weekend picks

apologies for the lateness of this post, but i've been feeling slightly under the weather today. i've reached that sad point where 4 beers gives me a headache the next morning. i am now officially old.

on to happier thoughts, and a stacked weekend...

tour du haut var, saturday/sunday.

this starts in about 15 minutes, so i'll have to make it quick. one of my favourite early-season french races, based in provence, and always conducive to some attacking riding over 2 days of climby, demanding racing. if you're a casual cycling fan, then this is the type of event that usually provides a really good advert for the sport. the weather has been terrible in france this week, which can only make the racing less predictable. i'm stoked, cycling is here again!

UFC 110, 3am sunday.

although this isn't the best card, i'm still looking forward to UFC 110, simply for the implications that it could have for the heavyweight division going forward. the winner of the main event, which sees rising star cain velasquez squaring off against the veteran anthony 'big nog' nogueira, will, providing they aren't subject to an injury suspension, be the first in line to have a crack at the returning brock lesnar, possibly in july. this should be a real test for velasquez, who has stormed through his matches so far.

although he's never been at his best in the UFC, wanderlei silva (pictured) is a fan favourite, and with good reason. but he needs a win. having spent a few years as an undersized light-heavyweight, he needs to reinvent himself as a larger middleweight, and his contest with the trash-talking brit michael bisping will hopefully mark the start of better times for a true legend of MMA.

you can get a more in-depth preview here.

fc porto v sporting braga, 8.15pm sunday.

this is being billed as the last chance for porto to remain relevant in the race for the liga sagres title. i happen to think that's stretching it a bit, but it's certainly a very important match for both clubs. more than anything, an away win against the champions for the last 4 seasons would really reinforce how serious braga are about breaking the dominance of the bgig 3 in portugal. these games are often tense, nervous affairs, but in terms of importance, this is one not to be missed.