GIRO sprint king Alessandro Petacchi humbled his rivals to win the 168-km first stage of the Tour de France in a mass sprint tarnished by a spectacular crash near the finish line yesterday.

BAYERN MUNICH’S German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has insisted he is ready for a move abroad despite the Bundesliga giants’ determination to hold on to him.

AS troubled Liverpool inch ever-closer to their worst record in history, under-fire midfielder Salif Diao has thanked boss Gerard Houllier for sticking by him.

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is still chasing Irish World Cup star Damien Duff - if the price is right.