Contador's lead slashed -CYCLING: Alberto Contador suffered on yesterday's 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia and saw his overall race lead slashed by 37 seconds to just four after finishing only 12th, over six minutes behind the winner.
Contador's main rivals, Italians Riccardo Ricco and Danilo Di Luca, attacked hard and gained valuable time on the Spaniard during the 238-km rain-soaked stage to Monte Pora in the Italian Alps.
Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus won the stage after being part of long-range seven-rider attack that stayed clear of the overall contenders.
Di Luca finished second, four minutes and 36 seconds behind Kiryienka, but one minute and 45 seconds ahead of Contador.Ricco, who came home fifth, is now just four seconds behind Contador with Di Luca third at 21 seconds.
Irish rider Philip Deignan finished with 85 other riders in the so-called autobus group, this bunch crossing the line 36 minutes and 53 seconds after Kiryienka.
Fredericks setting the pace
EQUESTRIAN: Australian rider Clayton Fredericks and the Irish-bred gelding Ben Along Time are lying in first place after dressage in the World Cup qualifier at the international horse trials in Tattersalls, Fairyhouse, on a score of 35.9, writes Margie McLoone.
In a star-studded field, the British rider Pippa Funnell has slotted into second on 41.3 with Ensign ahead of New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson and Lord Killinghurst, on 42.8.
Captain Geoff Curran and Kilkishen, in fifth, are best of the Irish on 45.2 in the three-star class, sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland.
Fredericks's wife, Lucinda, heads the field in the Tattersalls CCI** with Prada on 40.6 with Curran again best of the home brigade in sixth on 45.0 with The Jump Jet.
In the Dunboyne Castle CCI*, Funnell is currently in command with Redesigned on 38.1 with Ireland's Carol Gee and Fernhill T Scarlett lying a close second on 42.6.
Rheinisch off to the Olympics
CANOEING: Eoin Rheinisch has been officially chosen to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games, writes Liam Gorman.
The Kildare man qualified the boat for the K1 slalom event at the World Championships in Brazil last year and did enough to secure qualification for himself at events since then in the United States and Europe.
UCD complete notable double
ROWING: UCD took both the Wylie Cup for men and the Bank of Ireland Cup for women at the deferred Irish University Championships at a beautifully calm Blessington last night, writes Liam Gorman.
While Trinity won the senior eights race with over a length to spare, UCD took the Wylie by virtue of wins in the intermediate and novice eights. UCD's win ends a long sequence of victories in the Wylie Cup for NUIG.
The Bank of Ireland Cup has been dominated by UCD in recent years, but coach Tom Sullivan's new-look team registered wins in the senior and intermediate grades in the four to reclaim the trophy.
