Cycling in France: Paris-Roubaix: After the cobbled climbs of Flanders, the World Cycling Tour’s Classicshard men turn their attention to 257 kilometers of race, including manysections of bone-shaking pavé of Paris-Roubaix today, Palm Sunday. Alongsidebeing Classics legend Tom Boonen’s final professional race, the Hell of theNorth is sure to throw up plenty of enthralling action across secteurssuch as the feared Arenberg Forest. Boonen calls this "the best race in the world," and he has wonParis-Roubaix four times since becoming involved with pro cycling in 2002, sohe should know. It all leads up to agrandstand finish on the Roubaix Velodrome, where Mat Hayman emerged as asurprise winner last time out. Raceconditions are expected to include a strong tailwind, about 70 (20C) degrees,and dry conditions, meaning a faster race. Because of this, the start of the race has been delayed 15 minutes. At least the pavé,or much feared cobblestones, will be dry, and there won't be so much mud. Congratulations Tom Boonen! Have a good retirement! The Davis Cup, self styled the World's Cup ofTennis, takes place each year over four weekends. Yesterday it looked as if France and GreatBritain were heading for a draw, but France prevailed, and now Great Britain iseliminated from Davis Cup after a 3-0 quarter-final defeat by France, as JamieMurray and Dom Inglot lost in the doubles. France will now face Serbia - who beat Spain 3-0 in Belgrade with thehelp of world number two Novak Djokovic - in the semi-finals in September. France have astonishing strength in depth andthe fact they have not won the Davis Cup since 2001 is one of the most painfulsubjects in French sport. In Belgrade,world number two Novak Djokovic helped Serbia to victory in theirlast-eight tie against Spain. ElsewhereItaly kept their semi-final hopes alive with victory in the doubles overBelgium in Charleroi. Italy nowtrail 2-1 going into Sunday's reverse singles. USA also turned the momentum in their quarter-final clash with Australiain Brisbane. Sunday's action includes theUSA and Australia: Nick Kyrgios (Aus) vsSam Querrey (USA), and Jordan Thompson (Aus) vs John Isner (USA). In the United States, it isalmost time for the playoffs of the National Basketball Association. Both the Eastern and Western Conferences haveplayoff spots up for grabs leading into the final few games of the regularseason. The Trail Blazers are in thedriver's seat for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference after beatingMinnesota. Atlanta, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indiana, Miamiand Charlotte are still alive to grab one of the final four playoff spots inthe Eastern Conference, but they all look good for possible post season play. For many decades, theNational Hockey League, featuring teams in both US and Canada, has placed apause in it's already long and sometimes tedious schedule on Olympics years,allowing players, who come from many countries, to return home to play fortheir home countries' teams. The NHLannounced Monday that it will not participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics inSouth Korea, saying it sees no tangible benefit, read no profit, in halting its season for three weeks nextFebruary despite clear signs from the world's best players that they want togo. Players immediately blasted thedecision, showing just what a boneheaded move this was. Disappointing news, (the NHL) won't be partof the Olympics 2018. A huge opportunity to market the game at the biggeststage is wasted," tweeted New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist,who won the 2006 Olympic gold medal with Sweden. Indeed, other leagues have seen theirinternational popularity spread greatly after participation in the Olympics,notably China and the NBA. -- Posted By Rex to Speed o Rex at 4/09/2017 02:37:00 AM -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "omnisport" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/omnisport. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
