Turtur: Forgive O'Grady

Stuart O'Grady in action before his premature retirement brought on my his drug admission. Source: News Limited

RACE director Mike Turtur says it is time to forgive disgraced South Australian cyclist Stuart O'Grady for his drug indiscretions and welcome him back into the Tour Down Under fold.

O'Grady, a two-time TDU winner and 2007 Paris-Roubaix champion, quit the sport suddenly last July after confessing to once using the banned substance EPO before the Tour de France in 1998.

Turtur has been close to O'Grady for his entire professional career, which has spanned more than two decades.

But Turtur acknowledged the decision ultimately rests with the State Government - and O'Grady himself. Events SA - an arm of the SA Tourism Commission - has owned the Tour Down Under since its inception in 1999.

"I think it's time and Stuart will handle it his way,'' Turtur said yesterday.

"He's back home now with his family and he needs to find his feet in a normal life.

"He's a good guy. He's a proud South Australian.

"We'll see what develops over the course of the next year.

"We've honoured Stuart at the past Legends Night dinner and I think it's a decision (O'Grady's involvement with the Tour Down Under) that will come within the next period.

"I'm certain in the future things will be different."

O'Grady returned to Adelaide permanently last December with his family after selling his home in Europe.

He spoke for the first time publicly since his shock retirement at a cancer charity dinner in Adelaide on January 17.

He declared at the Ride Like Crazy function that he viewed the event as the first step to giving back to cycling in SA.

Turtur also said he believes the UCI (International Cycling Union) will allow the Tour Down Under to retain its January timeslot, despite speculation some WorldTour teams preferred a February start.

"I think you know in January we're only talking of a period of about a maximum of two weeks,'' Turtur said.

"At the end of the day it's something UCI have to discuss with the reform of professional cycling.

"The season has to start somewhere and we're happy to be the first race of the season.

"I think being the first race offers the unknown for media, for spectators, for riders.

"January, in my view, worked very well for the riders."

New UCI president Brian Cookson saw first-hand the significance for the state of holding the race during school holidays.

It is believed Cookson - an official guest of the race - was delighted when he witnessed thousands of Tour Down Under school-holiday revellers partying on King William Rd, Hyde Park in the leadup to Friday's stage start.

According to sources, Cookson is well aware a February start would change the entire fans' logistics of the race.

Turtur believes this 16th edition of the Tour Down Under was the best on record.

Orica-GreenEDGE's Simon Gerrans claimed his third Australian title in emphatic fashion, with several spectacular stages writing the race into the annals of cycling history.

Gerrans, BMC Racing's Cadel Evans, Lotto-Belisol's Andre Greipel, Sky's Richie Porte and Italian surprise packet Diego Ulissi from Lampre-Merida added daily drama to the event, given they all won stages during an exciting week of action.

"The spectacle for the whole week it came down to one second for first (Gerrans) and second (Evans) but it had the different stage winners,'' Turtur said.

"And the way the stages finished each day - there was always an element of interest right up until the finish.

"It wasn't a forgone conclusion with a big break going and that was it.

"I think it was the best competitive cycling race we've had in the 16 editions."

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Schumacher to ride with Mercedes

Display of support ... Mercedes will write a message of support for Michael Schumacher on its 2014 Formula 1 cars. Source: DPA / Getty Images

MERCEDES' new look car for the 2014 Formula One season will display a message of support for seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, who remains in a coma following a serious skiing accident last month.

The bodywork of the W05 model will display the words "KeepFightingMichael," which has been used as a hashtag on Twitter for fans to send their messages of support to the German.

Schumacher finished his Formula One career with Mercedes in 2012 after making a surprise return to the sport in 2010.

The 45-year-old has been in a medically-induced coma since suffering the accident when skiing off-piste in the French ski resort of Meribel on December 29.

Display of support ... Mercedes will write a message of support for Michael Schumacher on its 2014 Formula 1 cars.

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Arsenal signs its biggest sponsor

Lukas Podolski struck twice as Arsenal eased into the FA Cup fifth round with a 4-0 victory over Coventry.

ARSENAL has signed a sponsorship deal with Puma to replace Nike as its kit maker.

The agreement is reported to be generating 30 million pounds ($57 million) a year for the Premier League leaders. The length of the deal was not announced.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis says the money will be made available to manager Arsene Wenger to invest in the team.

The new Puma kits will be worn by players from July.

Arsenal leads the Premier League and remains in the Champions League and FA Cup.

Arsenal's turnover in 2012-13 was 243.6 million pounds, the eighth highest in football.

Paying for the shirts on their backs ... Puma will pay more than $50 million to sponsor Arsenal, money Arsene Wenger can use to buy more players.

