that the 26-year-old had retired after being placed on the order of

Sardinia for Fabio Aru. Sicily for Vincenzo Nibali.The 100th edition of the Giro dItalia will pay homage to the countrys two top riders with a start that will include stages on both of Italys largest islands.Revealed Tuesday in Milan, the May 5-28 race will start with three stages in Sardinia to honor Aru, followed by two legs in Sicily for Nibali.Aru last year became the first Sardinian to wear the Giro leaders pink jersey, when he finished second to Alberto Contador, while Nibali, a Sicilian, won in 2013 and 2016.Aru and Nibali were teammates at Astana the past four years but Nibali recently left to lead the new Bahrain-Merida team, setting up a duel in the Giro.After crossing the Strait of Messina by boat, the race will climb north through Calabria and Puglia and eventually visit all but four of Italys 20 regions.To celebrate the 100th edition we have to celebrate all of Italy, race director Mauro Vegni said.Next years race will also include many of the legendary climbs from the Giros history, including a finish at Oropa in the northwest region of Piedmont, where Marco Pantani won in 1999, and two ascents in a single stage of the high-altitude Stelvio Pass, near the Swiss border.There are two time trials -- a 39.2-kilometer (24-mile) route through the Umbrian winemaking region of Sagrantino in Stage 10 and a 28-kilometer (17.4 mile) concluding leg from Monzas Formula One track to Milans cathedral.With four mountain-top finishes and a total of 67.2 kilometers (42 miles) of time trialing, the route could be more challenging than the recently announced 2017 Tour de France, which has only three mountain-top finishes and 36 kilometers (22 miles) of time trialingStill, Tour winner Chris Froome, 2014 Giro champion Nairo Quintana and two-time Giro winner Alberto Contador have all indicated they plan to focus on the Tour next year.But the time trials could attract rising Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin, who is a specialist at racing against the clock.Here are some aspects of the 2017 race:--VOLCANIC SLOPES:After a rest day to transfer from Sardinia, Stage 4 on May 9 starts in the coastal town of Cefalu and features the races first uphill finish on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna -- where Contador won in 2011.Stage 10 sets up for sprinters with the finish line in Messina, Nibalis birthplace, having started in Pedara on the slopes of Etna.The finish is really tough, and theres little vegetation so it can be windy, Nibali said of the Etna stage. Getting the pink jersey going into my hometown would be great, but lets take it step by step.Organizers had already announced details of the three stages in Sardinia.The Giro will set off from the port town of Alghero on an undulating 203-kilometer (126-mile) route along the islands northern coast to Olbia.Stage two is a hilly 208-kilometer (129-mile) leg from Olbia to Tortoli, which could also end in a sprint, while the final day in Sardinia is a mainly flat 148 kilometers (92 miles) from Tortoli to Cagliari.---IN VINO VERITAS: For the third consecutive year, the Giro will feature a time trial dedicated to one of Italys top winemaking regions.This year its Stage 10 from Foligno to Montefalco through the Umbrian vineyards where the bold, red variety Sagrantino is produced.Nearly 40 kilometers (25 miles) in length, the undulating stage could have a big impact on the overall standings.Along the same lines, a 2015 stage from Barbaresco to Barolo celebrated Piedmonts top wines and a rainy leg this year from Radda to Greve in Chianti traversed the heart of the Tuscan red winemaking region.---HEROES AND LEGENDSItalian cycling icons Gino Bartali, Ercole Baldini, Fausto Coppi, Marco Pantani and others will be remembered with stages in their honor.Stage 11 runs through the Appenine Mountains after beginning in Pont a Ema, where Bartali was born -- directly in front of the museum dedicated to the 1936, `37 and `46 winner.The next days stage starts in Forli, where 1958 champion Baldini was born.Stages 13 and 14 are dedicated to five-time winner Fausto Coppi. The 13th leg ends in Tortona, where the Campionissimo died in 1960 and the next leg starts in Castellania, where Coppi was born in 1919.Stage 14 concludes with a climb to Oropa, where Pantani posted one of his more memorable victories in 1999.---DECISIVE DOLOMITESThe race will likely be decided in the Dolomites Range in the final week.Stage 16 figures to be one of the races toughest challenges. The stage begins with an ascent of the steep and narrow Mortirolo then the Stelvio is climbed both from the Italian and Swiss sides before a final descent into Bormio. At an altitude of 2,758 meters (9,050 feet), the Stelvios peak will represent the races highest point -- traditionally known as the Cima Coppi (Coppi peak).Stage 18 could be even tougher. While only 137 kilometers (85 miles) long, the races showcase stage will take the peloton over four major mountain passes -- Pordoi, Valparola, Gardena and Pinei.The next day features the fourth summit finish at Piancavallo, while the penultimate leg from Pordenone to Asiago includes a difficult climb to Monte Grappa -- the scene of fighting in both world wars.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf Ante Zizic Jersey . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Kyrie Irving Cavaliers Jersey . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. https://www.thecavalierslockerroom.com/John-Henson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Brad Daugherty Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. LeBron James Cavaliers Jersey . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. And then there was one.Tayte Pears AFL retirement on Thursday left skipper Jobe Watson as the last of 12 banned Bombers to declare his intentions once his doping suspension ends.Pears has chosen to pursue a career as a firefighter rather than attempt to continue his injury-plagued, 70-game AFL career.The club announced on Thursday that the 26-year-old had retired after being placed on the order of merit for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.The challenges of the last few years have inhibited my ability to undertake the demands of AFL football and I feel it is the right time for me to move on with the next stage of life in the best interests of my future, Pears said via a club statement.I really appreciate all the support I have received from my teammates, the members and supporters and wish everyone at Esssendon all the best for the future.ddddddddddddPears was one of 34 past and present Essendon players handed doping suspensions by ASADA for their part in the clubs ill-fated 2012 supplements program.Of the 12 who were still at the club when the bans were enforced, Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley, Travis Colyer, David Myers, Brent Stanton, Ben Howlett, Heath Hocking and Tom Bellchambers have all re-committed to the Bombers.Michael Hibberd has requested a trade, likely to Melbourne, while 31-year-old Watson is mulling retirement.Coach John Worsfold said on Wednesday that he expects to meet with Watson in the next week or so to determine the club captains future. ' ' '