LeSport Magazine

8/14/2019 LeSport Magazine

1/32

front of book3 the gurusThe state of American womens tennis

5 the stuffRugbys hottest new gear

7 the kickThe possible exodus of Freddy Adu

9 the aceCentre Courts extreme makeover

11 the chillX-games athletes in the Olympics

13 the splashIan Thorpe prepares for Beijing

contentslesport magazinemarch 2008

features

15 welcome

16 culture clash?Dubais sports scene is booming, but is it compromising its values inthe process?By Joannie Tims

20 tennis teaserSerbian star Novak Djokovic has wowed crowds with his talent andhis charm.By Tim Akins

24 cyclical concernsA dark cloud of steroids looms over the Tour de France, but how isthe cycling world really coping?By Daniel Martinez

back of book

29 the hot spotsBritish Columbias must-see spots

31 the wire

32 the lensCricket in India

On the cover:Novak Djokovic reacts during a match at the2007 Australian Open.Photo by Jamelle Johanssen.

20

16

24


2/32

LeSPORTEDITORIAL

Editor-in-chiefGRAHAM SCHROEDER

Associate EditorALEX JOHNSON

E-EditorMARCIA PRICE

Assistant EditorLORI WINTHROP

CopyeditorLORI WINTHROP

BUSINESS & PRODUCTIONPublisher

CHRISTOPHER HORN

Advertising DirectorDANIELLE MCMICHAEL

Circulation DirectorANDY JACOBS

Production ManagerGREG SHEPHERD

Art DirectorALABASTER PETERS

Advertising DirectorTIMOTHY NEWMAN

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NOTICE:The information found in LeSport Magazineis writtenby sports experts, but not by doctors. Check with

your doctor before doing any exercises, taking anysupplements or starting a new sport. If you intendon traveling, make sure you are cautious of your

surroundings. LeSport Magazineis not responsible for anymishaps, injuries or losses because of its content.

LeSportReaders,

The first time I saw Novak Djokovic play tennis was in themens final at last years U.S. Open. His impeccable talent might havecaught my eye, but his charisma and knack for making me laughcaught my heart. Djokovic went on to lose to the perennially dominantand top-ranked Roger Federer, but avenged the loss in the semifinalsof this years Australian Open, en route to his first major championship.

Read the story A Joke with Djokovic to get an inside scoopon his goofy theatrics, locker-room friendships and unconventionaltraining methods.

Also, as the Tour de France approaches, LeSportwanted toget an update on the current anti-doping investigations that the French

government and the international cycling community are trying tocleanse the sport of steroids.

And to round out this months features, Joannie Tims writesan excellent story on the recent economic boom that is taking overDubai, particularly the citys sports scene. As globalization increases,Dubai has successfully become a major hot spot for the internationalelite, but not at the expense of its Islamic heritage.

After I left Arthur Ashe stadium, I realized that I had justwitnessed the inevitable predecessor of Roger Federer. I smiled as abuddy and I walked to our cars and started reliving the hysteria ofDjokovics flawless impersonation of Maria Sharapovas serve warm-up.

This boy really has it, I thought. He sure does.

Thanks for your continued support,

Graham SchroederEditor-in-chief

2 LeSport MagazineMARCH 2008


3/32

the[gurus]

American AcesMary Carillo analyzes the state of womens tennis and says theres hope in

the resurgence of the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenports comeback.

Three-time major champion Lindsay Davenport is

considering a comeback after being off the pro tour since

the end of last year while awaiting the birth of her rst child.

I hope so, she said Tuesday on a conference call

from her Laguna Beach home. I havent made any naldecisions. Its a small goal Im working towards.

A comeback is alluring in part because Davenport would

like to play in next years Beijing Olympics. She won a gold

medal in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The thing that intrigues me is the Olympics and trying to

go back as a mother, she said.

Davenport gave birth via Caesarean section to son

Jagger on June 10 two days after her 31st birthday.

She her rst match since the last September onSaturday night as a member of the Sacramento Capitals of

World TeamTennis.

Im feeling great. All of a sudden, things have healed

really quickly, she said. Its been so much fun preparing.

Ive been hitting with my husband.

Davenport will play doubles with Elena Likhovtseva and

mixed doubles with Mark Knowles against the Newport

Beach Breakers. Also on the Capitals, coached by Wayne

Bryan, are Sam Warburg and Michelle Larcher de Brito.

The match in Sacramento will be Davenports only

appearance because the leagues regular season ends July

25.

I looked at it as really a kind of fun challenge, she said.

To see if I could come back so quickly and give me a kick

in the pants and see if I could be active.

Her son was born three weeks early due to unspeciedcomplications, although he is healthy. She said Jaggers

name has nothing to do with the Rolling Stones; she and

husband Jonathan Leach just wanted an unusual name.

Davenport plans to bring her son, husband, nanny and

other family members to Sacramento.

Im hoping hell bring me even more joy on the roadand more fun, she said. The challenge for me is about

balancing everything. I totally understand the working

moms guilt. If I go practice, I feel bad.

Davenport said her husband supports a possible

comeback. He thinks its great, she said. Hes totally

encouraging me to do whatever I want.

Davenport, the worlds former No. 1 player, doesnt

foresee her son on the pro tennis tour. Her father-in-law is

former Southern California tennis coach Dick Leach and her

brother-in-law Rick played on the ATP Tour.

Its probably in his best interest to not follow the tennis

gene, she said. Hopefully, hell be involved in some kind

of sports. or a fun challenge, she said. To see if I could

come back so quickly and give me a kick in the pants and

see if I could be active.

Her son was born three weeks early due to unspecied

complications, although he is healthy. She said Jaggers

name has nothing to do with the Rolling Stones; she and

husband Jonathan Leach just wanted an unusual name.



Im hoping hell bring me even more joy on the road

and more fun, she said. The challenge for me is about




comeback.He thinks its great, she said. Hes totally encouraging

me to do whatever I want.




brother-in-law Rick played on the ATP Tour. Davenport said

her husband supports a possible comeback.



of sports.


foresee her son on the pro tennis tour. Her I hope so, she

said Tuesday on a conference call from her Laguna Beach

home. I havent made any nal decisions. Its a small goal

MARCH 2008 LeSport Magazine 3

American womendominated the gamein the early 2000s.They hope to repeattheir past success in2008. Photos from theUSTA.


4/32

thegurus

The tenacity of the Williams sistersand Davenport have been majorfactors in their 17 Grand Slam titles.Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

I hope so, she said Tuesday on a

conference call from her Laguna Beach home.

I havent made any nal decisions. Its a small

goal Im working towards.

A comeback is alluring in part because

Davenport would like to play in next years

Beijing Olympics. She won a gold medal in

singles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The thing that intrigues me is the Olympics

and trying to go back as a mother, she said.

Davenport gave birth via Caesarean section

to son Jagger on June 10 two days after her

31st birthday.

