Tour de France.
Froome stamps authority at Tour de France
AMID reinforced security the Tour de France rolled on and defending champion Chris Froome extended his overall lead.
Riding the stage to decide Tour de France
THE Tour de France is set to be won or lost outside of the nation — in Swiss Alp country — according to 2011 champion Cadel Evans.
Video: Porte blows up over Tour crowd
AUSTRALIAN Richie Porte says “things have got to change” after the crowd caused a pile-up on the 12th stage involving him and defending champion Chris Froome.
Gerrans in doubt for Rio after TdF fall
SIMON Gerrans is facing a race against time to be fit for the Rio Olympics road race after breaking his collarbone in last night’s chaotic stage of the Tour de France.
‘This I have never, ever seen before’
THE Tour de France descended into chaos overnight, with race leader Chris Froome forced to run up the mountain and confusion reigning over the rules.
Why is this man running up a mountain?
THE Tour de France ascended into chaos overnight, with Chris Froome forced to run up Mount Ventoux after the leaders crashed into a motorbike.
Every second counts in this TdF
CHRIS Froome vowed to keep fighting for every second after stretching his Tour de France lead on Wednesday’s 11th stage.
Wife helps Matthews find another gear
MICHAEL Matthews has revealed his wife’s reassuring words inspired him to his breakthrough Tour de France stage win.
Matthews’ gracious win releases Orica pressure valve
Michael Matthews’ victory in Stage 10 of the Tour de France meant mountains to a team which had been questioned over its harmony, writes REECE HOMFRAY.
‘This win was three years in the making’
AUSSIE Michael Matthews has turned the page on years of bad luck in the Tour de France to complete his set of grand tour victories.
The Coffee Ride #113, with Reece Homfray
AFTER being haunted by bad luck at the Tour de France, Australian Michael Matthews has broken through in a history-making Stage 10 victory.
Does anyone want to beat this man?
CHRIS Froome is the reigning king of the Tour de France; there’s little doubt he will be hard to de-throne, the question is why is nobody trying to do so.
Spectator bulldozed in brutal collision
AS IF the UFC didn’t provide enough ferocity for one weekend, the Tour de France keeps serving it up on a platter.
Vicious Torrens Hill Rd back on TDU menu
TOUR Down Under chiefs have met with Chris Froome about luring the Tour de France superstar to next year’s race which includes a brutal new stage to Paracombe for the climbers.
Tour leader punches spectator in the face
BEFORE launching his downhill attack, reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome landed a wayward left jab.
Tour leader punches spectator in the face
BEFORE launching his downhill attack, reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome landed a left jab — to a spectator’s face.
Chaos reigns at Tour de France
THE seventh stage of the Tour de France ended in farcical fashion when an inflatable arch deflated sending one rider crashing to the ground.
Triple treat for super sprinter Cav
MARK Cavendish cemented his status as the Tour de France’s greatest sprinter when he claimed his 29th stage victory in the race in Thursday’s sixth leg.
Cadel fears Porte’s Tour dream is over
CADEL Evans fears Aussie star Richie Porte’s Tour de France dreams have been shattered by a freak puncture on the second day of the 21-stage race.
Sprint prodigy’s horrific injuries
YOUNG cycling star Courtney Field has had surgery after a nasty fall involving Australia’s Olympic flag-bearer Anna Meares left her with pieces of the track embedded in her leg.
Meares athletes’ leader and people’s champion
ANNA Meares — Australia’s flagbearer at the Rio Olympics — is loved by athletes and fans alike for her cycling exploits. But the woman behind the champion is every bit as impressive, says Reece Homfray.
Cromwell rides to second Giro win
JUST hours before her 28th birthday, Canyon-SRAM rider Tiffany Cromwell became the second Australian rider to win a stage of the Giro d’Italia Femminile.
Tour big guns ready to get moving
REIGNING Tour de France champ Chris Froome expects the overall contenders to start making their move when riders hit the mountains on the fifth stage tonight.
Tour de France fun fact guide
HOW far do they ride, how fast can they go and for how much cash do they compete? All the answers uin out fun fact guide to the TDF.
Olympians, Wallaroos, netball finalists revealed
THE Australian Olympic team has swelled to 300 plus, it’s D-Day for the Swifts, and ironwoman stars and Wallaroos are named. SHORT AND SWEET women’s sport wrap.
Olympian one day, flagbearer the next
SOUTH Australia’s cycling queen Anna Meares has been named flagbearer for the Rio Games, a day after being named to represent Australia in her fourth Olympics.
Wheels in motion for Rio redemption
AUSTRALIA has set itself a target of winning five to seven medals in Rio next month, and up to three gold, after yesterday announcing the team it hopes will lead it to Olympic redemption.
Aussie Hosking sprints off with Giro win
AUSTRALIAN Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Chloe Hosking has broken through for her first ever Giro d’Italia Femminile victory.
Cav closes on all-time Tour win mark
MARK Cavendish has joined French great Bernard Hinault in second place on the all-time list of Tour de France stage winners after grabbing his second victory in this year’s race.
