SAVONA, Italy -- Michael Rogers took advantage of a downhill attack to win the 11th stage of the Giro dItalia on Wednesday, while fellow Australian Cadel Evans retained the overall lead.
[b]Vans Shoes Discount[/b] . Rogers, who was recently cleared of a doping charge, attacked with more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) to go in the 249-kilometre (155-mile) leg from Collecchio to Savona, just after the pack got over a category 2 climb. "I saw an opportunity at the top of the climb and I went for it," Rogers said after the nearly six-hour ride. The three-time world time trial champion from 2003-05 was suited to take advantage once the road flattened out for the final kilometres. "From then on, it was all about keeping my head down, pedaling away, and I guess I was a little lucky that the GC guys were probably looking at each other, hesitating a bit," Rogers said. Last month, the UCI accepted that meat Rogers ate in China probably caused his positive test last year. Clenbuterol is widely administered to Chinese livestock to build muscle and reduce fat. Days later, he tested positive at the Japan Cup. The UCI disqualified Rogers from the Japanese race but consulted the World Anti-Doping Agency before deciding he should not be sanctioned any further. At the finish on Wednesday, Rogers held up three fingers for his three daughters, and beat his chest. "I went through a very tough time but theres always light at the end of the tunnel," he said. Simon Geschke of Germany won the bunch sprint for second, crossing 10 seconds after Rogers, and Enrico Battaglin of Italy finished third with the same time. Evans 57-second lead over Rigoberto Uran remained unchanged entering Thursdays 42-kilometre (26-mile) individual time trial from Barbaresco to Barolo, which celebrates two of Italys best-known wines. Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria was the top Canadian in 15th place overall. Before Wednesdays stage, Australian sprinter Michael Matthews withdrew citing back trouble. Matthews wore the leaders pink jersey for six stages and won the sixth leg. The Giro ends on June 1 in Trieste.
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[b]Vans Shoes Sale[/b] . Hamelin overcame a weak start to win bronze in the 500-metre race behind winner Wu Dajing of China and American J.R. Celski on Saturday at the world short track speed skating championship.Firmly establishing himself as a gold medal favourite, Bode Miller was fastest Saturday in the final Olympic downhill training run. Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was eighth with a time of 2:07.84. Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Ivermere, B.C., finished 11th in 2:08.20, while Benjamin Thomsen, also from Ivermere, waas 16th in 2:09.
[b]Cheap Vans SK8[/b]. 19. Calgarys Jan Hudec and Morgan Pridy of Whistler, B.C., did not do Saturdays training run. Miller already owns a U.S.-record five Olympic Alpine medals, including three from the 2010 Winter Games. Another triple medallist in Vancouver, Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, was second-fastest Saturday, 0.66 behind. A pair of Italians were next: Peter Fill and Werner Heel. Ten of 55 starters failed to finish. The first racer, Rok Perko of Slovenia, bloodied his face in a crash. ' ' '
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