Shell play her rst match since September

on Saturday night as a member of the

Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis.

Im feeling great. All of a sudden, things

have healed really quickly, she said. Its been

so much fun preparing. Ive been hitting with

my husband.

Davenport will play doubles with Elena

Likhovtseva and mixed doubles with Mark

Knowles against the Newport Beach Breakers.

Also on the Capitals, coached by Wayne

Bryan, are Sam Warburg and Michelle Larcher

de Brito.

The match in Sacramento will be

Davenports only appearance because the

leagues regular season ends July 25.

I looked at it as really a kind of fun

challenge, she said. To see if I could come

back so quickly and give me a kick in the pants

and see if I could be active.

Davenport says her pregnancy allowed her

to take time to rethink.






to take time to rethink her future as a tennis

player.


to take time to rethink her future as a tennis

player.

The regular season ends July 25.



5/32

the[stuff]


Wonders from Down UnderPhil Moore looks at the latest in Australian rugby gear, including lightweight

uniforms, synthetic balls and articial turf.

Three-time major champion Lindsay Davenport is considering a

comeback after being off the pro tour since the end of last year while

awaiting the birth of her rst child.

I hope so, she said Tuesday on a conference call from her Laguna

Beach home. I havent made any nal decisions. Its a small goal Imworking towards.

A comeback is alluring in part because Davenport would like to play

in next years Beijing Olympics. She won a gold medal in singles at the

1996 Atlanta Games.

The thing that intrigues me is the Olympics and trying to go back as

a mother, she said.

Davenport gave birth via Caesarean section to son Jagger on June

10 two days after her 31st birthday.

She her rst match since the last September on Saturday night as amember of the Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis.

Im feeling great. All of a sudden, things have healed really quickly,

she said. Its been so much fun preparing. Ive been hitting with my

husband.

Davenport will play doubles with Elena Likhovtseva and mixed

doubles with Mark Knowles against the Newport Beach Breakers.

Also on the Capitals, coached by Wayne Bryan, are Sam Warburg and

Michelle Larcher de Brito.

The match in Sacramento will be Davenports only appearance

because the leagues regular season ends July 25.

I looked at it as really a kind of fun challenge, she said. To see if I

could come back so quickly and give me a kick in the pants and see if I

could be active.


complications, although he is healthy. She said Jaggers name has

nothing to do with the Rolling Stones; she and husband Jonathan Leach

just wanted an unusual name.

Davenport plans to bring her son, husband, nanny and other family

members to Sacramento.

Im hoping hell bring me even more joy on the road and more fun,

she said. The challenge for me is about balancing everything. I totally

understand the working moms guilt. If I go practice, I feel bad.Davenport said her husband supports a possible comeback. He

thinks its great, she said. Hes totally encouraging me to do whatever

I want.

Davenport, the worlds former No. 1 player, doesnt foresee her son

on the pro tennis tour. Her father-in-law is former Southern California

tennis coach Dick Leach and her brother-in-law Rick played on the ATP

Tour.

Its probably in his best interest to not follow the tennis gene,

she said. Hopefully, hell be involved in some kind of sports. or a fun

challenge, she said. To see if I could come back so quickly and give me

a kick in the pants and see if I could be active.




Top: The AustralianNational Rugby Teamcurrently uses lycra-nylon hybrid jerseysfor their matches.Left: The newAustralian balls are

made from recycledtires. Photos fromGetty Images.


6/32

thestuff

Three-time major champion Lindsay

Davenport is considering a comeback after

being off the pro tour since the end of last year

while awaiting the birth of her rst child.





A comeback is alluring in part becauseDavenport would like to play in next years







31st birthday.

She her rst match since the last

September on Saturday night as a member of

the Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis.




my husband.






de Brito.








Her son was born three weeks early due

to unspecied complications, although he is

healthy. She said Jaggers name has nothing

to do with the Rolling Stones;



Most of Australias rugby stadiums now havean artificial turf that has the same cushionand absorbency as grass, but doesnt requireregular maintenance and has a sustainableirrigation system. Photo by Angus Wright.


7/32

the[kick]


Adieu, Adu?Greg Moreau discusses the possibility of MLS phenom Freddy Adu crossing

the Atlantic to play in the European leagues.


considering a comeback after being off the pro tour sincethe end of last year while awaiting the birth of her rst child.










She her rst match since the last September on

Saturday night as a member of the Sacramento Capitals of

World TeamTennis.

Im feeling great. All of a sudden, things have healedreally quickly, she said. Its been so much fun preparing.








25.





Freddy Adu is

the future of USASoccer, but is he thefuture of the MLS?Photos courtesy ofUSA Soccer.


8/32

thekick

Three-time major champion

Lindsay Davenport is considering

a comeback after being off thepro tour since the end of last year

while awaiting the birth of her rst

child.

I hope so, she said Tuesday

on a conference call from her

Laguna Beach home. I havent

made any nal decisions. Its a

small goal Im working towards.

A comeback is alluring in

part because Davenport would

like to play in next years Beijing

Olympics. She won a gold medal

in singles at the 1996 Atlanta

Games.

The thing that intrigues me isthe Olympics and trying to go back

as a mother, she said.

Davenport gave birth via

Caesarean section to son Jagger

on June 10 two days after her

31st birthday.

She her rst match since the

last September on Saturday night

as a member of the Sacramento

Capitals of World TeamTennis.

Im feeling great. All of a

sudden, things have healed really

quickly, she said. Its been so

much fun preparing. Ive been

hitting with my husband.Davenport will play doubles

with Elena Likhovtseva and

mixed doubles with Mark Knowles

against the Newport Beach

Breakers. Also on the Capitals,

coached by Wayne Bryan, are

Sam Warburg and Michelle

Larcher de Brito.

The match in Sacramento will

be Davenports only appearance

because the leagues regular

season ends July 25.

I looked at it as really a kind of

fun challenge, she said. To see if

I could come back so quickly andgive me a kick in the pants and

see if I could be active.

Her son was born three

weeks early due to unspecied

complications, although he is

healthy. She said Jaggers name

has nothing to do with the Rolling

Stones;

The regular season ends July

25.

she and husband Jonathan

Leach just wanted an unusual

name.

Davenport plans to bring her

son, husband, nanny and otherfamily members to Sacramento.

Im hoping hell bring me even

more joy on the road and more

fun, she said. The challenge for

me is about balancing everything.

I totally understand the thing.

Adu, who plays for Real SaltLake in MLS, might considergoing to the European Leaguesif he doesnt see the Americansoccer situation getting anybetter. Photo by Dillon Van Broek


9/32

the[ace]


Rain, Rain, Go AwayWimbledons show courts are undergoing renovations to ease the stress of the

tournaments notorious rain delays. By Davis Dickenson


considering a comeback after being off the pro tour since

the end of last year while awaiting the birth of her rst child.










