In Sports News this Monday: Roman Kreuziger again comes ninth in cycling’s Tour de France; Barbora Špotáková is racing to be fit for the women’s javelin at the European Athletics Championships; and Sparta Prague’s Tomáš Řepka could find himself in hot water after appearing to spit at an opponent.
Kreuziger finishes ninth in Tour de France for second year in succession
Roman Kreuziger (left), photo: CTK
The Czech Republic’s Roman Kreuziger has finished ninth in cycling’s Tour de France for the second time in a row. The Liquigas rider, who is 24, finished 11 minutes and 54 seconds behind winner Alberto Contador in this year’s tour. He had been in seventh overall after the first week, but fell back somewhat in the Alps, only to get back into the first ten thanks to some strong performances in the Pyrenees. Speaking after the race came to a climax on the Champs Elysees on Sunday afternoon, Roman Kreuziger said he wasn’t too disappointed not to have improved on last year’s placing.
“I’m satisfied because the aim was to finish in the top 10 and I’ve done that. I knew at the start of the season that there’d be more people here than last year, so I couldn’t be more satisfied. That said, there were a few moments my trainer and I will want to go over later – we’ll sit down and analyze them, to make sure these things don’t happen again next year.”
Špotáková racing to be fit for women’s javelin in Barcelona
Barbora Špotáková, photo: CTK
The Czech team are in Barcelona for the European Athletics Championships, which get underway on Tuesday. One of the country’s strongest medal hopefuls should be women’s javelin world record holder Barbora Špotáková. However, the Olympic champion sustained an elbow injury at a Diamond League meeting last week, and says she is having to work extremely hard to get fit in time for the heats.
“I’ve been for various kinds of physiotherapy. I’m trying microcurrents, I’m lubricating it, everything possible. I’m not going to throw again before Tuesday. We’ll see whether it hurts or not – I think more likely it will, but I have to fight it. It’s a pity really, it’s bad luck.”
Řepka in spotlight after apparent spitting incident
Tomáš Řepka (left) and Václav Ondřejka during the weekend match, photo: CTK
One of the biggest talking points of the weekend’s action in Czech football’s first division was an unsavoury incident in Sparta Prague’s 2:1 win over Slovácko, when television pictures seemed to show Sparta’s Tomáš Řepka spitting at the visitors’ Ladislav Volešák. The referee missed the incident, but the hotheaded defender could find himself facing severe sanctions if the matter comes before a disciplinary hearing.
