Lance Armstrong, pictured centre during an Astana Team training session earlier this month, won't be in peak fitness for the Tour in Australia.
Lance Armstrong, pictured centre during an Astana Team training session earlier this month, won't be in peak fitness for the Tour in Australia.

Armstrong 'won't be at peak' for Australia



MELBOURNE // The seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is not considered one of the favourites for Australia's Tour Down Under, according to fellow competitor Stuart O'Grady. Armstong, who retired after winning the Tour de France in 2005, is making a comeback with the Astana team at the Australian race from Jan 20-25 before riding the Giro d'Italia and the French race later in the year to promote cancer awareness. The Texan is a cancer survivor. O'Grady, who won the Australian race in 1999 and 2001, confirmed he would ride for Danish team Saxo Bank in South Australia and said while he did not think Armstrong would be a favourite, he would attract a lot of interest.

"He's definitely someone special and when you're riding around with someone like that it's hard not to get taken in. "But I won't be concentrating on him. He's not going to be the big hot favourite for the race. "There's going to be a lot of other guys out there who are possible winners before Lance. "He's not going to be anywhere near the peak form he would be for the Tour de France." *Reuters

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Have you been targeted?

Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:

1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.

2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.

3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.

4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.

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While you're here

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Raghida Dergham: We have to bounce back

Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card

6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m​​​​​​​
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m​​​​​​​
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m​​​​​​​
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m​​​​​​​
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

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BRIEF SCORES

England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)  
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)

Result: England won by 239 runs
England lead four-match series 2-1

The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now

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