Tour de France 2012

The 2012 Tour de France enters the final week with some tough climbs in the Pyrenees and a decisive individual time-trial remaining before the peloton races laps on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday. Barring surprises, leader Bradley Wiggins looks set to become the first British winner of the Tour in the 99 editions of the race to date. His main rival, Christopher Froome, isn't even trying to beat him, as they're on the same team. Defending champion Cadel Evans of Australia has aggressively tried to hold his title, but Wiggins' mastery in the time trial and team strength in the mountains has left him minutes behind. An appalling and dangerous act of sabotage struck the peloton atop the Mur de Peguere as persons unknown threw upholstery tacks on the tarmac, causing Evans and around 30 other riders to flat there or on the steep descent. The Tour de France finishes in Paris after 2,173 miles on July 22. -- Lane Turner (31 photos total)

Bradley Wiggins of Britain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, speeds down Croix de Fer pass during the 11th stage of the Tour de France on July 12, 2012. (Christophe Ena/Associated Press)

Euro 2012 Soccer Championship, part one: The fans

Some happy, some sad, at times cheering or even fighting, fans of soccer are absorbed in the European 2012 Soccer Championship. Sixteen nations made it to the final tournament being held in Poland and the Ukraine with the final match to be played on July 1 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. -- Lloyd Young(40 photos total)

A soccer fan soaks up the atmospshere ahead of the Euro 2012 soccer championship group D match between Ukraine and Sweden at The Olympic Stadium on June 11 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Euro 2012: The Beautiful Game

In less than an hour the Euro 2012 Football Championships in Poland and the Ukraine will kick off with a game between Poland and the 2004 winners, Greece. The coming three weeks will provide football fans the world over with a steady diet of games, goals and shots of WAGs in the crowd. During the group stages some very interesting games will be played sucvh as France vs England, Italy vs Spain and Holland vs Germany. What happens afterwards is anyone’s guess, but we’ll be watching the beautiful game.

1Players compete in mud at the Swamp Soccer World Championships in Hyrynsalmi. Lehtikuva Lehtikuva/ 

Reuters

Olympics 2012: Carrying the flame

Earlier this month in Greece, the Olympic flame began its ceremonial journey to the site of the Summer Games in London. The flame is being carried in a relay by some 8,000 torchbearers to spread the message of peace, unity, and friendship over 70 days until it arrives at the opening ceremonies on July 27. -- Lloyd Young -- Editor's note: We'll be posting additional Olympic themed galleries leading up to and throughout the games. (29 photos total)

Nadine Struijk of The Netherlands, carrying the Olympic flame during the torch relay through Brynmawr, Wales, on May 25. Struijk was in the Dutch national synchronized swimming team for many years and now coaches the junior Dutch team, but gets her moment to shine here in the torch relay running up to the London Olympic Games. (Gareth Fuller/Locog via Associated Press)

coolest sports pix of 2012 week 07

Week 07 of 2012 is the week I learnt about LINsanity, so we included several pix of New York Knicks pointguard in this week’s collection of coolests sports pix.

Dallas Mavericks guard Delonte West (13) goes up for the shot as he is defended by Los Angeles Clippers forward Reggie Evans (L) and guard Randy Foye during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Dallas, Texas February 13, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Stone

Best Bowlers Ever in Cricket

Continuing on the popular “Best Test Batsmen” in the country, let us have a look at the best bowlers that have graced the sport. These magicians are truly among the best, and more than one of them is capable of winning an entire match on their own. On a good day, almost all these bowlers eat up the batting line one by one, and set up easy victories. In Reverse Order.

10 Wasim Akram — Pakistan

Wasim Akram is known for taking over 400 test wickets and a record number of 502 test wickets in ODIs. His average is 23.62 from 104 games. He has bowled two hat tricks in Test Cricket, and is one of only three bowlers having done so, and has recorded the same in ODI’s as well, again one of only three bowlers. 09 more after the break...

super bowl 46 giants vs patriots 69 Photo total

That’s the Super Bowl over and done with for another year. Super Bowl XLVI is the crescendo of the National Football League season and is the biggest single day sporting event in the North American calendar. After months of banging heads, catching pig skins and time outs it came down to the New York Giants and the New England Patriots to decide who would take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. In the end the New York Giants won by 4 points. Oh, and some woman named Madonna give away a whirlwind halftime show without singing a note live.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy is shown between a New England Patriots and New York Giants helmets at the head coaches press conference before the Super Bowl XLVI NFL football game in Indianapolis, Indiana, February 3, 2012. Super Bowl XLVI is set for play on February 5. REUTERS/Mike Segar

deadly egyptian football riots 23 Photo Total

Football is meant to be the Beautiful Game, but last night in Port Said, Egypt people who classify themselves as fans turned it into a very ugly game. Supporters of local team Al-Masry ran onto the pitch and charged the fans of rival team Al-Ahly from Cairo. Al-Masry won the game 3-1 but the home fans still stormed onto the pitch to attack the Al-Ahly players, staff and fans, hunting them down in and outside the stadium. Over 70 people were killed and over a 1000 injured. Totally Not Cool.