She her rst match since the last September on

Saturday night as a member of the Sacramento Capitals of

World TeamTennis.

Im feeling great. All of a sudden, things have healed

really quickly, she said. Its been so much fun preparing.








25.





complications, although he is healthy. She said Jaggersname has nothing to do with the Rolling Stones;


she and husband Jonathan Leach just wanted an

unusual name.



Im hoping hell bring me even more joy on the road

and more fun, she said. The challenge for me is about




comeback. He thinks its great, she said. Hes totally

encouraging me to do whatever I want.




brother-in-law Rick played on the ATP Tour.



of sports. or a fun challenge, she said. To see if I could

come back so quickly and give me a kick in the pants and

The new andimproved CentreCourt at Wimbledonwill have aretractable roof tocombat the peskyrain delays. Computerrendering courtesy ofWimbledon.


10/32

theace
















31st birthday.







my husband.






de Brito.












to unspecied complications, although he ishealthy. She said Jaggers name has nothing

to do with the Rolling Stones;

The regular season ends July 25, when

Sacramento faces the Capitals.


Construction had an impact on the 2007Championships, but overall, the fortnight ransmoothly as Wimbledon prepares to tacklethe rain. Photo by Associated Press.


11/32

the[chill]


X-FactorThe Winter X Games wow us with tricks every year and has become more

important with the inclusion of most events in the Olympics. By Alisa Thornton

Three-time major champion Lindsay Davenport is considering a

comeback after being off the pro tour since the end of last year while

awaiting the birth of her rst child.

I hope so, she said Tuesday on a conference call from her Laguna

Beach home. I havent made any nal decisions. Its a small goal Imworking towards.

A comeback is alluring in part because Davenport would like to play

in next years Beijing Olympics. She won a gold medal in singles at the

1996 Atlanta Games.

The thing that intrigues me is the Olympics and trying to go back as

a mother, she said.

Davenport gave birth via Caesarean section to son Jagger on June

10 two days after her 31st birthday.

She her rst match since the last September on Saturday night as amember of the Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis.

Im feeling great. All of a sudden, things have healed really quickly,

she said. Its been so much fun preparing. Ive been hitting with my

husband.

Davenport will play doubles with Elena Likhovtseva and mixed

doubles with Mark Knowles against the Newport Beach Breakers.

Also on the Capitals, coached by Wayne Bryan, are Sam Warburg and

Michelle Larcher de Brito.

The match in Sacramento will be Davenports only appearance

because the leagues regular season ends July 25.

I looked at it as really a kind of fun challenge, she said. To see if I

could come back so quickly and give me a kick in the pants and see if I

could be active.




just wanted an unusual name.

Davenport plans to bring her son, husband, nanny and other family

members to Sacramento.

Im hoping hell bring me even more joy on the road and more fun,

she said. The challenge for me is about balancing everything. I totally

understand the working moms guilt. If I go practice, I feel bad.Davenport said her husband supports a possible comeback. He

thinks its great, she said. Hes totally encouraging me to do whatever

I want.

Davenport, the worlds former No. 1 player, doesnt foresee her son

on the pro tennis tour. Her father-in-law is former Southern California

tennis coach Dick Leach and her brother-in-law Rick played on the ATP

Tour.

Its probably in his best interest to not follow the tennis gene,

she said. Hopefully, hell be involved in some kind of sports. or a fun

challenge, she said. To see if I could come back so quickly and give me

Snowboarder Adam Petty works the halfpipe at the 2005 Winter XGames in Aspen, Colo. At the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy,Petty went on to medal in snowboarding. Photo by Ron Winter.


12/32

thechill







I havent made any nal decisions. Its a smallgoal Im working towards.









31st birthday.

She her rst match since the lastSeptember on Saturday night as a member of





my husband.






de Brito.

The match in Sacramento will beDavenports only appearance because the







to unspecied complications, although he

is healthy. She said Jaggers name has

nothing to do with the Rolling Stones; she

and husband Jonathan Leach just wanted an

unusual name.

Davenport plans to bring her son,

husband, nanny and other family members to

Sacramento.Im hoping hell bring me even more joy

on the road and more fun, she said. The

challenge for me is about balancing everything

I totally understand the working moms guilt. If I

go practice, I feel bad.

Davenport said her husband supports a

possible comeback. He thinks its great,

she said. Hes totally encouraging me to do

whatever I want.

Davenport, the worlds former No. 1 player,

doesnt foresee her son on the pro tennis tour.

Her father-in-law is former Southern California

tennis coach Dick Leach and her brother-in-law

Rick played on the ATP Tour.

Top: From left, Kelly Clark, Ana Svenssenand Jenna Abrams, all medalists in thesnowboard slalom in Torino. Left: Adam Pettyearns gold in Torino. Photos by Annie Jones.


13/32

the[splash]


Thorpedo LaunchFormer Olympic gold medalist Ian Thorpe of Australia discusses his new

training regimen and his aspirations to medal again in Beijing. By Roe Gregory





I hope so, she said Tuesday on aconference call from her Laguna Beach home.











31st birthday.







my husband.






de Brito.






back so quickly and give me a kick in the pantsand see if I could be active.


to unspecied complications, although he

is healthy. She said Jaggers name has



unusual name.



Multiple medalist Ian Thorpe has a newsponsor and a better outlook on the BeijingOlympics after a great campaign in Sydneyin 2000 and a subpar showing in Athens in2004. Photo courtesy of Adidas.


14/32

thesplash
















31st birthday.







my husband.Davenport will play doubles with Elena





de Brito.









to unspecied complications, although heis healthy. She said Jaggers name has



unusual name.



Sacramento.

Im hoping hell bring me even more joy

on the road and more fun, she said. The

challenge for me is about balancing everything

I totally understand the working moms guilt. If I

go practice, I feel bad.

Davenport said her husband supports a

possible comeback. He thinks its great,

she said. Hes totally encouraging me to dowhatever I want.

Davenport, the worlds former No. 1 player,

doesnt foresee her son on the pro tennis tour.

Her father-in-law is former Southern California

tennis coach Dick Leach and her brother-in-law

Rick played on the ATP Tour.

Thorpe hired a new coach and has a newtraining program in hopes of repeating hisSydney success. Many people from AustraliasOlympic committee have noted Thorpesinvigorated spirit and expect great things inBeijing. Photos by James Denton.


15/32

lesport magazinemarch 2008

the features that youll nd:

Soaring skyscrapersand sports galorerunning wildin the desert oasisof the United Arab Emirates

Easy-going Australian Open champion witheffortless on-court impersonations

[French politics,steroid scandals andthe Tour de France]


16/32

A computer rendering of the Burj Dubai, whichwill become the worlds tallest structure uponcompletion, standing at a height of more than

2,600 feet. Photo by Emaar Properties


17/32

Is

ThereACulture

Clash?NotIn

Dubai.A jam-packed skyline, faux-snow ski resorts and man-made islands make Dubai a Western-inuencesd oasis ina region hesitant to full embrace Western ideals. With mult-million-dollar events and state-of-the art venues,Dubai has become one of sports biggest stages and its still growing. By Ava Sprilenko

D

ubai International Capital (DIC) and Chinese rm First Eastern

Investment Group announced on Monday the launch of a fund

that will invest in Chinese companies and possibly list them

on Dubai securities markets.The joint venture between Dubai Holdings investment arm and the

Chinese investment bank and private equity rm is expected to raise $1

billion. It will be called China Dubai Capital.

