RAPINOE POSTERS DEFACED IN NYC

Posters featuring Women’s World Cup star Megan Rapinoe were defaced, with slurs written on them, and police in New York City said they are investigating the action as a hate crime, according to multiple reports.

The vandalized posters were found inside the Bryant Park subway station in midtown Manhattan.

The city honoured Rapinoe and her teammates, who won the United States’ fourth Women’s World Cup title, on Wednesday with a victory parade through the Canyon of Heroes.

Rapinoe, a lesbian, is active in LGBTQ issues and is outspoken about gender equity. She also notably sparred with President Donald Trump on Twitter while the team was in France for the World Cup competition.

Hate crimes in New York City are up 64 per cent this year, NBC News reported, citing statistics from the NYPD.

Defending champion Geraint Thomas gained time on his rivals in a brutal finish to the sixth stage of the Tour de France as several top guns cracked in the lung-busting ascent to La Planche des Belles Filles on Thursday.

Belgian Dylan Teuns prevailed after a long breakaway at the end of the 160.5 km ride from Mulhouse ahead of Italian Giulio Ciccone, who claimed the overall leader’s yellow jersey to follow his first place in the mountains classification at the Giro d’Italia.

But all eyes were on the overall contenders in the 7 km final climb at an average gradient of 8.7 per cent that featured a final gravelled section where standing up on the pedals — a usual position for the pure climbers — was almost impossible.

Thomas took full advantage of the terrain to produce brutal acceleration and take fourth place, 1:44 behind Teuns, who snatched his maiden stage win on a grand tour.

Overall, Ciccone leads France’s Julian Alaphilippe, who wore the yellow jersey in the morning, by six seconds after the Deceuninck-Quick Step rider had to settle for sixth place.

Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre signed a twoyear deal to remain with the team and return to free agency when he is 25.

The restricted free agent was free to entertain offers from other teams, but the Suns retained refusal rights and planned to match any reasonable contract.

Oubre will make $30 million — $15 million per season — after an impressive showing with the Suns over the second half of last season.

Upon being acquired along with Austin Rivers from the Washington Wizards in December, Oubre played 40 games and averaged 16.9 points and also posted career-best averages in rebounds (4.9) and assists (1.6) before a season-ending thumb injury in March.