Riders in the 2018 Tour de France "will set off from the Passage du Gois, a causeway that Atlantic Ocean tides cover twice a day." Tour organizers unveiled the first three stages of the '18 route, "which will start in the western Pays de La Loire region on June 30." The Gois is a 4km road "flooded by tide twice a day." It links the island of Noirmoutier to the mainland (AP, 2/28).
A Barcelona legends side will take on its ManU counterpart at Camp Nou on June 30. The game had "originally been scheduled for last summer, but several of the players due to be involved had commitments revolving around the European Championships in France, meaning the fixture had to be called off." There will also be a return leg between the two sides, "which will take place at Old Trafford on Sept. 2" (ESPN.com, 2/28).
England's women's national football team "will play Italy and Austria in April" in its last home games before this summer's Euro in the Netherlands. Mark Sampson's side will host Italy at Port Vale's Vale Park on April 7, "three days before meeting Austria at MK Dons' Stadium MK" (BBC, 2/27).
Both teams contesting the Pakistan Super League final match in Lahore will be "accorded five-tier security to avert any eventuality." The provincial cabinet committee decided to provide the PSL final participants "security almost equal to that of heads of states." The match will be played at Gadhafi Stadium on March 5. Police and army contingents will be "deployed in and around the stadium," while no parking will "be allowed within 400 yards of the venue" (DAWN, 2/28).
Pro12 side Ospreys was "forced to move" its European Rugby Challenge Cup quarterfinal against Top14 side Stade Français to the Principality Stadium to "avoid clashing" with Swansea City's Premier League match with Middlesbrough on the same day. The game with Middlesbrough was moved to April 2 for "television purposes" (WALES ONLINE, 2/28).
Three venues in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are "being considered for the April 23 bout between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, with an announcement expected this week." The Sevens Stadium in Dubai and Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium and Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium "are all under consideration." Pacquiao's legal adviser Michael Koncz said, "Yes, the fight will be held in the UAE" (ESPN.com, 2/27).
