What a week of sport. Some great moments and a lot of stars making their cases for next year’s Laureus World Sports Awards.
1) Cycling – Mark Cavendish’s win in Paris on the final stage of the Tour de France was a moment to remember. Yes, the jersey winners had already been decided but the race for victory along the Champs-Elysees produced one of the most exhilarating pieces of sporting action this year. The build-up was dramatic as Team Columbia chased down a breakaway group along the streets of Paris at speeds of 60kph. The final sprint was devastating with Cavendish, led out by his Australian team mate Mark Renshaw, leaving his main rivals trailing out of camera-shot in a similar manner to Usain Bolt’s 100m sprint in Beijing a year ago.
You can watch the final minute here.
2) Baseball – Mark Buehrle’s ‘Perfect Game‘ for the Chicago White Sox came a very close second. A Perfect Game occurs when a pitcher scores a victory without allowing the opposition, in this case the Tampa Bay Rays, to reach a single base. It is an incredibly rare feat with only 18 men in 130 years of baseball having managed to achieve a Perfect Game. In Buehrle’s case, the drama was increased by a ninth-inning wall climbing catch by DeWayne Rise to prevent a home run. Buehrle even got a call from President Obama.
Take a look at Wise’s catch and enjoy the final moments.
3) Cycling (again) – After the excitement of the finish had died down, Alberto Contador stepped up to the podium to be honoured as overall winner of the Tour de France. Contador’s dominance in the mountains was backed up by a phenomenal win on the last Time Trial stage. Lance Armstrong‘s third place was impressive and surely puts him in the running for 2010′s Laureus World Comeback of the Year award, but it was the man from Spain who sealed his reputation as the best road cyclist in the world.
4) Formula One – Lewis Hamilton signalled his own comeback by winning the Hungarian Grand Prix. The race was somewhat overshadowed by the injury to Felipe Massa and our thoughts go out to him, as well as the family of Henry Surtees who tragically died in motor racing accident last Sunday (19 July).
5) Athletics – Usain Bolt continued to stamp his authority on the sprinting world by comfortably winning the 100m at the London Grand Prix. The Laureus World Sportsman of the Year will now look forward his showdown with Tyson Gay at the World Championships in Berlin next month.
7 Comments 
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Rebecca on 30.07.2009 12:07
Where’s the little diving boy?
Nod on 30.07.2009 19:07
OK So thats about sporting moments of the week. What about Sporting moment of the year so far – or of the decade?…..
Rebecca on 03.08.2009 13:08
Where is this weeks?
Laschwande on 04.08.2009 18:08
1.Tiger woods sinking a 31 ft putt on the 17th hole to secure the Buick invitational championship 2 weeks after missing the cut at british open
2.Jenson Button finishing a triathlon, proving hes not just a cosseted racing driver
3.Goldikova winning his 5th group 1 race at Deauville in style
4.17 year old Jack Wilshire scoring for Arsenal at Wembley
5. Junior Witter’s dismay at retiring hurt from his world championship fight with damaged elbow
I know its only five but i could not resist.
6. Christiano Ronaldo blanking his ex girlfriend outside a nightclub
Tom on 05.08.2009 12:08
Sport’s Moment of the century – South Africa winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup! Nothing comes close to that!
Doug on 07.08.2009 11:08
schumacher vs hamilton – what do you think the rest of the season holds?
LaureusTeam on 07.08.2009 12:08
Both the McLaren and Ferrari cars looked very good in Hungary. Hamilton also seemed to have regained some of last year’s composure and authority. I’d give Hamilton/McLaren the edge at this stage but, as we’ve seen so far this season, a lot can change very quickly.
I think the real story is whether Brawn GP can find some of their early season pace or will Red Bull continue their surge?