The partnership highlights the growing interest of Middle East

investors toward China, with more oil-based sovereign wealth money

expected to tap the regions economic boom. China, too, is seeking to

boost investment returns by investing abroad.

China Dubai Capital will invest in a wide range of sectors including

infrastructure, resources, healthcare and services.

DIC said in the joint statement that its emerging markets division

aims to manage more than $5 billion in assets in Asia, the Middle East

and North Africa in the next three years.

China and the United Arab Emirates in April 2007 signed a

memorandum of understanding aimed at developing economic relations,

according to the statement. The volume of trade between the UAE and

China rose 41.6 percent last year to $20.4 billion, it said.

The joint venture between Dubai Holdings investment arm and the

Chinese investment bank and private equity rm is expected to raise $1billion. It will be called China Dubai Capital.

The partnership highlights the growing interest of Middle East

investors toward China, with more oil-based sovereign wealth money

expected to tap the regions economic boom. China, too, is seeking to

boost investment returns by investing abroad.

China Dubai Capital will invest in a wide range of sectors including

infrastructure, resources, healthcare and services.

DIC said in the joint statement that its emerging markets division

aims to manage more than $5 billion in assets in Asia, the Middle East

and North Africa in the next three years.

China and the United Arab Emirates in April 2007 signed a

memorandum of understanding aimed at developing economic relations,

according to the statement. The volume of trade between the UAE and

The joint venture between Dubai Holdings investment arm and the



18/32


The Burj Dubai tower under construction in the United

Arab Emirates has surpassed the 629 metre (2,063 foot)

KVLY-TV mast in the United States to become the worlds

tallest man-made structure, its builders announced on

Monday.

The KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota, had held

the record for most of the 45 years since its construction,

although it was topped between 1974 and 1991 by a radio

mast in Poland that later fell down.

Developers Emaar have yet to reveal what the nal

height of Burj Dubai will be but it is expected to reach 900

metres (2,953 feet) when completed early next year.At 160 storeys, Burj Dubai was already the worlds

tallest building exceeding the 508 metres (1,667 feet) of the

Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan.

When completed, Burj Dubai will have used 330,000

cubic metres (11.5 million cubic feet) of concrete, 39,000

tonnes of steel reinforcement and 142,000 square metres

(4.97 million square feet) of glass, Emaar said.

A business website meanwhile reported plans by a

Dubai-based competitor to build an even bigger building in

the Gulf emirate.

State-owned Nakheel is planning a 1,200 metre-high

(3,937 feet) tower that would comfortably surpass Burj

Dubai, ArabianBusiness.com reported.

An unidentied source at Australian architects Woods

Bagot told the website it had been awarded the contract to

help construct the tower.

Nakheel, which is part of state-owned conglomerate

Dubai World, told the website it was working with Woods

Bagot but declined to discuss details of the project.

We are nalising the design concept of a new project

involving an iconic structure -- Woods Bagot are a

consultant on this project, Nakheel.

We are still in the design concept stage, it would bepremature to discuss any details at this early stage, it

added.

Flush with windfall revenues from high oil prices, other

Gulf oil states are reportedly considering joining the race to

build the worlds tallest building.

Saudi Arabia, which sits on a quarter of the worlds

proven oil reserves, is planning a mile-high (1,600 metre,

5,249 foot) tower in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, according

to the London-based Middle East Economic Digest.





Monday.







metres (2,953 feet) when completed early next year.

At 160 storeys, Burj Dubai was already the worlds




cubic metres (11.5 million cubic feet) of concrete, 39,000tonnes of steel reinforcement and 142,000 square metres




the Gulf emirate.










We are nalising the design concept of a new projectinvolving an iconic structure -- Woods Bagot are a


We are still in the design concept stage, it would be

premature to discuss any details at this early stage, it

added.



build the worlds tallest building.Saudi Arabia, which sits on a quarter of the worlds








Monday.






The photo on theleft is Dubai in

1991. The city hasundergone rapiddevelopment andnow has a sprawlingurban core, visiblein the picture onthe right from 2005.Photo courtesy ofAmaar Properties.


19/32


CpiThe Burj Dubai tower under construction in the

United Arab Emirates has surpassed the 629 metre (2,063

foot) KVLY-TV mast in the United States to become the

worlds tallest man-made structure, its builders announced

on Monday.





Developers Emaar have yet to reveal what the nalheight of Burj Dubai will be but it is expected to reach 900











the Gulf emirate.










We are nalising the design concept of a new project

involving an iconic structure -- Woods Bagot are a


We are still in the design concept stage, it would be

premature to discuss any details at this early stage, itadded.



build the worlds tallest building.

Saudi Arabia, which sits on a quarter of the worlds








Monday.

















the Gulf emirate.

State-owned Nakheel is planning a 1,200 metre-high(3,937 feet) tower that would comfortably surpass Burj

Dubai, ArabianBusiness.com reported that the building was

going up fast.












cubic metres (11.5 million cubic feet) of concrete, 39,000tonnes of steel reinforcement and 142,000 square metres




the Gulf emirate.







the Gulf emirate.

The buiilding is made of steel, glass and sand, and will

have three rivers running through it.

Counter-clockwise from top: A rendering ofthe multiple sporting venues in Dubais multi-billion-dollar Sports City project. The currentcourse for Dubais PGA gold tournament,which showcases players such as TigerWoods and Vijah Singh. Dubai is host thethe highest purse in horse racing. A boomingskyline acts as the tracks backdrop. Photoscourtesy of Getty Images.


20/32



21/32


A

JokeWith

DjokovicSerbian tennis phenom Novak Djokovics playful, outgoing reputationhas ourished as much as his game has.By Patrick Rafter

A

sizzling start to the 2008 tennis season had Novak Djokovic

re-evaluating his goals heading into his title defense at the Sony

Ericsson WTA and ATP Masters Series that starts here this week.The 20-year-old Serb seized his rst Grand Slam singles title at the

Australian Open in January, and on Sunday he captured the rst of the

years prestigious Masters Series titles at Indian Wells, California.

It has been a dream start, of course, Djokovic said after a 6-2, 5-7,

6-3 victory over unexpected American Mardy Fish in the Pacic Life

Open nal.

Before I started playing this season, I said that my two goals are to

be consistent with the results, reach the Masters Cup and hopefully win

one Grand Slam.

I did all that in a very, very small amount of time.

