Cycling
Alberto Contador won the 69th edition of the Vuelta a España. The Spaniard from team Tinkoff/Saxo claimed his third title in this event after the deciding time trial did not change the general classification. Contador finished one minute ten seconds ahead of Chris Froome in second and 1:50 ahead of compatriot Valverde. The best Colombian in the general classification was Winner Anacona in 27th. After a good first week in which Anacona picked up a stage victory and Nairo Quintana picked up the red leader jersey, the ‘escarabajos’ were invisible in the final week. Quintana and Rigoberto Uran had already given up by that stage because of a broken shoulder blade and bronchitis respectively.
Tennis
Colombia did not manage to earn promotion to the World Group in the Davis Cup. In a best-of-five tie with Canada the Colombians lost both singles matches on the first day. A win from doubles specialists Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal on day two revived the tie but Canadian world number nine Milos Raonic was too strong for Colombia’s best player Santiago Giraldo. Colombia will continue in Americas Group One, aiming to get another chance to get into the World Group in 2015. The Davis Cup final will be held later this year and will be between Switzerland, with Roger Federer as leader, and France, led by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
At the rhythmic gymnastics World Championships, held in Izmir, Turkey, Yana Kudryavtseva came out as the big winner. The 16-year old from Russia took the title in the All-Round Rhythmic Gymnastics discipline for the second time in a row. The pre-tournament favourite had already won gold in the Individual Club, Ball and Hoop, as well as silver in the Ribbon, and she again proved to be the absolute best in the All-Round competition.
Golf
Europe has won the Ryder Cup for the second time in a row. In the two-yearly golf event between teams from Europe and the United States, the Europeans, led by captain Paul McGinley, claimed a convincing 16.5-11.5 victory. On Friday Europe took a small lead (5-3) after the fourballs and foursomes in duo and on Saturday this lead was extended to 10-6. Europe were never in danger of relinquishing that lead and victory was sealed by Jamie Donaldson’s defeat of Keegan Bradley on Sunday.
