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SPORTS Saturday 15 July 2017

Barguil delivers Bastille Day win to France; Aru still leads

By JOHN LEICESTER and his Team Sky used an array back valuable time in the
SAMUEL PETREQUIN of tactics to try to regain overall standings, giving
AP Sports Writers the initiative after he lost Sky an intriguing card to
FOIX, France (AP) — War- the yellow jersey on Thurs- play in coming stages.
ren Barguil delivered a day to Aru, cracking on a From seventh overall at the
stylish victory to France savage final climb. start of the stage, Landa is
on Bastille Day, winning a Sky sent Froome’s team- fifth, just 1:09 behind Aru.
fast and furious truncated mate, Mikel Landa, rac- That means the Italian will
Stage 13 where Fabio Aru ing off ahead on the first have to watch both Sky
had to work hard to retain climb in a quick succession riders, not just Froome, like
his overall race lead. of three tough ascents. He a hawk in the last week of
Barguil rode into the finish was joined by fellow Span- racing before the July 23
in Foix as part of a four- iard Alberto Contador, finish in Paris. If either Landa
man group and took the looking to make a splash or Froome tries zooming off
win with a final sprint after on what has otherwise has ahead of him, Aru will have
adeptly negotiating the been a lackluster Tour for France’s Warren Barguil, wearing the best climber’s dotted jer- to chase them both or risk
last U-bend on a bridge the two-time champion. sey, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the thirteenth losing his yellow jersey.
over the Ariege river on Fri- Together, they built a lead stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 101 kilometers “It’s perfect for us,” Froome
day. but were caught by Nairo (62.8 miles) with start in Saint-Girons and finish in Foix, France, said. “Maybe we can play
Friday, July 14, 2017.
At 101 kilometers (63 miles), Quintana, a podium finish- Associated Press the same way in the com-
the stage from Saint-Girons er at three previous Tours, ing days.”
was the shortest of the and by Barguil in the clos- for the Sunweb team said. of the Tour’s longer stages Aru stuck to Froome like
race, barring the two time- ing section of the last climb. “I said before the start it with twice as much road to glue on the stage, showing
trials. With three Pyrenees From there, the foursome would be good if a French- cover. a cool head and strong
climbs, it delivered exactly sped together into Foix, man won. It’s exceptional.” Quintana zoomed over the legs as he rode much of
what Tour organizers were overlooked by its imposing Because of its brevity, the line in second place, fail- the way without any team-
hoping for: Full-on racing, 11th century castle deco- stage was raced at relent- ing to catch Barguil with mates, who couldn’t stay
with the French victory as rated with a French tricol- less pace, with riders at- his final sprint, with Conta- with the pace of his group
the cherry on top. or of red, white and blue. tacking from the first me- dor third. By finishing in that that included Froome and
Part chess-match, part test There, Barguil set French ters to the last. Barguil cov- leading pack well ahead the other top riders in the
of speed and climbing hearts alight with the win. ered the distance in 2 1/2 of the likes of Aru and thrillingly close fight for the
strength, Chris Froome and “It’s incredible,” the rider hours, half the time of some Froome, Landa clawed overall Tour victory.q

Kenseth has no regrets over

end of the ride with Joe Gibbs

By DAN GELSTON perately angling to hook Gibbs had to put Jones
AP Sports Writer a new generation of fans, somewhere in 2018.
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Matt 20-something drivers such Kenseth’s fate had been in
Kenseth knows his NASCAR as Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson limbo — though it seemed
career will soon fade to and Erik Jones could lead obvious Jones was being
black. But the same week the charge into the next de- groomed for the ride —
he was given a pink slip by cade and beyond. Some and Gibbs made the trans-
Joe Gibbs Racing, Kenseth of that evolution comes action complete, leaving
hit the road for a Metallica at the expense of veteran the 45-year-old driver with- Matt Kenseth walks through the garage area after a NASCAR
concert instead of pound- drivers such as Kenseth, the out an ‘18 car. auto racing practice at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in
ing the pavement to find a 2003 Cup champion and “I’m just glad they finally Loudon, N.H., Friday, July 14, 2017.
ride in 2018. a two-time Daytona 500 put it out so I don’t have to
“Actually made me feel 20 champion, who got the pretend anymore,” Kens-
again for about four hours, official news this week he eth said at New Hampshire He also has no timetable at the end of the season.
which was pretty fun,” was out at JGR at the end Motor Speedway. “Every- for a decision but there are Team owner Rick Hendrick
Kenseth said. of the season. body can ask you about it, few options. has promising prospect Wil-
If Kenseth actually was 20, The 21-year-old Jones will everybody can move on The best bet could be a liam Byron, a 19-year-old
he’d be an in-demand take Kenseth’s job in the and get back to racing.” one-year landing spot at Xfinity Series driver, and
driver for a Cup Series rap- No. 20 Toyota. Jones is on Kenseth said Friday he had Hendrick Motorsports driv- could consider Alex Bow-
idly undergoing a chang- a one-year loaner con- no hard feelings toward the ing the No. 88 Chevrolet. man following a solid stint
ing of the guard. Young is tract to Gibbs’ sister team organization and has no Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s ride will subbing last season for the
cool. And for a sport des- Furniture Row Racing, and concerns about his future. be open once he retires injured Earnhardt. q