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Wednesday 17 May 2017

Dumoulin dominates ‘wine trial’ to take Giro d’Italia lead

MONTEFALCO, Italy (AP) — Thibaut Pinot of France stage, trails by 5 1/2 min- showed on Blockhaus (Sun- Dumoulin spent six days
Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin was fourth and defending utes. day’s stage) he’s the bet- in pink after winning the
dominated an individual champion Vincenzo Nibali “It’s a nice gap to go into ter climber so a lot can opening stage last year.
time trial through Umbria’s fifth. the mountains,” said Du- happen in the mountains. “It’s no coincidence any-
winemaking region to Thomas, who was slowed moulin, who rides for Team But if I go home now it was more,” he said. “I can re-
take the pink jersey after by a crash in the previous Sunweb. “But like Quintana already a successful Giro.” ally fight with the best and
the 10th stage of the Giro it’s a good feeling.”
d’Italia on Tuesday. Still, Dumoulin is not consid-
Dumoulin, who also won ered a pure climber and
time trials in last year’s Giro could struggle next week
and Tour de France, set the in the Alps.
pace on the 40-kilometer “It will be really, really
(25-mile) route from Foligno hard,” he said.
to Montefalco, where Sa- The small and compact
grantino wine is produced. Quintana won the 2014
Geraint Thomas of Britain Giro and was twice runner-
finished second, 49 sec- up on the Tour. The Colom-
onds behind, and former bian struggles for power on
overall leader Bob Jungels time trials, and was con-
of Luxembourg was third, tent to go minutes down
56 seconds back. knowing what’s ahead.
Previous leader Nairo “It was a bit worse than I
Quintana struggled as ex- expected,” Quintana said.
pected and finished nearly “Dumoulin is a specialist
three minutes behind Du- but he showed that he’s
moulin. really strong. He could be
In the overall standings, Du- my principal rival consider-
moulin leads Quintana by ing the form that he’s in.
2:23, and Bauke Mollema Tom Dumoulin takes a curve on his way to win the 10th stage of the Giro d’Italia, Tour of Italy cy- But we’ll find a strategy to
was third, 2:38 behind. cling race, an individual time trial from Foligno to Montefalco, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. regain the pink jersey.”q
Associated Press

Italian Open Schiavone, which sparked Earlier, Bedene frustrated
controversy.
Djokovic for long stretches
But she won’t be heading with his foot speed, keep-
Continued from Page 17 to Paris next week. ing the ball in play and
“Must be tough for her, whipping surprising win-
“I apologize for having to but it’s the way it is,” No- ners.
withdraw from my match vak Djokovic said after he At the conclusion of a tight
today with a left thigh in- overcame a challenging first set, Djokovic served
jury. I will be getting all the first set to beat British quali- three aces in the tiebreak-
necessary examinations to fier Aljaz Bedene 7-6 (2), er then laughed to himself
make sure it is not serious,” 6-2 in his opening match at in apparent astonishment.
Sharapova said in a state- the Foro Italico. “In some Also, David Goffin rallied
ment. “I want to thank the tournaments she’s going to past Fernando Verdasco
tournament for giving me get that help in wild card 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Tomas Berdych
the opportunity to play in and invitation; some not. notched his 600th ca-
this special event again.” Unfortunately, it’s Grand reer win by beating quali-
Sharapova returned Slam, which is for sure for Maria Sharapova of Russia relaxes during a pause of her match fier Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-4;
last month following a her a big one.” against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia at the Italian Open Jack Sock defeated Diego
15-month ban for testing The French Open starts in tennis tournament, in Rome, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Schwartzman 6-4, 1-6, 7-5;
positive for the banned less than two weeks. Associated Press and Alexander Zverev out-
heart drug meldonium at “She has to go through lasted Kevin Anderson 6-4,
last year’s Australian Open. a tougher way back,” ments directly).” enough points to enter the 4-6, 6-4.
The Russian has accepted Djokovic added. “After Sharapova reached the top 200 next week and Nick Kyrgios withdrew from
wild cards to enter all three being absent from the tour semifinals in Stuttgart, Ger- gain direct entry to the the tournament with a hip
of her tournaments since for a long time, she’s going many, then was eliminated qualifying tournament for injury.
her return, attracting criti- to be patient, at least as in the second round in Ma- Wimbledon. In other women’s action,
cism from many players. much as she can, to slowly drid last week. She won both of her previ- last year’s finalist, Madison
Sharapova was given a build her rankings and get By winning her opening ous matches against Lucic- Keys, was beaten by Aus-
wild card for Rome ahead back to where she has the match in Rome on Mon- Baroni, a semifinalist at this tralian qualifier Daria Gavr-
of local player Francesca quality to (enter tourna- day, Sharapova earned year’s Australian Open. ilova 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.q