Froome feeling fine, gets back in the saddle for Vuelta

MANCHESTER, England – Chris Froome will compete in the Spanish Vuelta after recovering from hand and wrist fractures that forced him to withdraw from the Tour de France.

Team Sky announced its nine-man lineup for the Vuelta on Monday, naming Froome as its team leader.

As defending champion, Froome pulled out of the Tour on the fifth stage July 9 after falling from his bike three times.

Froome says “I’m really pleased with how my recovery has gone since the Tour, I’ve been training hard and the support team are pleased with my progress.”

Sharing is caring: Quintana, Valverde to lead Movistar

MADRID – Movistar says Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde will share leadership roles for the team at the Spanish Vuelta.

Movistar announced its squad for the three-week grand tour starting Saturday. It says Quintana and Valverde will “lead the nine-man” team.

Quintana won the Giro d’Italia earlier this summer before Movistar chose to rest him for the Tour de France despite his runner’s-up performance at cycling biggest event in 2013.

Banned British cyclist blames binge for doping ban

LONDON – British cyclist Jonathan Tiernan-Locke blamed an “alcoholic binge” as the reason behind abnormal results in his blood sample that led to him being banned from the sport for two years.

UK Anti-Doping published its findings on the Tiernan-Locke case Monday, confirming his suspension after the rider was found to have used “a prohibited substance and/or prohibited method (blood doping) to boost his levels of haemoglobin.”

The UKAD says Tiernan-Locke insisted that he had an “exceptional and extreme intake of alcohol” on a night out with his girlfriend two days before his blood sample was taken on Sept. 20, 2012, followed by “a period of severe dehydration.”

Tiernan is banned until Dec. 31, 2015.

NFL

‘Redskins’ won’t be uttered by CBS broadcast star

NEW YORK – CBS lead analyst Phil Simms is considering referring to the Redskins only as “Washington” when he broadcasts the team’s game against the Giants next month.

Simms will work the Thursday night package the network acquired this season and will have Giants-Redskins in Week 4 on Sept. 25. He says “my very first thought is it will be `Washington’ the whole game.”

Simms isn’t taking sides in the debate over whether Washington’s nickname is offensive or racist. But he adds he is sensitive to the complaints about the name, and his instincts now are to not use “Redskins” in his announcing.

His broadcast partner, Jim Nantz, says it is not his job “to take a stance.”

CBS is allowing its announcers to decide on their own whether to call the team the Redskins. So is Fox, which handles the NFC and will televise most of Washington’s games.

From money fingers to the bird, Manziel drama unfolds

LANDOVER, Md. – Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel didn’t make Mike Pettine’s decision any easier.

Manziel struggled to hit open receivers and added another gesture to his repertoire – a middle finger apparently aimed at the Washington Redskins’ bench – while Hoyer completed only two passes in five series. Neither the hot-shot rookie nor the nondescript sixth-year veteran looked ready to claim a No. 1 NFL gig, failing to live up to the big-time setting of a final audition in the Cleveland Browns’ 24-23 Monday night loss to the Washington Redskins.

Pettine has said he plans to announce his regular season starter Tuesday. His choices are Manziel, the No. 22 overall pick in the draft who completed 7-of-16 passes for 65 yards and an touchdown, and Hoyer, who was 2-for-6 for 16 yards.

Associated Press