America’s Cup champion Alinghi helicopters its giant catamaran over the Alps to the sea

October 2nd, 2009 America's Cup challenger opposes venue choiceSAN DIEGO — Citing "grave safety concerns" for its U.S.-based crew that would be sailing a massive trimaran named USA within miles of Iran, challenger BMW Oracle Racing on Friday asked a New York court to reject Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, as the port for the 33rd America's Cup. BMW Oracle Racing filed a motion with the Supreme Court of the State of New York asking that the Persian Gulf port be replaced with Valencia, Spain, as the site for the best-of-3 showdown against bitter rival and two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland for the oldest trophy in international sports.

September 2nd, 2009 America's Cup rules spat headed back to courtAmerica's Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing went back to a New York court on Wednesday in an attempt to stop what it calls the unfair manipulation of the rules by defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland. The San Francisco-based syndicate filed a motion asking the Supreme Court of the State of New York to keep the Swiss from issuing rules that would disqualify the American trimaran.

September 2nd, 2009 Zettel to be back on skis after knee injuryVIENNA — Super-combined world champion Kathrin Zettel is expected to be back on skis for the first time since injuring her left knee almost five months ago. Zettel will take part in a training session Thursday at the Moelltaler glacier in Flattach, the Austrian ski federation said Wednesday.

August 25th, 2009 VIENNA — Austrian skiing great Toni Sailer, who in 1956 became the first athlete to win all three alpine ski events at a Winter Olympics, has died. He was 73. Sailer passed away Monday after a long illness, his Kitzbuehel Ski Club said in a statement Tuesday.

August 11th, 2009 Americans confirm BOR 90 is Cup challenge boatSAN DIEGO — America's Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing has confirmed that BOR 90, the giant trimaran being tested in San Diego, is the boat it will use in its showdown against defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland on the Persian Gulf in February. The Americans made the disclosure in New York State Supreme Court on Monday in the ongoing legal tussle between the bitter rivals.

August 11th, 2009 Spithill named helmsman for BMW Oracle RacingSAN DIEGO — America's Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing has named Australian Jimmy Spithill as helmsman for its showdown with defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland in February. BMW Oracle Racing skipper and CEO Russell Coutts made the announcement Tuesday.

August 6th, 2009 LONDON - Jamaican sprinter and world 100 meters champion Usain Bolt has said that he is ready for a showdown with main rival Tyson Gay. According to The Sun, both are set to clash three times in three weeks in a battle of the fastest men on the planet.

August 5th, 2009 Swiss pick UAE's Ras al-Khaimah for America's CupEverything leading up to the 33rd America's Cup has been unconventional and surprising, so it figures that the venue might as well be extraordinary, too. Yes, the stodgy old America's Cup is going to be decided in the Middle East.

July 23rd, 2009 Bertarelli defends Alinghi engine to trim sailsLE BOUVERET, Switzerland — Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli has defended the use of a contentious engine to trim the sails on the boat and denied the legal dispute with BMW Oracle Racing has damaged the reputation of the America's Cup. The Alinghi team showed reporters on Thursday around its catamaran, Alinghi 5, which has an engine that the American team says is against the spirit of the cup.

July 21st, 2009 Swiss engine revving up America's Cup court spatSAN DIEGO — An engine on an America's Cup boat? It's a real jaw-dropper to Russell Coutts, one of the most dominant skippers in America's Cup history who now sails for U.S. challenger BMW Oracle Racing.

July 21st, 2009 Contador in yellow as 16th stage of Tour startsMARTIGNY, Switzerland — Tour de France leader Alberto Contador and second-place teammate Lance Armstrong have started on the 16th stage of the race, which goes into the Swiss Alps. The pack is heading on a 98.8-mile ride from Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France, via Italy and up the Grand-Saint-Bernard and Petit-Saint-Bernard passes.

July 15th, 2009 Rules spat has America's Cup rivals back in courtAnother court fight is revving up between bitter America's Cup rivals from the United States and Switzerland, and this one includes the legality of an engine aboard a fast catamaran. At the request of San Francisco's BMW Oracle Racing, the Supreme Court of the State of New York ordered two-time defending America's Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland to show why it should not be held in contempt for failing to provide the Americans their rights as challenger.

July 4th, 2009 Swiss unveil giant catamaran for Cup defenseThe worst-kept secret in the America's Cup is official: Alinghi of Switzerland will sail a giant catamaran when it defends the oldest trophy in international sports early next year against bitter U.S. rival BMW Oracle Racing.

June 13th, 2009 Cancellara wins time trial to open Swiss tourRUGGELL, Liechtenstein — Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara won the opening stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday. The Swiss rider put aside four months of sickness and injury to finish the flat, 5-mile time trial in neighboring Liechtenstein in 9 minutes, 21 seconds.

May 29th, 2009 Former Olympic champion Ruby dies in climbing fallCHAMONIX, France — Karine Ruby, a former Olympic snowboarding champion who had been training to become a mountain guide, died Friday in a climbing accident on Mont Blanc. She was 31. Ruby was roped to other climbers when she and some members of the group fell into a deep crack in the glacier on the way down the mountain, Chamonix police official Laurent Sayssac said.