Australian beats heat to win Tour de France stage
Australia’s Caleb Ewan claimed his second victory in this year’s Tour de France when he prevailed in a bunch sprint at the end of a crash-hit 16th stage on Tuesday. The Lotto Soudal rider beat Italian Elia Viviani and Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen, who took second and third place, respectively, at the end of a 177-kilometre ride around Nimes as temperatures reached 40 C. Defending champion Geraint Thomas took yet another tumble, but escaped unhurt to stay 1:35 behind the overall leader, Julian Alaphilippe of France. “He’s OK, he fell on his left side. He was checked by the team doctor, it doesn’t seem to be serious,” his Team Ineos sports director Nicolas Portal said.
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded for the contract of one of their former players, right wing David Clarkson, in a deal that sent backup goaltender Garret Sparks to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. As part of the deal, Vegas also sent the Maple Leafs a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Clarkson, 35, is a former 30-goal scorer for the New Jersey Devils, where he played his first seven NHL seasons before inking a seven-year, US$36.75 million free-agent deal with the Leafs before the 2013-14 season. He scored 10 or more goals on six occasions, the last being in 2014-15 when Toronto traded him to Columbus in his second season with the Maple Leafs. The Toronto native has not played in the league since 2015-16 when he suited up just 23 times with the Blue Jackets. He was dealt to Vegas in June 2017 before issues with three degenerative discs in his spine have ceased any realistic hope for his career to continue. The Leafs are expected to transfer Clarkson to their longterm injury list to free up salary cap space.
Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died after sustaining brain injuries during a TKO loss Friday night in Maryland. He was 28. Dadashev collapsed while leaving the ring after his junior welterweight bout with Subriel Matias. Trainer Buddy Mcgirt had thrown in the towel after the 11th round. Dadashev left the arena on a stretcher and was taken to University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center, where he underwent surgery for a brain bleed before being placed in a medically induced coma. The 140-pound fight at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., marked the first loss of the St. Petersburg native’s career. Dadashev was 13-1 with 11 knockouts.
The Nashville Predators signed forward Colton Sissons to a seven-year, Us$20-million contract Tuesday. The Predators avoided arbitration and locked up the 25-year-old through the 2025-26 season. Sissons set career highs with 15 goals and 30 points in 75 games in 2018-19. A second-round pick by Nashville in 2012, Sissons has tallied 77 points (37 goals, 40 assists) in 265 games over five seasons.