Thomas keeps lead as mountains loom

With the Pyrenees looming, Geraint Thomas had his last calm ride wearing the yellow jersey at the Tour de France on Sunday.

The Welshman’s rivals for cycling’s most prestigious prize, which include teammate Chris Froome in second place, mostly held back over the hilly Stage 15 with a decisive final week of racing ahead.

Thomas kept the overall lead for a fourth consecutive day before the race pauses for riders to rest today.

That break will precede a stretch in the Pyrenees that will feature three mountain stages before an individual time trial on the Tour’s penultimate day.

“There are three big, big days left, and then the time trial, so (I) just take each day as it comes and we will see what happens,” Thomas said.

Thomas maintained his advantage of 1 minute, 39 seconds over defending champion Froome. Tom Dumoulin, the world time trial champion, remained third at 1:50 back.

ODDS AND ENDS

MLB: Nationals All-Star closer Sean Doolittle experienced soreness in his left foot when throwing off a mound and does not have a timetable for his return. Doolittle has not pitched in a game since July 6 due to toe inflammation. He was wearing a walking boot Sunday.

Tennis: Fabio Fognini won his second ATP title this year after beating Richard Gasquet 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the Swedish Open final. The third-seeded Italian clinched his seventh title overall, all of them on outdoor clay.

■ Top-seeded Alize Cornet of France won her sixth career title by beating Mandy Minella of Luxembourg 6-4, 7-6 (6) in the Ladies’ Championship Gstaad, Switzerland, final.

NHL: Wild defenseman Matt Dumba signed a fiveyear, $30 million contract to avoid arbitration. Dumba, 23, racked up career-highs in goals (14) and assists (36) while appearing in all 82 regular-season games.