CYCLING: Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay pulled out of the Giro d’Italia yesterday after injuring his eye with the cork from a bottle of prosecco as he celebrated Tuesday’s historic stage win on the podium.

Alberto Dainese won yesterday’s stage 11 from Santarcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia in a bunch sprint.

The 24-year-old speedster from Padua emerged from the pack to pip Fernando Gaviria and Simone Consonni on the line. Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez retained the race leader’s jersey.

CRICKET: The ECB has reported a pre-tax profit of £21.5 million for the year ending January 2022, with a record 14 million people participating in the sport.

The news represents a much improved picture from the previous year, when the impact of the coronavirus pandemic hit attendance, hurt the recreational game and contributed to losses of £16m. Turnover was up £96m to a total of £303m and the governing body’s cash reserves stand at  £22.9m.

Funding — £25m over the next five years — has  been committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion following the all-game action plan agreed in November.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Relegation-haunted Everton have centre-back Michael Keane and midfielder Donny van de Beek available for tonight’s crucial home game against Crystal Palace.

Manager Frank Lampard is still without midfielder Fabian Delph and defender Yerry Mina but is hopeful defender Ben Godfrey, out for a month with a thigh problem, could rejoin the squad.