TELLURIDE, Colo. (AP) – Tyler Farrar of Wenatchee, Wash., bolted to the front in the final 100 yards and pedaled to an unchallenged sprint win and the race lead Monday in the opening stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Farrar (Garmin-Sharp), who claimed his first Tour de France stage win last year, captured his first victory this season in the 125.7-mile road race from Durango in 4 hours, 42 minutes and 48 seconds. Italian Alesssandro Bazzana (Team Type 1-Sanofi) was second in stage 1, trailing by several bike lengths but officially in the same time. Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannnondale) of Italy was third in the stage that included nearly 11,000 feet of climbing and was held in periodic light rain. The seven-day, 683-mile event continues Tuesday with the 99.2-mile Montrose to Mt. Crested Butte road race. The undulating stage features three category 3 climbs, including the final 2-mile climb to the finish.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – The Denver Broncos’ beleaguered defense got a boost Monday with the return of safety Quinton Carter, cornerback Tracy Porter and rookie linebacker Danny Trevathan. Trevathan (ankle) had been out since Aug. 9, Porter (illness) since Aug. 14 and Carter since July 27, when he popped his right hamstring, which led doctors to discover he needed arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The second-year safety said he hurt his left knee in a game against New England on Dec. 18 but even though it grew more and more painful, MRIs hid the injury until last month. Carter participated in individual drills but was held out of team drills. He said he felt better than he has in eight months and hopes to play Sunday against San Francisco.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – He’s shown plenty of arm strength and an ability to bounce back after a hard hit. Now, Peyton Manning and the rest of the Denver Broncos’ sputtering offense need to work out the kinks. In seven drives with Manning under center, they’ve scored just one touchdown and turned the ball over four times. The good news is that it’s the offense that’s flimsy, not his neck or arm. Manning is deciphering defenses as well as ever, getting the ball out as quickly as he always has and he almost always makes the right read. He’s completed 67 percent of his passes and the Broncos (No. 10 in the AP Pro32) are moving the chains better than they ever did with Tim Tebow. Yet, there’s lots of work to do.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) – For the first time in its 80 year history, Augusta National Golf Club has female members. The club, which plays host to the Masters every year, has admitted former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore. Billy Payne, the chairman of Augusta National, calls the admission of Rice and Moore a “joyous occasion.”
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – It took an extra day to complete play but Sergio Garcia has won the PGA’s Windham Championship. He completed his rain-delayed fourth round today at 4-under-66 to finish the tournament 18-under par. Play was called yesterday because of rain at the Greensboro, N.C., course. Tim Clark finished two shots back of Garcia, who claimed his first PGA Tour victory since the 2008 Players Championship.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City All-Pro linebacker Tamba Hali (TAHM’-buh HAH’-lee) has been suspended for the season-opener against Atlanta by the NFL for violating its policy on substance abuse. Hali, who had 12 sacks last season, will miss the Sept. 9 game against the Falcons and be fined an additional game check.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – The Buffalo Bills have cut veteran defensive standout Shawne Merriman. He was trying to come back from season-ending surgery last November to repair a partially torn right Achilles tendon. Merriman was entering his third season in Buffalo.
HOUSTON (AP) – Roger Clemens is headed back to professional baseball. No, not with a big league team, but with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League. The 50-year old right-hander was acquitted in June of charges he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. He hasn’t pitched since 2007 for the Yankees.