However, Djokovic doesnt plan to rest on his laurels.

I dont want to stop here, he said. Ill try to keep going in Miami,

and Im defending champion there. Coming up from Indian Wells as the

tournament winner, its much easier.

World number three Djokovic has narrowed the gap on second-

ranked Spaniard Rafael Nadal to 425 points.

Both Nadal and world number one Roger

Federer arrive in Miami in search of a rst 2008title.

For Federer, it is the rst time since 2000

that he has gone so far into a season without

hoisting a trophy. The Swiss, who has reigned

at number one since 2004, was slowed

early this year by a debilitating bout with

mononucleosis.

At Indian Wells he looked more his old self

- until he was shocked in the semi-nals by

unseeded Fish. Fishs spectacular run at Indian

Wells - where he beat three top-10 players -

propelled him from 98th in the world back into the top-50, a welcome

advance for the oft-injured player once ranked as high as 17th in the

world.Other players expected to make a run at Djokovics Miami title are

Americans Andy Roddick - the 2004 champion - and James Blake,

Russian Nikolay Davydenko and Frances Australian Open nalist Jo-

Wilfried Tsonga.

Defending womens champion Serena Williams returns, seeking her

fth Miami title in seven years.

Williams won three straight crowns from 2002-2004, then returned to

Miami in 2007 for the rst time since her 2004 title run.Last year Williams saved two match points against top-ranked

Belgian Justine Henin en route to an 0-6, 7-5, 6-3 triumph.

If Williams can win again, she would tie German great Stef Graf for

most singles titles in tournament history.

Henin, who skipped the Indian Wells event, returns to the fray in

Florida.

Also gunning for Williamss title will be her sister, Venus, rising

Serbian stars Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana

Kuznetsova of Russia.

Ivanovic solidied her hold on the world number two ranking with aconvincing win over Kuznetsova in the Indian Wells womens nal.

Jankovic took over the number three spot in the world rankings with

her run to the semi-nals in California while Kuznetsova arrives in Miamiin the world number four spot after her third runner-up nish of 2008.

One notable absentee is Australian Open champion Maria

Sharapova, who withdrew after her semi-nal defeat in California

complaining of a shoulder injury.

Tennis mum Lindsay Davenport, who was forced to retire from her

quarter-nal match in Indian Wells with a back injury, remained hopeful

that she would bounce back in time to compete in Miami.

Jankovic took over the number three spot in the world rankings with

Djokovic celebratesa victory atWimbledon in 2007.He has becomerenowned for hiseasy-going attitudeand exuberantcelebrations.Photo by Jars Ulrich.


22/32

Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic won the Pacific Life Open finalsin a Serbian sweep on Sunday. Djokovic compensated for losinglast years final by ending American Mardy Fishs string of upsets6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

Womens top seed Ivanovic consigned second-seeded SvetlanaKuznetsova to runner-up for a second straight year by winning6-4, 6-3.

The 20-year-olds his and her championships came some twomonths after they just missed a sweep in the Australian Open.Djokovic beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the mens title, and Ivanoviclost to Maria Sharapova in the final.

There has been civil strife in Kosovo since it declared itsindependence from Serbia last month, but Djokovic and Ivanovicsaid they do not want to discuss politics.

Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic was suspended from theEuropean swimming championships on Friday for wearing a T-shirtproclaiming Kosovo is Serbia at a medal ceremony.

Im really sad to hear about this, Ivanovic said. But on theother hand, I dont know much about politics and I dont getinvolved in that area. When Im out here playing, I just want torepresent my country in the best possible way.

They (Serbs) really love tennis right now. Its a cool thingto wake up (in the middle of the night) and watch us play,she said, alluding to the time difference. Theyre proud to beSerbians, like I think everyone is in their own country.

Djokovic, whose father and other relatives are from Kosovo,recently taped a video saying he believes Kosovo will always be apart of Serbia.

It kind of touched me in that moment that this was my questto give support to my country, he said.

Otherwise, he said, he simply considers himself an athlete

representing his country.I think professional athletes all over the world ... are one of

the biggest ambassadors of their country; considering the factthat our country is in a very difficult position, theyre struggling ineconomics and politics, as well, he said.

But this is something I dont want to get involved in.Djokovic was given the tough match expected by Fish, the

lowest-ranked finalist in nine years at 98th. Fish stunned No. 1Roger Federer in the semifinals, No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko and No.7 David Nalbandian and refused to buckle under Djokovic, whocame within two points of the title receiving serve at 4-5 in thesecond set.

Fish held serve, then broke Djokovic and won his service gameagain to force a third set. Djokovic seemed to slip out of hisrhythm during Fishs comeback, twice slamming his racket to the

court after missing shots.Fish then had 0-40 on Djokovics serve in the opening game,

but the Serb saved them all with two of his five aces. He thenbroke Fish in the next game with a backhand winner down theline and held serve the rest of the way to claim his ninth careertitle and second of the year.

Ivanovic claimed her sixth career WTA Tour title with anotherblazing forehand winner after 81 minutes.

Kuznetsova lost her third final of the season, following Sydneyand Dubai. The Russian, a former U.S. Open champion, has losteight of her last nine finals, and the lone title last August at NewHaven came on an injury retirement.

Ivanovic pushed Kuznetsova twice off the court into forcederrors for the 5-4 break then served a love game for the first set.

Its a great victory for me, Ivanovic said. When I managed to

break her on 4-all it gave me confidence, and I went strong fromthat point on.In the second, the two traded early breaks but Kuznetsova was

under increasing pressure and lost the last four games.She wasnt giving me any free points and she was attacking,

Kuznetsova said. You feel like its her day, like everything goesher way.

Kuznetsova, runner-up to Daniela Hantuchova last year, endedMaria Sharapovas 18-match winning start to this season in thesemifinals on Friday. She has a career mark of 9-15 in tour finals

Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic was suspended, as Europeanswimming championships on Friday for wearing a T-shirtproclaiming Kosovo is Serbia at a medal ceremony.

Im really sad to hear about this, Ivanovic said. But on theother hand, I dont know much about politics and I dont getinvolved in that area. When Im out here playing, I just want torepresent my country in the best possible way.

They (Serbs) really love tennis right now. Its a cool thingto wake up (in the middle of the night) and watch us play,she said, alluding to the time difference. Theyre proud to beSerbians, like I think everyone is in their own country.

Djokovic, whose father and other relatives are from Kosovo,recently taped a video saying he believes Kosovo will always be apart of Serbia.

It kind of touched me in that moment that this was my questto give support to my country, he said.

Otherwise, he said, he simply considers himself an athleterepresenting his country.

I think professional athletes all over the world ... are one of

I know the crowd wanted him to win more,Djokovic said. Thats OK. Its all right. I still

love you guysdont worry.

Djokovic and hisplayful nature havegarnered both praiseand criticism fromtennis fans.Photo by Jars Ulrich.



