South African Impey takes casual Stage 9
Daryl Impey of South Africa won Stage 9 of the Tour de France yesterday in Brioude, France, on a day when the top contenders for the overall race victory were happy to take it easy far behind on the hilly trek through the Massif Central mountains.
Impey pointed to the South African flag printed on his jersey as he crossed the line in the agricultural town of Brioude, having beaten Belgian rider Tiesj Benoot in a two-man sprint.
They were part of a 14man group that rode away shortly after the stage start in the mining town of SaintEtienne. Favorites for the Tour title in Paris on July 28 cruised into Brioude more than 16 minutes later, so casually that some chatted and drank from water bottles. French rider Julian Alaphilippe, who’d been cheered on by roadside fans celebrating France’s Bastille Day holiday, kept the race lead and there were no changes of note in the positions of other top contenders, including defending champion Geraint Thomas. He is still fifth overall, 72 seconds behind Alaphilippe.
“It’s just amazing, the support from the public,” Alaphilippe said. “It’s a day I will never forget.”
After a harrowing and exhausting Stage 8, and with tough climbs to come in the Pyrenees and, later, in the Alps, top contenders took a breather on the 170.5 kilometer (106 miles) stage of undulating hills peppered with three climbs of note.
Impey is only the second South African stage winner at the Tour — Robert Hunter also won a stage in 2007.
Hamilton wins again
Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton won a record sixth British Grand Prix in Silverstone, England, after jumping ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas by taking advantage of the safety car being deployed . ...
Simon Pagenaud won his third race of the season as IndyCar’s championship fight tightened in Toronto.
The win on the streets around Exhibition Place is the third of the season for Pagenaud, but first away from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Frenchman won the Indy 500 and the road course race at the speedway to save his job with Team Penske.
Jones, Sun top Indy
Jonquel Jones had 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks to help the Connecticut Sun beat the Indiana Fever, 76-63, in Indianapolis to snap a four-game road skid.
Jasmine Thomas added 14 points and Shekinna Stricklen scored 12 points, hitting four 3-pointers, for the Sun (11-6).
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever (6-12) with 14 . ...
Riquna Williams scored 23 points, hitting five 3-pointers, and Nneka Ogwumike added 17 with 15 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Dream 76-71 in overtime in Atlanta . ...
Diamond DeShields had a season-high 26 points, matching her career high with five 3-pointers, and Allie Quigley scored eight of her 12 points in the decisive third quarter to help Chicago beat Dallas 89-79, in Arlington, Texas.
Jantel Lavender had 16 points for the Sky (9-8).
Leaf joins ESPN
Ryan Leaf has been hired by ESPN to be a college football analyst, another step in the remarkable comeback of the former Washington State star who has battled drug addiction and prison time.
Leaf will be paired with play-by-play announcer Clay Matvick and will mostly call games on ESPN2 and ESPNU. The former No. 2 overall NFL draft pick for San Diego in 1998 worked for the Pac-12 Network last season and has been co-hosting a show on SiriusXM.
Leaf was third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1997 and played in the Rose Bowl.
After a tumultuous fouryear NFL career, Leaf ’s personal life fell apart. He spent two years in prison after being arrested in 2012 for breaking into a home in Montana to steal drugs.