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Qatari heat keeps soccer fans away

This is an artist's illustration of the Al Khor stadium located in the north east of Qatar. However a survey shows that most people are staying away from Qatari soccer games because of the heat and the dust. Source: Handout / Getty Images

A QATAR government survey shows what most of us know - that most people are deterred from going to football matches by the hot and dusty weather in the desert nation.

The findings of the study, which was conducted with the Qatar Football Association, come as FIFA looks set to move the 2022 World Cup to winter due to Qatar's searing summer heat.

Qatar's Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics says 72.8 per cent of people responding to its survey highlighted the "capricious weather" as playing a "real part" in the decision not to attend matches. The ministry website listed "hot, humid and windy, dusty" weather as the concerns.

The survey, based on 1079 Qataris responding, indicates that 65 per cent of the country did not attend a match in Qatar in the previous season.

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Evans vows he'll be back Down Under

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CADEL Evans has vowed to return for another tilt at the Tour Down Under after finishing one second behind this year's winner, Simon Gerrans.

Evans has conquered the brutal switchbacks and punishing mountain climbs of Europe, but his home roads have again proved tougher to crack.

The Tour de France great fell agonisingly close to his first Tour Down Under title yesterday after 800km of racing.

The loss is now likely to lure Evans back for one last shot at his first major victory on home soil since winning the Tour of Tasmania in 1998.

"If Adelaide will have me back that would be so cool for this to be my last racing appearance,'' Evans said.

Evans indicated during this year's Tour Down Under he would reassess his career after the Giro d'Italia in May but would not be rushed into retirement.

Tour Down Under - Stage 6 - Adelaide Street Circuit. Simon Gerrans over 2014 champion. Source: News Limited

The 36-year-old dreamed of a fairytale finish to what many had believed would be his last race in Australia but instead he was beaten to the punch by Gerrans, the man who defeated him by centimetres for the Australian road title two weeks ago.

It was a loss which has disappointed the 33-year-old Evans but also fired him up.

"Don't underestimate the competitive fire," Evans said.

In a warning to rivals ahead of his full-throttle bid to become the first Australian to win the Giro d'Italia.

Evans has also rated his form ahead of where he had thought he would be at this stage of the season.

Simon Gerrans of Orica GreenEDGE celebrates on stage. Source: Getty Images

"Of course we would prefer to win, that's what we are hard-wired to do, but to be second by one second shows we are starting to work towards May (and the Giro),'' he said.

Earlier Evans said he was satisfied with what he has gained out of the six-day Tour.

"My goal for this year was to start off well and somewhere near my best level, " said Evans who lost the race lead on Saturday to Gerrans, supported by a purpose-built team, on the only hilltop finish of the race.

"I come away from the race satisfied. I am riding as well as I had hoped, maybe even better and I think my performances have demonstrated that.

"Certainly I think I am riding as well as I hoped [and] the performance I think have demonstrated [that]."

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Gerrans' 'perfect day' Down Under

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THE man they call the Sniper has taken aim at producing the best season of his career, with Simon Gerrans claiming the first major tour of the season at the Tour Down Under yesterday.

The 33-year-old described his historic third win over Tour de France winner Cadel Evans on Australia Day as "the perfect day out''.

"It is a huge honour to win the Tour Down Under and to cap it off on Australia Day, racing for an Australian team, it doesn't get much better,'' said Gerrans (Orica GreenEDGE) who survived a hectic finish in yesterday's street circuit finale in Adelaide to claim a one second victory over Cadel Evans (BMC Racing).

Gerrans, chasing stage wins in the Tour of France, Giro d'Italia and Tour of Spain this year, now leads the World Tour rankings thanks to his victory in the opener of the series. Incredibly five Australians (Gerrans 1, Evans 2, Richie Porte 4, Nathan Haas 5, Adam Hansen 9) feature in the top 10 thanks to their performance in the six-day Tour Down Under.

It was a day for the history books yesterday as the race set new crowd record with an estimated 766,000 watching the six-leg Tour.

Simon Gerrans of Australia smiles prior to the final stage of the Tour Down Under. Source: AFP

Tour de France stage winner Andre Greipel rode off with a record 16th stage victory after beating Bathurst rider Mark Renshaw in the final 85km criterium in Adelaide yesterday while Gerrans became the first man to win three Tour titles.

The 16th edition of the race has been labelled the best ever thanks to the calibre of field, large crowds and thrilling, close racing.

"The racing was fantastic and the fans really make this race. They make the ambience,'' said Evans "I am so pleased and proud of us as a country and as a cycling nation, but also a sporting nation, to see this event and what the ambience makes of us.''

