First-timer in yellow jersey
LA PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES, France — In an incredible climax to the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar crushed fellow Slovenian rider Primoz Roglic on Saturday in the last stage before today’s finish in Paris, snatching away the overall lead to all but guarantee he’ll win cycling’s showpiece race in his first attempt. Pogacar, who turns 22 on Monday, is set to become the event’s youngest champion since World War II after flying on the penultimate stage, a lung-burning uphill time trial in which he devoured the 57-second lead that had made Roglic look impregnable before the showdown in the mountains of eastern France. Equally amazing: This is Pogacar’s first Tour. Among others who pulled off the feat of winning at their first attempt: the great Eddy Merckx of Belgium, who also won his next four Tours after his first in 1969. Given Pogacar’s young age and breathtaking talent, his first also looks unlikely to be his last. Pogacar was sensational, not only ripping the iconic race leader’s yellow jersey from Roglic but comfortably winning the 22-plus-miles time trial, too.
HOCKEY
› EDMONTON, Alberta — The well-rested Dallas Stars took it to the banged-up Tampa Bay Lightning with their play and physicality early, and goaltender Anton Khudobin closed it out with 22 third-period saves to win the Stanley Cup Final opener 4-1 on Saturday night. Joel Hanley and Jamie Oleksiak continued the Stars’ postseason trend of getting goals from defensemen, and second-round Game 7 hat trick hero Joel Kiviranta scored late in the second period to provide some breathing room. Khudobin continued to shine in his first playoffs as the starter, making 35 saves, some of them in spectacular fashion. He was at his best in the third, when the Lightning found their legs and tilted the ice toward him. He came up big on two penalty kills and strengthened his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Game 1 started out looking every bit like Dallas had four days off since winning the Western Conference final and Tampa Bay just one after clinching the East. The Stars, who grinded their way through the playoffs with tight-checking toughness, came out hitting, knowing the Lightning are not fully healthy.
AUTO RACING
› BRISTOL, Tenn. — Kevin Harvick steamrolled his way into the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs by holding off Kyle Busch on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway for his series-best ninth victory of the season. Harvick denied the reigning champion his first win of the season when he took the lead a little more than 100 laps from the finish and held off every challenge from Busch the rest of the way. Busch furiously tried to catch him as the two weaved their way through lapped traffic, but Harvick held firm in the No. 4 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. Only six cars finished on the lead lap in a tepid event at the 0.533-mile bullring revered for bumping and banging. Track officials sold all 30,000 tickets allowed — making Bristol one of the largest sporting events since the pandemic — and the spectators crowded the fence as Harvick celebrated his second win of the playoffs. Harvick also won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway to open the playoffs.