Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/800760
maltatoday SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2017 Sport 52 CYCLING TENNIS Sicilian Podium for Birkirkara St. Joseph Cyclist Steve Sciberras BIRKIRKARA St. Joseph Sports Club Cyclist Steve Sciberras re- cently returned from a very suc- cessful showing in the first race of the Grand Tour Sicilia Time Trial Championships. Compet- ing in the Medio Fondo catego- ry consisting of a 14.5km time trial, Sciberras had to contend with a field of 113 cyclists who were playing on home turf. Sciberras, who over the years, garnered substantial experience in time trial racing completed two loops of the 14.5km cir- cuit in 20:51.153 a few seconds behind the first two athletes to take up an overall third placing on the podium. His result also saw him take second place in his age group. "The race was very well attend- ed – not only from a competitor perspective but also specta- tor wise - the route was closed throughout so it made easier viewing for the public – not easy for the only Maltese playing in field where all competitors are playing home but I dug deep and put my training and preparation came into good use. Sciberras is now looking for- ward to continue his participa- tion on the local circuit. His recent outing saw him clinch third place in the Elite category in the Zebbug Mass Start cycling race organised by Mosta Cycling Club. Sciberras' participation in the Grand Tour Sicilia Champion- ships was made possible through the support of Birkirkara St Jo- seph Sports Club, Garmin Malta, Sport Malta and Carrera Bikes Malta. Returning Maria Sharapova expects suspicion MARIA Sharapova accepts she will have a cloud of suspicion hanging over her when she re- turns to tennis next month. The five-time grand slam cham- pion is serving a 15-month dop- ing ban after testing positive for the cardiac drug meldonium at the Australian Open in 2016. Sharapova's suspension runs out on April 26, and she will play her first match the same day having been given a wild card into the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart. The Russian's impending return is the hottest topic in tennis, with the reaction from her fellow play- ers largely lukewarm. The awarding of a wild card for a tournament that begins while she is still banned has been par- ticularly controversial, with Car- oline Wozniacki branding it "dis- respectful". The French Open and Wimble- don, meanwhile, are under pres- sure over whether to award entry to their former champion. Sharapova admitted taking meldonium at an extraordinary press conference last March, in- sisting her only mistake was not realising the drug had been added to the banned list at the start of 2016. An initial two-year ban was reduced to 15 months on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which concluded she had not intended to cheat. But, asked if she expected the suspicion to linger for the rest of her career, Sharapova told Vogue: "I think if I was trying to hide something, I don't think I would come out to the world and say I was taking a drug for 10 years. "If I was really trying to take the easy way out, that's not a very smart thing to do. But the answer to your question is, absolutely." Sharapova is more confident of the reception she will receive from the public. The 29-year-old, one of ten- nis' biggest stars and the world's highest-earning female athlete, got a taste of life after the ban at exhibition matches in Las Vegas and Puerto Rico late last year. She said: "I received really nice receptions when I walked out to play my exhibition matches. "Ever since all this happened, I've had so many strangers actu- ally come up to me. Like chefs coming out of the kitchen, or pi- lots come out of the cockpit to say something. It is so heartening. "I've had tunnel vision about my career, and I don't think I ever re- alised the effect I've had on peo- ple. That has blown my mind." As well as Stuttgart, Sharapova has also been given wild cards into Madrid and Rome, the two biggest warm-up events for the French Open. There will be no easing herself back in, therefore, and Sharapova appears determined to hit the ground running. The former world number one, who is now unranked, said: "I have expectations of myself be- cause I know what I'm capable of. Will I have those standards? Of course. Will I have to be patient? It's not my greatest strength." Maria Sharapova