ICE HOCKEY: France scored one of the biggest ice hockey upsets ever when they defeated defending champions Russia 2-1 at the world champion-ships in Helsinki. The defending champions turned up the heat in the final period but, even with a frenzied offensive effort in the final minutes, the Russians could not find a way through the massed ranks of the French defence. Despite taking 29 shots to France’s 19, Russia came off second best and their unbeaten streak at the championships ended at 13 games.

MOTORCYCLING: Spanish MotoGP rider Hector Barbera and his girlfriend were charged yesterday following a domestic dispute, court sources said after a hearing in Jerez. The 26-year-old FTR Moto rider was ordered to do community service while the girlfriend had her sentence suspended because she had no previous convictions. “I would like to make clear that it was nothing more than a domestic argument which has already been resolved by the court in Jerez and which both parties have accepted,” Barbera said in a statement.

CYCLING: Bradley Wiggins lost 84 seconds to his closest Giro d’Italia rivals after crashing while Spain’s Benat Intxausti became overall leader as Australian Adam Hansen won stage seven with a 147km breakaway yesterday. Wiggins skidded and fell heavily on a right-hand, rain-soaked bend in the Abruzzi hills about six kilometres from the finish in Pescara, losing contact with the group of overall favourites. The Briton crossed the line in 55th place, two minutes and 31 seconds adrift of Hansen and 1:24 behind the main group.