A soccer fan flees from a fire at Cairo stadium February, 1, 2012. Crowds set parts of the stadium on fire in reaction to a soccer pitch invasion during another soccer match held at the Egyptian city of Port Said. At least 50 people were killed and hundreds of others injured on Wednesday after a soccer pitch invasion in Port Said, healthy ministry sources said, in an incident that one player described as a war, not football. REUTERS/Stringer

World Coolest sports pix of 2012 week 04

This past week in sport was all about the Australian Open as far as I’m concerned. In the women’s tournament Victoria Azarenka completely destroyed Maria Sharapova in 2 sets and in the men’s tournament we were witness to the longest Grand Slam finale ever. It lastes almost 6 hours and after 5 hard fought sets Serbia’s Novak Djokovic beat Rafael nadal by a whisker. Also featured this week are skiing, speed skating, football, NBA and gold. I think next week we’ll be talking about the NFL Super Bowl.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Lleyton Hewitt of Australia during their men's singles match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 23, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

in the picture tommy lakes 20 Photos Total

Tommy Lakes is a photographer from Ireland who specializes in the increasingly popular MMA and cage fighting. Warning: some photos are graphic.
We’d like to thank Tommy for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website.

Shogun Rua prepares for his battle with Mark Coleman at UFC 93 Photo by Tommy Lakes

2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games 29 photos total

For the first time ever, young athletes gathered Jan. 13-22 in Austria for the Winter Youth Olympic Games. The event began with traditional opening ceremonies for more than 1,000 competitors from more than 70 nations. Ranging in age from 14 to 18, they competed in the 15 core events held at the Olympic Games. Keep an eye out for the names you see here, as they may appear again in Sochi, Russia, during the XXII Winter Olympics in February 2014. -- Lloyd Young (29 photos total)

The flag bearer from Austria, Tamara Grascher enters the stadium during the opening ceremony of the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck Jan. 13, 2012. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)

World coolest sports pix of 2012 week 02

We already give you the Coolest Pix Of The Week every Friday, but I thought it was time for an expansion pack. Sport brings the world together, millions if not bilions participate or watch it every week. Every Monday we’ll be bringing you the best of the NHL, Football, NFL, Baseball, NBA, athletics, tennis, boxing and whatever else we can in our new feature Coolest Sports Pix Of The Week. I hope you enjoy.

A gymnast practises on the beam during a training session before the Olympic gymnastics venue test event in east London January 9, 2012. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

Formula 1 2011: Chinese Grand Prix

The 3rd Formule 1 race of the 2011 season finished several hours ago. Germany’s Sebastian Vettel had once again claimed pole position, but could he turn that dominance into another race win. The answer was no. After an exciting race with some great overtaking the spoils of victory went to McLaren and Lewis Hamilton. Vettel finished 2nd and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, who had started 18th on the grid, came in 3rd place to earn himself a trophy and some champagne.

101. McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain leaves the pit during the Chinese F1 Grand Prix at Shanghai International circuit April 17, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

Formula 1 2011: Malaysia Grand Prix

The second Formula 1 race of the 2011 season was held in Malaysia on the circuit of Sepang. The Malaysian Grand Prix is known for its heat, humidity and torrential downpours. It was hot, but it stayed dry this year. In fact it was so hot, during the race the body temperature of the drivers reaches 40 degrees C or higher and they are severely dehydrated by the end of the race.
Racing at Sepang it is not just about the fitness of the car, but also about the fitness of the driver and his ability to keep on concentrating in the heat. In the end the race was won by Germany’s Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing.

101. Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates winning the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix after crossing the finish line at Sepang circuit outside Kuala Lumpur April 10, 2011. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad )

Champions League: Barcelona – Arsenal

01. Barcelona players celebrate after scoring their third goal during their Champions League soccer match against Arsenal at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona March 8, 2011. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Last night Barcelona and Arsenal played their return match in the Champions League second round. As an Arsenal fan I posted the images from the first match, won 2-1 by Arsenal. I thought it only fair to post images from this game, won 3-1 by Barcelona. Barcelona were clearly the better team going forward. Arsenal had dug in, keep the space between the lines very tight and we’re doing a good job of containing Barcelona’s attacking force. Some bad luck, silly mistakes, a childish referee and a very good Barcelona team meant the end of Arsenal in Europe for another year. Well done Barca.