SPORT IN BRIEF
Four-midable Hagen marches on
CYCLING: Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen swept to his fourth successive stage win to extend his lead in the Tour of Britain.
The Team Columbia finished ahead of Martin Reimer and Britain’s Russell Downing to claim the sixth stage, from Frome to Bideford to extend his overall lead to 19 seconds.
Stage seven runs from Hatherleigh, Devon to Yeovil, Somerset, before the Tour finishes in London on Saturday.
Barham leads the way in Austria
GOLF: England’s Benn Barham fired an eight-under-par 63 to take the overnight lead at the Austrian Open.
Barham fired seven birdies and an eagle to lead Scotland’s Scott Drummond and Brett Rumford, of Australia, by a single shot. Four other players, including
English duo Phillip Archer and Mark Foster, are a furthers hot adrift at six-under-par.
Striker Franco is a Hammer
FOOTBALL: West Ham have completed the signing of Mexican striker Guillermo Franco. The 32-year-old joins the Hammers as a free agent after his contract with Spanish club Villarreal ran out in the summer.
The Argentine-born striker has scored four goals in six games for his adopted country and said: “It’s my dream to play in the Premier League.”