Ian Drake will step down as British Cycling chief executive in April, the national governing body has announced.Drakes association with the national governing body began in 1995 and he has been chief executive since 2009.But he quits after a year of highs and lows.Great Britain topped cyclings medal table at the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, but there have been numerous controversies too.In a statement, Drake said: Some time ago I made the decision that the Rio Games would be my last as CEO of British Cycling.I believe that the end of this Olympic cycle is the natural moment for a new CEO to take the organisation forward into the Tokyo Games and beyond.Drake in recent weeks has secured an eight-year sponsorship agreement with banking giant HSBC, replacing Sky as British Cyclings lead sponsor, and been part of the team which won the bid to bring the 2019 UCI Road World Championships to Yorkshire. However, recent months have been the most challenging of his leadership.Shane Sutton left his role as British Cycling technical director in April, 100 days prior to the Rio Olympics, following discrimination allegations.Sutton denies the allegations, which prompted an independent review. The review, commissioned by British Cycling and UK Sport, is scheduled to conclude imminently.And British Cyclings relationship with Team Sky is under scrutiny, too. Media giant Sky remains sponsor of the professional road team run by Sir Dave Brailsford.Team Sky and British Cycling have been intertwined since the road teams inception in 2009 and first season in 2010, with many staff and riders employed by both teams.Team Sky are involved in a furore following the decision to seek permission for Sir Bradley Wiggins to use otherwise banned substances, and Brailsfords squad is now part of a UK Anti-Doping investigation into allegations of wrongdoing in cycling.Brailsford was British Cycling performance director until April 2014, when he left to concentrate on Team Sky. He worked closely with Drake.Wiggins use of the powerful anti-inflammatory triamcinolone was granted before three of his biggest races between 2011 and 2013, including the 2012 Tour de France which he won.Wiggins, Brailsford and Team Sky deny wrongdoing, insisting the use was medically necessary to deal with a pollen allergy that aggravates Wiggins long-standing asthma condition.There is no suggestion any rules were broken and the therapeutic use exemptions were approved by the UCI, cyclings world governing body, and the relevant anti-doping authorities.The news of Drakes departure means British Cycling is now searching for two leading figures.British Cycling on Wednesday announced it was beginning the recruitment process for a new performance director.And now it is also searching for a chief executive.Drake can celebrate many successes during his tenure as cycling has become Britains most successful Olympic sport, winning seven out of 10 gold medals on the track at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and six out of 10 in August in Rio.Wiggins became the first British Tour winner in 2012, in the 99th edition, with Chris Froome subsequently winning the race three times.Meanwhile, British Cycling now has 120,000 members. Drake added: I have been involved with British Cycling in some form for almost 20 years, the last eight as CEO, and it is an organisation that I will always love.I have been privileged to be a part of the amazing success we have experienced over those two decades and I know that it will go on to even greater heights in the years to come. All organisations, particularly those operating at the highest level of sport, periodically require new leadership to take them to greater heights and tackle their new challenges - now is the right moment for both myself and British Cycling to move on.British Cycling president Bob Howden thanked Drake for overseeing unprecedented success and growth.Howden added: It is also testament to his commitment to the organisation that he has chosen to announce this now so that we have time to conduct a comprehensive search for his successor. B. J. 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Jonathan Isaac Jersey .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. DENVER -- The St. Louis Cardinals picked up a win before a pitch was even thrown when reserve outfielder Jose Martinez captured a playful, pregame staredown with Colorado reliever Carlos Estevez.Too bad for the Cardinals that didnt count in the standings. They sure couldve used it.Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam, German Marquez pitched five solid innings for his first major league win and the Rockies slowed the Cardinals playoff chase with an 11-1 victory on Wednesday.The Cardinals, who had won four straight, entered the day tied with New York and San Francisco atop the NL wild-card standings. The Mets and Giants both played later.Arenado broke open the game in the second with his NL-leading 39th homer of the season. His fourth career slam made it 6-1.Its a pitch that simply caught too much of the plate.Stayed straight, starter Luke Weaver said. For it to flatten out at such a big moment right there is disappointing.Weaver (1-4) was roughed up by the Rockies, surrendering seven hits and six runs in two innings. Before this game, the right-hander had allowed 12 earned runs in his last seven starts combined.The Cardinals had some early momentum when that standoff went their way just after the anthem.Heres how it unfolded: Estevez and Martinez stood near their dugouts -- with their baseball cap over their heart -- and refused to back down until the other moved first.Estevez blinked first and made a winner of Martinez, who celebrated before retreating to the dugout. Estevez said manager Walt Weiss pulled him in out of fear of being ejected.Its not fun to have one less bullpen guy, Estevez explained.Martinez was going to see this thing through to the end -- no matter the consequences.The umpire asked me, `Why you do that? Im like, `When youre a rookie and a big league guy asks you to stand up there, I stand up there, said Martinez, who had a pinch-hit single in the seventh. The most important thing is we have fun and the fans enjoyed it.This was a memorable day for Marquez (1-0), who made his first big league start after three appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed one run and struck out three.At 21 years, 212 days, Marrquez was the second-youngest pitcher in Rockies history to earn his first win, the team announced.dddddddddddd The youngest was Jamey Wright (21-206).A great pitching performance from the kid today, Weiss said. Its easy -- easy velocity. Very effortless.The hard-throwing Marquez was acquired in January as part of the deal that sent outfielder Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay. Marquez pitched a majority of the season for Double-A Hartford, where he was chosen as the pitcher of the year in the Eastern League.Marquez worked his way out of several dicey situations against the best road team in baseball. He allowed his only run in the second, when Jeremy Hazelbaker led off with a double and later scored on Kolten Wongs sacrifice fly.The Cardinals took two of three from Colorado during a series in which their starting pitchers were brilliant at the plate. Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright and Weaver went a combined 4 for 4 with two doubles and six RBI. Weaver had a single in his only plate appearance.DJ LeMahieu got two hits and drove in two runs to raise his average to .351. He holds a slight lead over Washingtons Daniel Murphy in the NL batting race.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is hoping to take live batting practice Friday at Wrigley Field before the Chicago Cubs series. ... C Yadier Molina had the day off.Rockies: Third base coach Stu Cole sat out another day after being hit in the head by a ball that caromed off another during batting practice Tuesday.THIS & THATRockies catcher Tom Murphy had a three-run homer as part of a five-run seventh. ... Arenados grand slam gives him 128 RBI this season, which leads the majors.UP NEXTCardinals: After a day off, RHP Mike Leake (9-10, 4.54 ERA) opens a three-game series Friday in Chicago. RHP Jake Arrieta (17-7, 2.96) goes for the Cubs.Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (11-9, 4.13) takes the mound Thursday to begin a four-game series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Chatwood is 7-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 11 road starts this season. ' ' '