In brief: Armstrong crashes in fifth stage of tour
Cycling: Lance Armstrong crashed during the Tour of California at Visalia, Calif., sending him to the hospital for precautionary X-rays on the day he was accused of doping by former teammate Floyd Landis.
The cyclists were on a two-lane road outside Visalia a few miles into the race when a rider in the main group skidded on some gravel and fell, causing others, including Armstrong, to crash. Armstrong resumed riding but had to quit the race because of his injuries.
“I tried to give it a go but my eye was swollen so I couldn’t see properly and the pain in the elbow prevented me from holding the bars for the remainder of the stage,” Armstrong said. “It was a relief to learn there were no breaks. I will take a few days to recover and be on the bike as soon as possible.”
Michael Rogers of Australia moved into the overall lead with his second-place finish in the 121.5-mile fifth stage that ran from Visalia to Bakersfield. Dave Zabriskie was third in the stage and second overall.
•Porte holds overall lead: Filippo Pozzato won the 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia at Porto Recanti, Italy, while Richie Porte of Australia maintained the overall lead.
The Italian national champion edged French duo Thomas Voeckler and Jerome Pineau in a sprint finish. Pozzato finished the 128-mile stage from Citta Sant’Angelo to Porto Recanati in 5 hours, 15 minutes, 50 seconds.
Porte leads David Arroyo Duran of Spain by 1 minute, 42 seconds.
Purdue 7 shots up at women’s NCAAs
Golf: Purdue shot an 8-under-par 280 to take the lead after three rounds of the NCAA women’s golf championships at Wilmington, N.C.
The Boilermakers, who trailed by eight shots after 36 holes, took a 7-stroke lead on Southern California, the leader for the first two rounds. Purdue’s total through three rounds is 6-under 858.
Southern Cal shot 7-over 295 at the Country Club of Landfall for an 865 total after three rounds.
Alabama and defending champion Arizona State are at 7-over 871, 13 shots behind Purdue.
•Wie advances: Michelle Wie survived a tight opening match against Stacy Prammanasudh at Gladstone, N.J., in the Sybase Match Play Championship, taking the lead with a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th and winning 2-up with a conceded birdie on 18.
The eighth-seeded Wie will face Hee Young Park, a 19-hole winner over Ji Young Oh, in the second round today at Hamilton Farm.
Top-seeded Jiyai Shin and No. 2 Ai Miyazato also advanced, while 49-year-old Juli Inskter rallied to beat third-seeded Suzann Pettersen in 21 holes.
Fourth-seeded Yani Tseng beat Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., 2 and 1.
Russia routs Canada to make world semis
Hockey: Evgeni Malkin scored twice, and Russia beat Canada again at the world ice hockey championship, eliminating the Olympic champion with a convincing 5-2 win at Cologne, Germany.
Russia beat Canada in the last two world finals. Together, they have won the title 49 times, and unbeaten Russia has an excellent chance at a record 26th this weekend.
In the semifinals, Russia will face host Germany, which beat Switzerland 1-0 thanks to Philip Gogulla’s goal midway through the second period.
The other semifinal on Saturday in Cologne will be Sweden against the Czech Republic. Sweden beat Denmark 4-2 and the Czechs held off Finland 2-1 in a shootout.
Johnson returns to Texans’ workouts
NFL: The Houston Texans haven’t promised Andre Johnson a new contract. The receiver practiced with the team after skipping the previous three voluntary workouts over a contract dispute.
Johnson has five years left on an eight-year contract worth $60 million that included $15 million in guarantees. Houston reworked his original contract three years ago when it had two years remaining.
Johnson met with owner Bob McNair and said he’s ready to “move on.” McNair said he made no guarantees beyond a commitment to discuss the contract, but was confident that Johnson will remain a “happy Texan.”
Johnson, the third overall pick in 2003, has led the league in receiving in each of the last two seasons.
Wozniacki doubtful for French Open
Tennis: Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki retired with an injured ankle in the Warsaw Open quarterfinals at Warsaw, Poland, jeopardizing her play at the French Open.
Wozniacki, ranked No. 3 behind the Williams sisters, lost the first set 6-3 to fifth-seeded Zheng Jie before retiring.
The U.S. Open finalist sprained her right ankle en route to the semifinals at Charleston in mid-April. In four tournaments since Charleston, the Dane has won only three singles matches.
The Open starts Sunday.
Dublin no longer Belmont prospect
Horse racing: Trainer D. Wayne Lukas says Dublin will not be entered in the Belmont Stakes in New York, eliminating the chance of any horse running in all three Triple Crown races this year.
Dublin finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby behind Super Saver and fifth in the Preakness behind Lookin At Lucky.
The trainers of Super Saver and Lookin At Lucky have already said their colts are bypassing the Belmont on June 5. The other Derby-Preakness runners Jackson Bend and Paddy O’Prado are not being considered, either.