Matt White, team director of Australia's first pro team Orica GreenEDGE,said the 2016 was a tour to remember.

"The best thingt is the best Australians battling it out,'' he said. "These are the best guys in the world at what they do,'' he said.

"To have Richie (Porte), Cadel (Evans and Simon (Gerrans) going hammer and tongs for the overall of their own tour, it's been a great week.''

ends

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Marsh hit by injury set-back again

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SHAUN Marsh's Test future will be determined today, with skipper Michael Clarke hoping the left-hander won't miss the South Africa tour with a calf strain.

Marsh was noticeably inconvenienced, leaving the field in the 36th over of England's innings and not returning in Australia's thrilling five-run win in the one-day international at Adelaide Oval last night.

Seven-Test batsman Marsh was treated immediately by team physio Alex Kountouris, putting a dampener on the thrilling Australia Day win that delivered Clarke's side a 4-1 scoreline.

"He went off the field and said his calf was a little bit sore, so hopefully it is not too bad, something small," said Clarke.

"He was still moving around alright. Knowing what we have coming up I think Alex would have kept him off the field even if it was nothing."

However, Marsh's fragile frame will have medicos worried and could yet open the door for rival southpaw and run-machine Phil Hughes in a 15-man tour party to face the Proteas.

Marsh's international journey has been decimated by back, hamstring and knee injuries since making his one-day debut against the West Indies at Kingstown in 2008.

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Failure to be fit to face the Proteas in a three-Test series would be a devastating set-back. Australia also has seamer Jackson Bird in doubt for South Africa with a back injury sustained while representing Melbourne Stars against Hobart Hurricanes last Tuesday at the MCG.

Having made a ton on debut against Sri Lanka in 2011, Marsh suffered a back injury on Australia's subsequent tour of South Africa. Marsh, 30, also jagged a hamstring in the fourth one-day clash against England at Cardiff last September.

Australia's tour of South Africa begins with a tour match in Potchefstroom on February 5, while the series opener against Graeme Smith's champion outfit starts February 12 at Centurion.

Australia secured the No.1 one-day ranking and almost complete dominance with a nail-biting national birthday win. England endured a 7/58 collapse that was the story of its summer having been wiped 5-0 in the Ashes.

Australia defended 217 on a low and slow strip with clinical displays from man of the match James Faulkner (2/37), Clint McKay (3/36) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (3/34) putting the brakes on the English who lost 7/58 in 14 overs.

"It was as satisfying one-day win that we have had recently," said Clarke.

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Ravi Bopara (25, 44) exited to a controversial stumping on replay determined by the third umpire Kumar Dharmasena. Australian keeper Matthew Wade's rebound onto the stumps standing up to McKay bounced back onto the leg bail with the batsman's foot raised.

"I made it clear I wanted him Wade at the stumps and it worked out," said Clarke.

"The third umpire has the greatest view."

Alastair Cook conceded he would consider his future as England captain after sobering one-day and Test defeats in Australia. However, this would only be after chatting to his pregnant wife and director of coaching Andy Flower.

Cook struggled for 246 Test runs at 24 and 144 one-day runs at 28 this tour. The 2013-14 campaign contrasted with Cook's incredible 766 Ashes runs at 127 here in 2010-11 in which England prevailed 3-1.

"We will cross that bridge in the next week. It has been a real tough tour for me. We have to individually look at our games," said Cook.

"I think there will be some talks. I have been speaking to Andy Flower and we will meet up in the next week and plan a way forward."

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Mata signing 'the first of many'

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MANCHESTER United manager David Moyes has said the club-record acquisition of Spanish midfielder Juan Mata from Chelsea would be the first of many new signings this year.

United completed a move for Mata on Saturday for a reported fee of 37.1 million pounds ($71 million), eclipsing the 30.75 million pounds ($58.7 million) that they paid Tottenham Hotspur to sign Dimitar Berbatov in 2008.

Moyes hopes that Mata will help to transform a desperate season that has seen the reigning English champions fall 14 points off the pace in the Premier League and crash out of both domestic cup competitions.

United have also reportedly opened talks with striker Wayne Rooney over a new contract and Moyes says that efforts to improve the squad will continue over the months ahead.

"This is the first, and there will be many more to come in time. I want the quality of Juan to be the start of it," Moyes told United's in-house television channel, MUTV.

"I don't think we will have any more (new signings) in January. I'm still working on it and looking to do so.

Goodbye Blues ... Juan Mata is ready to help turn Manchester United's season around after his departure from Chelsea.

"But hopefully it will be the first of some new signings, some new players who will arrive, more likely in the summertime."