23/32

Djokovic showed off his talent,and his uncanny personality atthis years Australian Open

Photo

byJarsUlrich.


Novak Djokovic started making peace with the crowd as soonas he lifted the trophy.

After beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (2) Sundaynight to win the Australian Open for his first Grand Slam title,Djokovic knew a little public relations was in order.

True, he had kept the Rod Laver Arena crowd in stitches lastweek with his Maria Sharapova impersonation. But Djokovic alsohad upset Roger Federer in the semifinals and now had eliminat-ed Tsonga, who was riding a great wave into the title match.

I know the crowd wanted him to win more, Djokovic said.

Thats OK. Its all right. I still love you guys -- dont worry. Imvery, very happy that I won my first Grand Slam here, so hope-fully well see you here on this stage a lot more often.

Djokovic felt as if he had to fight two rivals -- the fans andhis opponent -- in beating Federer and Tsonga. He frequently

yelled when things went wrong.Sometimes, you just cant control your emotions on the

court, he said. Im still learning. Im still young.The 20-year-old Serb is the first man other than No. 2 Rafael

Nadal to win a Grand Slam title from Federer since Marat Safinwon the 2005 Australian Open.

Djokovic said he was under extreme pressure to defeatTsonga, an unseeded Frenchman who had beaten four players inthe top 14, including Nadal in straight sets in the semifinals.

Tsongas audacious style, resemblance to Muhammad Ali and

magnificent run in only his fifth major made him a popular con-tender at Melbourne Park. His great tale about his Congolese fa-ther witnessing the epic Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight boutbetween Ali and George Foreman in 1974 added to the legend.

The underdog story gained momentum when Tsongas father,Didier, who flew in from France for the match, stood and threwfour right hooks to celebrate his sons first-set success.

Djokovic admitted he felt the heat. But he regrouped afterthe first-set barrage and began to climb back. He did not facea break point in the second and third sets. He staved off onecrucial break point in the fourth before dominating the tiebreaker.

Coming on against a player with nothing to lose -- he wasgoing for the shots and he was very dangerous, especially in thefirst set -- I was pretty nervous, he said.

Tsonga, so aggressive earlier in the tournament, seemed

content to rally from the baseline, especially after getting passedseveral times. The forehands that whipped past Nadal and kissedthe lines were wayward. And he netted some of the soft touchvolleys that gave him easy points against the Spaniard.

I was trying to stay with him because I knew sooner or later,with my style of game, I could get in control of the match,Djokovic said.

With Federer only two majors shy of Pete Sampras record 14Grand Slam titles, Djokovic said he needed to make the most ofany opportunity.

This match was especially important because I was the favor-ite and I knew everybody was expecting me to win, so anythingbut the win was a loss, Djokovic said. I wanted really to winbecause I felt my chance. I wanted to win my first Grand Slam.Now things are different.

Djokovic will remain at No. 3 in the rankings behind Federerand Nadal. Tsonga, ranked 38th coming into the tournament, willmove up to No. 18 after advancing past the fourth round for thefirst time. He thinks he has the game to crack the top 10. Djok-ovic understands that he has to play at his best ability now.

This match was especially important because I was the favor-ite and I knew everybody was expecting me to win, so anythingbut the win was a loss, Djokovic said. I wanted really to winbecause I felt my chance. I wanted to win my first Grand Slam.Now things are different.

Djokovic felt as if he had to fight two rivals -- the fans andhis opponent -- in beating Federer and Tsonga. He frequentlyyelled when things went wrong.

Sometimes, you just cant control your emotions on thecourt, he said. Im still learning. Im still young.

The 20-year-old Serb is the first man other than No. 2 RafaelNadal to win a Grand Slam title from Federer since Marat Safinwon the 2005 Australian Open.

Djokovic will remain at No. 3 in the rankings behind Federerand Nadal. Tsonga, ranked 38th coming into the tournament, willmove up to No. 18 after advancing past the fourth round for thefirst time. He thinks he has the game to crack the top 10. Djok-ovic understands that he has to play at his best ability now.

Not everybody can beat players who beat, he said. Its verydifficult, and I did it. So, of course, Im confident now.

Djokovic used lots of eye-catchingplays and a little of his personality todismantle the field and win his firstGrand Slam title. Photo by Jars Ulrich.


24/32

Tour

de

FarceThe Tour de France has historically been a triumph of extreme physicality andinsurmountable determination, yet the ongoing steroid scandal has tarnished the raceand the sport. What are the ways the international cycling community plans to tacklethis uphill battle. By Marcel Dubois


25/32


Racked by drug scandals, rider

departures, team withdrawals and

ghting among the leaders of the

sport, the 94th Tour de France

ended Sunday as one of the most

tumultuous races in the events

history.

If there was a silver lining to

the problems at the Tour this year,

it came in a generation of riders

that seemed to emerge unexpect-

edly to dominate many of the topprizes.

Alberto Contador, a 24-year-

old from Madrid who rides for the

Discovery Channel team, won the

overall title, the youngest rider in

a decade to win cyclings biggest

event. He edged the Australian

Cadel Evans of Predictor-Lotto by

23 seconds, the second-narrowest

margin in a Tour.

Contadors Discovery team-

mate Levi Leipheimer of the Unit-

ed States was third, 31 seconds

behind. Two of the other three

riders who wore the race leaders

yellow jersey during the three-

week Tour were also younger than

27 Fabian Cancellara, 26, a

Swiss rider with the CSC team;

and Linus Gerdemann, 24, a Ger-

man with T-Mobile.

Juan Mauricio Soler Hernn-

dez, a 24-year-old Colombian who

rides for Barloworld, won the com-

petition for best mountain climber.

Amets Txurruka, 24, a Spanish

rider for Euskatel, won the prize

as the Tours most aggressive

rider. And Tom Boonen, 26, a

Belgian riding for Quick Step, won

the green jersey as the Tours bestsprinter.

Even before some of the races

bombshells exploded in the nal

week, some young riders knew it

was time for them to start chang-

ing the sports culture.

I think cycling has big prob-

lems, Gerdemann said after he

won the seventh stage of the race,

as the Tour crossed into the Alps.

Its really hard for young riders to

take all the responsibility now, but the sport gave them the chance, so I

think its now the right moment to give the sport something back.

Young riders from several French and German teams organized a

protest against doping on the morning of the 16th stage, one day afterAlexander Vinokourov, 33, and his Astana team withdrew from the race

in the wake of Vinokourovs failed blood test. The results of that test

showed the presence of foreign blood cells, indicating that Vinokourov

had a transfusion, a violation of antidoping rules, sometime after the race

started July 7.

But as many young riders stayed behind at the start line, some of the

older ones took off onto the road, including Michael Rasmussen, 33, of

Rabobank, who was in the yellow jersey at the time. That night, Rasmus-

sen, who has never failed a drug screening, was red by his team. Ra-

bobank said he had lied about his whereabouts in June, at a time when

antidoping ofcials had been trying to nd him to give him drug tests.Also riding away was Cristian Moreni, 34, an Italian rider for Codis.

