Sydney - Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong ended more than three years of retirement Sunday in a 51-kilometre race around the streets of the Australian south-coast city of Adelaide.

More than 100,000 spectators lined the barriers for the twilight 30-lap stand-alone criterion that serves as a curtain raiser for the start Tuesday of the six-day Tour Down Under.

The criterion will reacquaint Armstrong with the demands of staying upright in a bunch of 133 riders going helter-skelter round narrow streets.

"It wouldn't be my first choice," the 37-year-old Texan said of the mad-dash criterion. "The main thing is to stay out of trouble, stay up front and avoid the drama."

Sydney - Olympic champion Elena Dementieva won her second WTA title in as many weeks with a defeat of Dinara Safina 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 at the Medibank International on Friday.

The Russian managed to edge past her compatriot, who was playing a second final in eight days after the Hopman Cup a week ago in Perth.

Dementieva has dropped just one set this week after also claiming the trophy in Auckland. She ended last season with a title in Luxembourg.

Sydney, Jan. 16 : Swiss tennis star Roger Federer believes achieving tennis''s holy grail, the calendar grand slam is possible as playing surfaces in the modern era have become less distinct.

The calendar grand slam includes winning the four majors, the Australian Open, Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open in one year, a feat achieved by Australian great Rod Laver 40 years ago. Few will recall that Laver also won the all grand slams in one year in the non-open era.

Sydney, Jan. 16 : Australian Test opener Phil Jaques has delayed his return to action by a further week after experiencing discomfort in his back during training.

Jaques, who missed the entire Test summer after undergoing surgery for a bulging disc, was due to return to the crease in grade cricket for Sutherland this weekend.

"Phil experienced a small amount of discomfort after a training session during the week, as a result of which his surgeon recommended allowing an extra week for recovery," Cricket NSW said in a statement.

Sydney, Jan. 16: Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath believes that pocket rocket David Warner can eventually replace Matthew Hayden - but needs to be fast-tracked into the New South Wales Sheffield Shield level first.

The pace great endorsed Warner''s Australia limited overs selection but says the cavalier opener should cut his teeth with New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield before being seriously considered as a candidate for the forthcoming Test tour of South Africa.

Sydney  - Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong set hearts racing Friday in Adelaide as the clock ticked to his return to competition after a three-year lay-off.

Thousands of cycling fans lined the streets of the south coast city to glimpse the 37-year-old Texan on training rides ahead of Sunday's prologue to the six-day Tour Down Under, beginning Tuesday.

Sunday's twilight race is a criterium on an Adelaide street circuit that is unlikely to give an indication of Armstrong's potential.