Mata arrived at the end of a week that saw United beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in the league and dumped out of the League Cup in the semi-finals by Sunderland, and Moyes said it had improved the mood at Old Trafford.

"Undoubtedly we could all do with a bit of a lift," said the Scot.

"We have not done as well as we would have liked to do. We see this as the start, we have to look to improve, and I'm going to try to bring in some new players to make that happen.

"I want to build an exciting team, I want to win and I want to give the supporters something to shout about. I've not done that often enough."

Mata, 25, could make his United debut as early as Tuesday, when Cardiff City visit Old Trafford in the Premier League.

The Spain international fell out of favour at Chelsea following Jose Mourinho's return as manager last year, but he expressed surprise that he had been allowed to leave Stamford Bridge in the middle of the campaign.

"To be honest, I think it's a bit surprising, but I have to say I am really grateful to Chelsea - to the owner, to the people working in the club, and to the fans," Mata told MUTV.

"The last six months were difficult for me. I didn't play as much as I wanted to. I understand that football is a team sport and I respected that situation.

"But the chance to come to Manchester United was a great chance for me to carry on with my career. They are a massive club."

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Faulkner thrives on Stokes rivalry

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JAMES Faulkner won't back down from an Australia Day joust with England rival Ben Stokes as the spicy battle of the all-rounders continues in Adelaide.

Faulkner and Stokes are two peas in a pod - ultra competitive characters on the rise who will give opponents a spray in the heat of battle.

Man-of-the-match Stokes' pointed send off after claiming Faulkner in Perth was the latest in ongoing banter between the pair.

"We play pretty similar sort of cricket and style. That is what it is, it's professional cricket," said Faulkner, who demoralised England in game two at the Gabba with an unconquered, match-winning 69.

"At times you step over the line and say things you probably shouldn't. I suppose that is the game and it is good to see some passion."

"He has been impressive all summer, is a very good player and has a bright future."

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Faulkner, 23, promised Australia would hit back hard against the Old Enemy on the national day of celebration - wanting a 4-1, one-day series win.

"I have never been privileged to play on Australia Day and you have to perform," said Faulkner, averaging 47 with the bat after 23 one-day starts for Australia.

"It is a special day, I am expecting a big crowd. Hopefully we can put on a good show for the country."

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Boof to Maxwell: Pull your head in

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FRUSTRATED Australian coach Darren Lehmann has ordered Glenn "Big Show" Maxwell to pull his head in but defended Phil Hughes' South Africa tour snub.

Australia's nine-game hold over England was broken with a 57-run loss in the one-dayer in Perth on Friday night. Maxwell's shot selection and Mitchell Johnson's (0-72) first bad match of the summer were areas of concern.

Lehmann put a rocket up Maxwell, wanting the all-rounder to follow the improved temperament of opener Aaron Finch (108) ahead of the fifth and final ODI in Adelaide today, when skipper Michael Clarke and Shane Watson return.

"It was disappointing to lose 5-50. Maxwell has to finish those games off for us," Lehmann said.

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Maxwell's crude swipe at a Ben Stokes delivery, with Australia needing 95 runs for a 10th straight international win over England, most irked Lehmann.

It followed Maxwell's mid-wicket slog in Brisbane with only James Faulkner's undefeated 69 saving the team.

"He is a batting all-rounder but has to show the responsibility to bat at No.6. We know he has the flair and excitement, and love that about him, but we want him to understand the game better," the coach said.

Johnson will be rested, with Lehmann wanting the pace ace fresh and firing ahead of the three-Test tour of South Africa.

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"He had a disappointing night and he admits that, so you get back to the drawing board and get him right for South Africa," Lehmann said of Johnson, whose form dip coincided with shaving his famous moustache.

"He's very important, got 37 wickets at 14 against England (in the Tests). We have to make sure he is right on the money and on the plane."

Left-hander Hughes controversially missed out on the 15-man squad to visit the Rainbow Nation, with Shaun Marsh and Alex Doolan preferred.

Lehmann said it was important to inform Hughes why he wasn't selected, despite having cracked 549 Sheffield Shield runs at 61, compared with Western Australian Marsh's 248 at 31 and Tasmanian Doolan's 391 at 39.

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"I had a good chat the other night in Sydney with Phil and that is a conversation that will stay between him and me," said Lehmann, adding Shield form "very much" still counted.

"He is making runs and that is all he can do."

However, Lehmann conceded pressure was now "very much" on uncapped Doolan and seven-Test batsman Marsh, 30, to excel in South Africa.

"Shaun gets a chance. He or Alex will bat at No.3 or No.6, so it is a good chance to stake their claims," Lehmann said.

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