At the end of the stage, Moreni was led away by the French police after

it was announced that he had tested positive for synthetic testosterone.

There is a generation gap

developing in cycling between the

old guys like him, for whom doping

is embedded normality, and the

young ones, Bradley Wiggins, a

British rider for Codis and one of

Morenis teammates, wrote in an

essay in The Observer on Sunday.

The sooner they are gone the

better.

Even if the young riders are

successful at establishing a cleangeneration of the sport, they will

have to contend with in-ghtingbetween the organization that runs

the Tour de France and the Inter-

national Cycling Union, the sports

governing body.

The leaders of the Tour de

France organization demonstrated

their seriousness about ght-ing doping this year by asking

Vinokourovs team to drop out

of the Tour. But as much as they

criticized riders who broke the

rules, the Tour leaders also aimed

a barrage of criticism at the cycling

union, which is known as U.C.I.

Christian Prudhomme, the

director of the Tour, and Patrice

Clerc, the president of the Tours

parent organization, criticized the

U.C.I. for not informing the Tour

that Rasmussen had missed three

drug tests in the three months

before the Tour, one of them by

the U.C.I. and two by the Danish

antidoping agency.

The U.C.I. is totally unprofes-

sional, Prudhomme said at a

news conference before the start

of the Tours next-to-last stage

Saturday. We want somethingbetter, and something that can

ght doping.

Prudhomme said the Tour

intended to run itself without the

U.C.I. next year, joining with the

French and other national antidop-

ing organizations to oversee the

Tours drug controls.

He also said that the criteria

for invitations to the Tour would

change. This year, 18 of the 20

teams in the U.C.I.s ProTour racing series got automatic invitations.

Next year, Prudhomme said, race bids would be based on ethical quali-

cations, more so than a teams results.

Those new regulations could also affect several other major racesthat are run by the Tour de Frances parent, the Amaury Sports Orga-

nization. Those races include Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix and Fleche

Wallone.

Whether such actions will be enough to save the Tour de France and

cycling as a whole from the doping scandals that upset this years race

remains to be seen.

Racked by drug scandals, rider departures, team withdrawals and

ghting among the leaders of the sport, the 94th Tour de France endedSunday as one of the most tumultuous races in the events history.

If there was a silver lining to the problems at the Tour this year, it

came in a generation of riders that seemed to emerge unexpectedly to

dominate many of the top prizes.

Alberto Contador, a 24-year-old from Madrid who rides for the

Discovery Channel team, won the overall title, the youngest rider in a

Above: A stage in the eastern part of France in the foothills of theAlps. Top left: Racers transcend on the scenic sites of Paris in theraces final leg. Bottom left: Alberto Contador wins his first Tour deFrance title amid countless scandals concerning team leaders andpast champions. Photos by Avery Johnson.


26/32

Racked by drug scandals, rider departures,

team withdrawals and ghting among the lead-

ers of the sport, the 94th Tour de France ended

Sunday as one of the most tumultuous races in

the events history.

If there was a silver lining to the problems

at the Tour this year, it came in a generation of

riders that seemed to emerge unexpectedly to


Alberto Contador, a 24-year-old from

Madrid who rides for the Discovery Channel

team, won the overall title, the youngest riderin a decade to win cyclings biggest event. He

edged the Australian Cadel Evans of Predictor-

Lotto by 23 seconds, the second-narrowest

margin in a Tour.

Contadors Discovery teammate Levi

Leipheimer of the United States was third, 31

seconds behind. Two of the other three rid-

ers who wore the race leaders yellow jersey

during the three-week Tour were also younger

than 27 Fabian Cancellara, 26, a Swiss rider

with the CSC team; and Linus Gerdemann, 24,

a German with T-Mobile.

Juan Mauricio Soler Hernndez, a 24-year-

old Colombian who rides for Barloworld, won

the competition for best mountain climber.

Amets Txurruka, 24, a Spanish rider for

Euskatel, won the prize as the Tours most ag-

gressive rider. And Tom Boonen, 26, a Belgian

riding for Quick Step, won the green jersey as

the Tours best sprinter.

Even before some of the races bombshells

exploded in the nal week, some young riders

knew it was time for them to start changing the

sports culture.

I think cycling has big problems, Gerde-

mann said after he won the seventh stage of

the race, as the Tour crossed into the Alps.

Its really hard for young riders to take all the

responsibility now, but the sport gave them the

chance, so I think its now the right moment to

give the sport something back.Young riders from several French and Ger-

man teams organized a protest against doping

on the morning of the 16th stage, one day after

Alexander Vinokourov, 33, and his Astana team

withdrew from the race in the wake of Vinok-

ourovs failed blood test. The results of that test

showed the presence of foreign blood cells,

indicating that Vinokourov had a transfusion, a

violation of antidoping rules, sometime after the

race started July 7.

But as many young riders stayed behind at

the start line, some of the older ones took off

onto the road, including Michael Rasmussen,

33, of Rabobank, who was in the yellow jersey

at the time. That night, Rasmussen, who hasnever failed a drug screening, was red by his

team. Rabobank said he had lied about his

whereabouts in June, at a time when antidop-

ing ofcials had been trying to nd him to give

him drug tests.

Also riding away was Cristian Moreni, 34,

an Italian rider for Codis. At the end of the

stage, Moreni was led away by the French po-

lice after it was announced that he had tested

positive for synthetic testosterone.

There is a generation gap developing in cy-

cling between the old guys like him, for whom

doping is embedded normality, and the young

ones, Bradley Wiggins, a British rider for

Codis and one of Morenis teammates, wrotein an essay in The Observer on Sunday. The

sooner they are gone the better.

Even if the young riders are success-

ful at establishing a clean generation of the

sport, they will have to contend with in-ghting

between the organization that runs the Tour de

France and the International Cycling Union, the

sports governing body.

The leaders of the Tour de France organiza

tion demonstrated their seriousness about

ghting doping this year by asking Vinokourovsteam to drop out of the Tour. But as much as

they criticized riders who broke the rules, the

Tour leaders also aimed a barrage of criticism

at the cycling union, which is known as U.C.I.

Christian Prudhomme, the director of the

Tour, and Patrice Clerc, the president of the

Tours parent organization, criticized the U.C.I.

for not informing the Tour that Rasmussen had

missed three drug tests in the three months

before the Tour, one of them by the U.C.I. and

two by the Danish antidoping agency.

The U.C.I. is totally unprofessional, Prud-

homme said at a news conference before the

start of the Tours next-to-last stage Saturday.

We want something better, and something tha

can ght doping.Prudhomme said the Tour intended to run it

self without the U.C.I. next year, joining with the

French and other national antidoping organiza-

tions to oversee the Tours drug controls.

