Alaphilippe stripped of yellow jersey by Tour de France jury

PRIVAS, FRANCE » Julian Alaphilippe’s ride in the yellow jersey is over, and his rivals had nothing to do with it.

The Tour de France leader was stripped of the coveted shirt on Wednesday after being handed a time penalty for illegally receiving provisions near the end of Stage 5, which had been largely uneventful until then.

British rider Adam Yates was moved up to first place in the revised general standings after Alaphilippe was docked 20 seconds.

“I don’t think any rider would want to take the jersey like this,” Yates said. “I just found out. Nobody wants to take a jersey like this.”

Only minutes after versatile Belgian Wout van Aert won the stage in a sprint finish, TV footage showed Alaphilippe grabbing a bottle from a staff member of his Deceuninck-Quick

Step squad about 11 miles from the finish.

Under racing rules, riders are not allowed to receive provisions — either drinks or food — during the final 12.5 miles of a stage. Deceuninck-Quick Step did not immediately explain why the staff member was posted inside that zone and why he handed out the bottle to the French rider.

Georgia QB Newman opting out

ATHENS, GA. » Jamie Newman, the Wake Forest transfer who was projected to start at quarterback for No. 4 Georgia, is opting out of the season to prepare for the 2021 NFL draft.

Newman announced his decision on his Twitter account. He said he decided to skip the season “after much prayer and discussion with my family.”

Newman said his decision was influenced by “the uncertainties of this year amid a global pandemic.”

The decision leaves Georgia’s quarterback race wide open. Coach Kirby Smart said Saturday another transfer, former Southern Cal starter, JT Daniels, has not received full medical clearance in his return from a knee injury that ended his 2019 season.

Preakness won’t allow fans

BALTIMORE » The Preakness Stakes will be run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore Oct. 3 without fans, making it a spectator-free sweep of the three Triple Crown races this year because of the global pandemic.

The Maryland Jockey Club and Stronach Group that owns and manages Pimlico made the announcement y that fans wouldn’t be allowed in for the Preakness that was rescheduled from its original May 16 date.

Stronach Group chairman and president

Belinda Stronach said the company and Maryland racing had been working with state and local health officials to set a plan for the Preakness. Ultimately, the move was made to limit race day to essential personnel only.

No agreement in Messi meeting

Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona looked no closer to being resolved after the first meeting between the player’s father and club officials on ended without an agreement, a person with knowledge told The Associated Press.

The person said club president Josep Bartomeu met for more than 90 minutes with Jorge Messi to discuss the the Argentina star’s request to leave the club, but that neither part made any concessions.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the private meeting.