Cycling: Fall leaves Escartin frustrated

FERNANDO ESCARTIN, who finished third in this year's Tour de France, will be out of action for three months after suffering a double fracture of his arm in a crash on the Tour of Spain. He will miss next month's World Championships in Italy and could have to make a late start to next season.

The Spaniard crashed while descending a mountain in the wet on Sunday and underwent an operation on his left arm on Wedneday to the pin bones.

Italy's Daniele Nardello snatched victory in a four-man sprint for the finish in the yesterday's 11th stage. The Mapei rider recorded 5hr 1min 37sec on the 201km (125 miles) stage, the first of three mountain stages in the Pyrenees.

Spain's Abraham Olano retained the race lead but struggled on the last climb and had his overall advantage reduced.

Results, Digest, page 29