He also said that the criteria for invitations

to the Tour would change. This year, 18 of the

20 teams in the U.C.I.s ProTour racing series

got automatic invitations. Next year, Prudhom-

me said, race bids would be based on ethical

qualications, more so than a teams results.

Those new regulations could also affect

several other major races that are run by the

Tour de Frances parent, the Amaury Sports

Organization. Those races include Paris-Nice,

Paris-Roubaix and Fleche Wallone.Whether such actions will be enough to

save the Tour de France and cycling as a

whole from the doping scandals that upset this

years race remains to be seen.

Racked by drug scandals, rider departures,

team withdrawals and ghting among the lead-

ers of the sport, the 94th Tour de France ended

Sunday as one of the most tumultuous races in

the events history.

If there was a silver lining to the problems

at the Tour this year, it came in a generation of

riders that seemed to emerge unexpectedly to


Alberto Contador, a 24-year-old from

Madrid who rides for the Discovery Channelteam, won the overall title, the youngest rider

in a decade to win cyclings biggest event. He

edged the Australian Cadel Evans of Predictor-

Lotto by 23 seconds, the second-narrowest

margin in a Tour.

Contadors Discovery teammate Levi

Leipheimer of the United States was third, 31

seconds behind. Two of the other three rid-

ers who wore the race leaders yellow jersey

during the three-week Tour were also younger

than 27 Fabian Cancellara, 26, a Swiss ride

with the CSC team; and Linus Gerdemann, 24,

a German with T-Mobile.

Juan Mauricio Soler Hernndez, a 24-year-

In 2006, American Floyd Landis was at thetop of the cycling world after his come-from-behind victory in Tour de France. His120-kilometer spurt in Stage 17 led to a drugtest that inevitably put his win in question.In September, Landis was forced to forfeithis title and began months of arbitration todefend his innocence in the doping scandal.Photos by the Associated Press.


27/32



ghting among the leaders of the sport, the 94th Tour de France endedSunday as one of the most tumultuous races in the events history.





Discovery Channel team, won the overall title, the youngest rider in adecade to win cyclings biggest event. He edged the Australian Cadel

Evans of Predictor-Lotto by 23 seconds, the second-narrowest margin in

a Tour.

Contadors Discovery teammate Levi Leipheimer of the United States

was third, 31 seconds behind. Two of the other three riders who wore

the race leaders yellow jersey during the three-week Tour were also

younger than 27 Fabian Cancellara, 26, a Swiss rider with the CSC

team; and Linus Gerdemann, 24, a German with T-Mobile.

Juan Mauricio Soler Hernndez, a 24-year-old Colombian who rides

for Barloworld, won the competition for best mountain climber. Amets

Txurruka, 24, a Spanish rider for Euskatel, won the prize as the Tours

most aggressive rider. And Tom Boonen, 26, a Belgian riding for Quick

Step, won the green jersey as the Tours best sprinter.

Even before some of the races bombshells exploded in the nal

week, some young riders knew it was time for them to start changing the

sports culture.

I think cycling has big problems, Gerdemann said after he won the

seventh stage of the race, as the Tour crossed into the Alps. Its really

hard for young riders to take all the responsibility now, but the sport gave

them the chance, so I think i ts now the right moment to give the sport

something back.

Young riders from several French and German teams organized a

protest against doping on the morning of the 16th stage, one day after

Alexander Vinokourov, 33, and his Astana team withdrew from the race

in the wake of Vinokourovs failed blood test. The results of that test

showed the presence of foreign blood cells, indicating that Vinokourovhad a transfusion, a violation of antidoping rules, sometime after the race

started July 7.

But as many young riders stayed behind at the start line, some of the

older ones took off onto the road, including Michael Rasmussen, 33, of

Rabobank, who was in the yellow jersey at the time. That night, Rasmus-

sen, who has never failed a drug screening, was red by his team. Ra-bobank said he had lied about his whereabouts in June, at a time when

antidoping ofcials had been trying to nd him to give him drug tests.Also riding away was Cristian Moreni, 34, an Italian rider for Codis.

At the end of the stage, Moreni was led away by the French police after

it was announced that he had tested positive for synthetic testosterone.

There is a generation gap developing in cycling between the old

guys like him, for whom doping is embedded normality, and the young

ones, Bradley Wiggins, a British rider for Codis and one of Morenis

teammates, wrote in an essay in The Observer on Sunday. The sooner

they are gone the better.

Even if the young riders are successful at establishing a clean gen-

eration of the sport, they will have to contend with in-ghting between the

organization that runs the Tour de France and the International Cycling

Union, the sports governing body.

The leaders of the Tour de France organization demonstrated their

seriousness about ghting doping this year by asking Vinokourovs

team to drop out of the Tour. But as much as they criticized riders who

broke the rules, the Tour leaders also aimed a barrage of criticism at the

cycling union, which is known as U.C.I.

Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour, and Patrice Clerc, the

president of the Tours parent organization, criticized the U.C.I. for not

informing the Tour that Rasmussen had missed three drug tests in the

three months before the Tour, one of them by the U.C.I. and two by the

Danish antidoping agency.

The U.C.I. is totally unprofessional, Prudhomme said at a newsconference before the start of the Tours next-to-last stage Saturday. We

want something better, and something that can ght doping.

Prudhomme said the Tour intended to run itself without the U.C.I.

next year, joining with the French and other national antidoping organiza-

tions to oversee the Tours drug controls.

He also said that the criteria for invitations to the Tour would change.

This year, 18 of the 20 teams in the U.C.I.s ProTour racing series got

automatic invitations. Next year, Prudhomme said, race bids would be

based on ethical qualications, more so than a teams results.

Those new regulations could also affect several other major races

that are run by the Tour de Frances parent, the Amaury Sports Orga-

nization. Those races include Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix and Fleche

Wallone.

Whether such actions will be enough to save the Tour de France and

cycling as a whole from the doping scandals that upset this years raceremains to be seen.


ghting among the leaders of the sport, the 94th Tour de France ended

Sunday as one of the most tumultuous races in the events history.





Discovery Channel team, won the overall title, the youngest rider in a

decade to win cyclings biggest event. He edged the Australian Cadel

Evans of Predictor-Lotto by 23 seconds, the second-narrowest margin in

a Tour.

Contadors Discovery teammate Levi Leipheimer of the United States

was third, 31 seconds behind. Two riders wore blue.

In 2007, Team Rabobank removed from the race its team leader andDanish cyclist Michael Rasmussen, seen here celebrating his Stage16 victory, shortly after his win. Rasmussen lied about his trainingactivities. Photo by Avery Johnson.


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the[hotspots]


Canadas Crown JewelTravel bloggerJen Leo notes the best places in British Columbia to visit, dine

and relax when youre not on the slopes.





I hope so, she said Tuesday on aconference call from her Laguna Beach home.











31st birthday.




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