Cycling
Quintana takes lead with win on a brutal 16th stage
VAL MARTELLO, Italy – Nairo Quintana moved into the overall lead in the Giro d’Italia after winning the tough 16th stage in difficult weather conditions across the legendary Gavia and Stelvio climbs Tuesday.
Quintana, who is famed for his climbing skills, finished eight seconds ahead of Ryder Hesjedal. Pierre Rolland was third on the 86-mile race from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello.
Quintana – started the day 2 minutes, 40 seconds behind former leader Rigoberto Uran but beat his fellow Colombian by more than four minutes.
Golf
Alabama, Oklahoma State shoot way into NCAA finals
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Alabama will attempt to defend its NCAA men’s golf title when it faces Oklahoma State in the final match of the team competition at venerable Prairie Dunes.
The second-seeded Crimson Tide beat Southern Methodist in the quarterfinals Tuesday and then rolled to a 4-1 victory against LSU in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma State topped Georgia Tech to reach the semifinals, where the Cowboys upset top-seeded Stanford 3-2 to reach the championship.
Alabama reached Wednesday’s final for the third consecutive year. The Crimson Tide lost 3-2 to Texas in 2012 at Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles, and it beat Illinois 4-1 in last year’s final at the Capital City Club in Atlanta.
The Cowboys are chasing their 11th national championship and first since 2006.
Horse Racing
California Chrome champing at the bit at Belmont workout
NEW YORK – California Chrome galloped two miles at Belmont Park as the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner prepares for the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Assistant trainer Alan Sherman said California Chrome was especially eager Tuesday, noticeably tugging at him in the barn and then exercise rider Willie Delgado during the gallop.
Delgado said it was hard to resist letting the chestnut colt go faster. He said California Chrome seems to like the track’s deep and sandy surface.
Sherman says the colt is scheduled for his only official timed workout before the Belmont on Saturday.
California Chrome is set to run in the 1½-mile race June 7. No horse has swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont since Affirmed in 1978.
NFL
Cowboys defense loses a star on first day of OTAs
IRVING, Texas – Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee left the first offseason practice for Dallas with a left knee injury.
Head coach Jason Garrett said Lee was being evaluated after going down on a play during practice Tuesday. He was on the ground with rookie offensive lineman Zack Martin on top of him and didn’t get up right away. He had to be helped off the field by trainers, screaming in anger at cameramen lining the entrance to the training room. The Cowboys fear Lee suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Lee has missed 15 of 32 games the past two seasons and has never played a full a season in his four years in the league.
Lawmakers hope Saints can settle issue independently
BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana lawmakers are getting out of a dispute between New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and his players about how to handle workers compensation claims for professional athletes.
Rep. Chris Broadwater, R-Hammond, said Tuesday he’s shelving the workers comp bill he sponsored for the Saints organization this legislative session, hoping the two sides can negotiate a compromise.
The proposal would calculate workers compensation for professional athletes based on recent earnings, not future possible wages.
Associated Press
