Sporting Digest: Cycling

CHARLY MOTTET, the former world No 1, has had an operation in Lyons on the hip he broke when he fell during the Paris-Nice race earlier this month.

DE PANNE THREE-DAY RACE (Herzele, Bel) First stage (Harelbeke to Herzele, 140km): 1 D-O Lauritzen (Nor) 3hr 24min 52sec; 2 J Talen (Neth) +1sec; 3 E Vanderaerden (Bel) +2; 4 J Capiot (Bel); 5 W Nelissen (Bel); 6 W Veenstra (Neth); 7 F Moncassin (Fr); 8 J Goessens (Bel); 9 M De Clercq (Bel); 10 D Abdoujaparov (Uzb) all same time. Leading overall standings (after 27km time trial in Herzele): 1 Vanderaerden 3hr 58min 42sec; 2 Moncassin same time.