In brief

Armstrong near lead in Tour de Georgia

By wire services
Published April 21, 2005

Lance Armstrong put himself in strong position for a second straight victory at the Tour de Georgia, finishing behind Austria's Peter Wrolich and Italy's Manuel Quinziato in Wednesday's second stage in Rome, Ga.

Armstrong, who plans to retire after this summer's Tour de France, claimed a surprising stage victory in the same northwest Georgia city a year ago. Italy's Andrea Tafi broke away from the peleton to lead by as much as 51/2minutes during the 122.7-mile stage, which began in Fayetteville, south of Atlanta.

By the time the riders entered Rome for a three-lap sprint through the downtown streets, Tafi's lead had been whittled to just 50 seconds. The pack went past him early in the second lap around the city, and the Italian faded.

Wrolich won the stage in 4 hours, 46 minutes, 29 seconds. The Austrian also claimed the overall lead in the six-stage race, which ends Sunday in suburban Atlanta.

Top-seeded Marat Safin was upset by Jose Acasuso 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Open Seat Godo in Bracelona, Spain.

Earlier in the day, defending champion Tommy Robredo lost to Alberto Martin 6-1, 6-4 in the $1.2-million clay court tournament.

U.S. MEN'S CLAY COURT: Top-seeded Andy Roddick defeated unseeded Robby Ginepri 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinal round in Houston.

FED CUP: Despite recent injuries, Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport are eager to play for the United States in first-round matches against Belgium this weekend in Delray Beach.

Williams is recovering from a sprained left ankle that forced her to retire from a quarterfinal match April8 at the Bausch & Lomb Championships.

Top-ranked Davenport, nursing a hip flexor injury, retired in the third set of her quarterfinal match Friday against eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne at the Family Circle Cup.

Venus Williams and doubles player Corina Morariu round out the U.S. team, which will play Saturday and Sunday. The Williams sisters and Davenport haven't played together in the event since 1999, when the United States won the team title.

The Belgian team includes Els Callens, Kirsten Flipkens, Evelyne Vanhyfte and Leslie But kiewicz. None are ranked in the top 150.

Rick Nash and the Lightning's Dan Boyle scored first-period goals as Canada defeated the United States 3-1 in Halifax, Nova Scotia in a tuneup for the world championships, which begin May1 in Austria.

Sweet Catomine, last year's champion 2-year-old filly, has been retired less than two weeks after her fifth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby triggered controversy about her physical condition.

Owner Martin Wygod said he had Sweet Catomine evaluated by a veterinarian when he fired trainer Julio Canani and transferred her to the barn of John Shirreffs. Based on the vet's opinion, Wygod decided to retire the filly and breed her to A.P. Indy.

KENTUCKY DERBY: Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will ride Noble Causeway, completing trainer Nick Zito's roster of riders for his five Derby contenders.

Edgar Prado, who rides Noble Causeway and Sun King, will retain the mount aboard Zito's Sun King despite the colt's fourth-place finish in Saturday's Blue Grass Stakes.

The rest of Zito's Derby lineup has Javier Castellano riding Wood Memorial winner Bellamy Road, Jerry Bailey aboard Florida Derby winner High Fly and Corey Nakatani on Andromeda's Hero, third in Saturday's Arkansas Derby.

SOCCER: Columbus Crew midfielder/defender Duncan Oughton will miss the rest of the season because of torn cartilage in his right knee, an injury he sustained in the Crew's final playoff game against New England on Oct. 31.

SNOOKER: Two-time world champion Mark Williams became the fifth player in history to score a maximum 147 break at the sport's biggest event, earning $282,000 for achieving the feat. Williams, a 30-year-old left-hander from Cardiff, Wales, potted 15 red balls, 15 blacks and cleared all six colors to complete a 10-1 victory over Rob Milkins in the first round at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in northern England.

HORSE RACING: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, 33, had back surgery that will prevent him from fighting until at least September. Klitschko (35-2) was to defend his championship against Hasim Rahman this summer, but that will have to wait.

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 01:06:12]