AN Australian newspaper mocked Russell Crowe for smoking and shovelling down a fatty meal after a recent bike ride, so the notoriously salty actor set out to prove he is still in gladiator shape — by challenging the paper’s gossip columnist to a duel by bicycle.

Actor Russell Crowe wanted to prove he was still in gladiator shape following withering comments in an Australian newspaper, so he challenged the gossip columnist to a bicycle duel.