Sports News

In Sports News: Sigma Olomouc cause a sensation by knocking Borussia Dortmund out of football's Intertoto Cup; Milan Baros's future should be decided this week when he holds talks with Liverpool's manager, while young Czech striker Petr Mikolanda gets a chance at West Ham; tennis player Klara Koukalova loses another WTA final; and a Czech postman completes cycling's Tour de France on a penny farthing bicycle.

Olomouc create sensation by knocking Dortmund out of European competition

Sigma Olomouc - Borussia Dortmund, photo: CTK

Sigma Olomouc have sensationally knocked Borussia Dortmund out of the Intertoto Cup, with a 0:0 home draw on Saturday enough to get them through to the semi-finals after a 1:1 draw in Dortmund. It is a few years now since Dortmund were a real force but the Bundesliga side still rank as a major scalp for Olomouc. Manager Petr Ulicny was jumping for joy when the full time whistle went, and says he hopes his team can take that form into the Czech league.

Rosicky faces another season without European club action

Tomas Rosicky, photo: CTK

Meanwhile, it's another season without European competition for Borussia Dortmund's Czech duo of Jan Koller and Tomas Rosicky. Many pundits agree that Rosicky, who once appeared to have a brilliant future ahead of him, is stagnating at the club. The 24-year-old playmaker says he can at least look forward to the rest of the Czech Republic's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Talks to clear up Baros's future at Liverpool, Mikolanda on trial at West Ham

His international team-mate Milan Baros should have a much clearer idea about his future this week; the striker and his agent are due to hold talks with Liverpool manager Rafal Benitez in the coming days. Baros is not a favourite of the Reds' boss, but is clearly fighting for his future - he has scored five goals in three pre-season friendly games.

Another Czech striker, Petr Mikolanda of Viktoria Zizkov, is on trial at West Ham United, and has impressed the Premiership club with three goals in four friendlies.

Cerny wins Peace Cup as Tottenham beat Lyon

Czech goalkeeper Radek Cerny has had the opportunity to shine at Tottenham Hotspur. With their first choice goalkeeper injured, Cerny helped Spurs to victory in the Peace Cup in South Korea, in which they beat Olympic Lyon 3:1 in the final at the weekend.

Koukalova loses fifth WTA final of career

And the Czech Republic's Klara Koukalova was beaten in the final of the Palermo International on Sunday. Koukalova was no match for three times winner Anabel Medina Garrigues, losing 4-6 0-6, and really showing her nerves when she double-faulted on match point. The 23-year-old Czech has reached six finals on the women's tour in her career, winning on just one of those occasions.

Czech postman, 48, completes Tour de France on penny farthing bicycle

Josef Zimovcak, photo: CTK

Czech Josef Zimovcak has succeeded in completing the Tour de France on an old-fashioned penny farthing bicycle. Zimovcak almost had to quit after a bad fall on a mountain stage left him with a broken rib and jaw, but got back in the saddle, riding most days until around midnight and rising at six every morning. Zimovcak, who is 48 and a postman, said he planned to treat himself to an ice-cream in Paris, after completing the 3607 km Tour.