<table> </table> <strong><span class="subhead">2009 Tour of Georgia canceled</span></strong></p><p>The Tour de Georgia canceled its 2009 race because of financial struggles yet plans to return in 2010. The seven-day cycling race could not find a sponsor the last two years and still owes money</p><p>Interest in the race waned after <strong>Lance Armstrong </strong>retired in 2005, and it was hoped his return to the bike this season would generate interest. A revised schedule of races Armstrong planned to ride did not include the race. That leaves the Tour of California and the Tour of Missouri as the only premier bike races in the U.S. that attract top international teams.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Boats may face pirates</span></strong></p><p>The second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race for 70-foot yachts is scheduled to start today in Capetown, South Africa. The second leg, features a new stop in Cochin, India, and the crews must decide whether to risk sailing a shorter course and encountering pirates off the coast of Somalia or sailing a much longer distance into the Indian Ocean.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Judge denies driver&#8217;s request</span></strong></p><p>A federal judge in Miami has rejected requests that the tax-evasion trial of race-car driver <strong>Helio Castroneves </strong>be delayed until November of next year. Lawyers for Castroneves and Penske Racing had sought a delay to ensure that the driver was available for the entire season.</p><p>Lawyers for Penske Racing, Inc., said if the trial were held between March and October it would have to change drivers now to avoid the risk that Castroneves would be unavailable for the 2009 IndyCar series. Castroneves is under contract with the team through 2009.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Baseball makes its pitch</span></strong></p><p>Baseball, one of seven sports fighting for two spots on the program for the 2016 Olympics, made its presentation to the International Olympic Committee. The other sports making presentations were softball, golf, karate, rugby, roller sports and squash. All seven sports were rejected for the 2012 London Games in voting three years ago.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Els leads in Singapore</span></strong></p><p><strong>Ernie Els</strong>, who had to finish his first round and then play his second, moved to 6 under par at the halfway mark of the Singapore Open and was tied for the lead with <strong>Simon Dyson </strong>of England. About half the field was unable to finish the second round because of delays.</p><p>&#8226;<strong>Angela Stanford</strong> shot a 6-under 66 in the second round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational and held a 2-stroke lead over <strong>Yani Tseng</strong>. Ochoa, playing on her home course in Guadalajara, Mexico, is 10 strokes back.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Elsewhere</span></strong></p><p>&#8226;Golfer <strong>Seve Ballesteros</strong>, recovering from surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor, is likely to be released from intensive care next week.</p><p>&#8226;Fans of an Argentine soccer team were so desperate to get to a game that they hijacked two buses and forced the drivers at knifepoint to go faster. Police arrested 63 men and three women, who never made it to the game.