CYCLING

JULICH WINS PARIS-NICE RACE

Bobby Julich became the first American to win the Paris-Nice race, finishing in the main pack of cyclists that trailed Alejandro Valverde across the finish line yesterday.

Valverde won in a sprint and completed the seventh stage in 3 hours, 28 minutes, 29 seconds, an 84-mile ride that began and ended in Nice. Valverde, of Iles Baleares, finished second in the overall standings, followed by fellow Spaniard Constantino Zaballa of the Saunier Duval team.

Julich, 33, did not win any individual stage but seized the overall lead Friday with a 10th-place finish following a tough climb up Mont-Faron. He won with a total time of 22:32:13.

Six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong dropped out of the race Wednesday because of a sore throat.

GOLF

ELS WINS SECOND STRAIGHT TOURNAMENT

Ernie Els won his second straight tournament in the Middle East, rallying to take the Qatar Masters yesterday by one shot after carding a 7-under 65 in the final round.

The third-ranked South African, who finished with a 12-under 276, fired seven birdies to come back from a five-stroke deficit and edge Henrik Stenson of Sweden at the Doha Golf Course. Richard Green of Australia and Pierre Fulke of Sweden tied for third at 9 under. Els also won the Dubai Desert Classic last week, where he eagled the last hole for the win.

HARRINGTON EARNS FIRST PGA TOUR WIN

Padraig Harrington shot a 9-under 63 to erase a seven-shot deficit in the final round, then won the Honda Classic when Vijay Singh missed a 2 1/2 -foot putt to bogey the second playoff hole yesterday. After Harrington made a 4-foot putt to par the second extra hole, Singh pushed his par try right and the ball rimmed out. Singh missed a 15-foot birdie try on the first playoff hole that would have given him the win.

Joe Ogilvie also made the playoff but was eliminated when he bogeyed the first extra hole, missing the fairway and needing four shots to reach the green. Chad Campbell, the first round leader with a 64, closed with a 71 and finished 2 under.

SOCCER

ARGENTINA’S BATISTUTA ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Argentina soccer star Gabriel Batistuta, 36, is retiring, ending a career in which he became the nation’s career scoring leader with 56 goals in 77 games. Batistuta, who retired from Argentina’s national team three years ago, played on World Cup teams in 1994, ’98, and 2002. He also led Argentina to Copa America titles in 1991 and ’93.

TENNIS

FEDERER ADVANCES AT PACIFIC LIFE, MAURESMO UPSET

No. 1 Roger Federer opened defense of his Pacific Life Open title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Mardy Fish yesterday.

In an upset on the women’s side, Russian teenager Evgenia Linetskaya defeated no.2Amelie Mauresmo 2-6,6-2,7-5 in a third-round match.

– Associated Press