21.   He had started the round three shots ahead of his nearest rivals.

22.   His nearest rivals entering the final round will be fellow Swede Olle Karlsson and Irishman Paul McGinley.

23.   His nearest title rival, Fogarty, had crashed out while trying to prevent the two Japanese riders from winning that race.

24.   His delight was still tempered by his concern he will be sweeping the roads for his nearest rivals Saturday.

25.   His fluid, unorthodox style of skiing left him almost half a second ahead of his nearest rival Ivica Kostelic of Croatia.

26.   Lee Westwood, his nearest rival, is a stroke further back.

27.   Millar chose yellow and gave the green to his nearest rival Armstrong.

28.   Middlesbrough also holds a goal-difference advantage over its nearest rivals, which is the deciding factor if teams are tied on points.

29.   Nimes is bottom of the second division and trails its nearest rival by five points.