MARCO PANTANI INJURED DURING MILAN - TURIN RACE

Cycling

Italy's Marco Pantani will be out of action for four to six months after slamming into a car at 80km per hour during the Milan-Turin race on Wednesday. The doctor who operated on the exposed break of the tibia and fibula of Pantani's left leg said he could not rule out the possibility of another operation.

Graeme Obree, Scotland's world champion, has won Scottish backing for his Atlanta Olympics bid in a one-year deal with the Scotoil Group of Aberdeen. He will ride in his new colours next Monday when he takes on Chris Boardman in a 4,000 metres pursuit challenge at the Nations three- day meeting at the Bercy track in Paris.

Jeannie Longo, the 37-year-old Frenchwoman, failed on Wednesday with three attempts to break the one-hour world record, two days after Miguel Indurain, of Spain, fell short in his attempt at the men's mark. She was attempting to surpass the mark of 47.411km (29.21miles) set by Yvonne McGregor, of Britain, on 17 June.

MILAN-TURIN CLASSIC (188km) Leading placings (Italian unless stated): 1 C Chiappucci 4hr 35min 43sec; 2 S Zanini +1sec; 3 D Cassani; 4 B Voskamp (Neth); 5 D Konychev (Rus); 6 E Dekker (Neth); 7 G Faresin all same time; 8 M Bartoli +10sec; 9 S Giraldi +35; 10 C Henn (Ger) same time.