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A15
sports Friday 22 July 2022
Jonas Vingegaard drops Pogacar in

final Tour mountain test

NBA 10-time All-Star James Harden discusses his upcoming
J. Harden x J Shed wine collaboration that debuts in
September at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Sunday,
July 17, 2022.
Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, and Slovenia’s Tadej Associated Press
Pogacar, wearing the best young rider’s white jersey, climb Col d’Aubisque pass during the
eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 143.5 kilometers (89.2 miles) with start in
Lourdes and finish in Hautacam, France, Thursday, July 21, 2022. Associated Press AP source: Harden,
HAUTACAM, France (AP) give up, I pushed my limits himself at the front to guide 76ers agree on 2-year,

— Barring a crash, Jonas and I’m proud of today. To- his leader.
Vingegaard is likely to be day the best man won.” Standing up on his ped- $68 million deal
wearing the yellow jersey Vingegaard then went solo als, Pogacar tried in vain
when the Tour de France to claim a second stage to drop Vingegaard with
ends in Paris on Sunday. win following his success another sharp attack clos- By TIM REYNOLDS
Vingegaard responded to at the Col du Granon last er to the summit before AP Basketball Writer
a series of attacks from de- week in the Alps on the day Geraint Thomas acceler- James Harden has agreed to terms on a two-year
fending champion Tadej he took control of the race. ated. Pogacar waited contract to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers and will
Pogacar on Thursday and Pogacar crossed the finish patiently in Vingegaard’s make about $14.5 million less this coming season than
ultimately dropped his main line more than one minute wake then went off again he could have earned under his previous deal, a per-
rival in the last big mountain behind Vingegaard. with Vingegaard respond- son with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednes-
stage of this year’s race to The final big mountain ing as they overtook and day.
increase his overall lead to stage of this year’s race dropped Thomas in the Harden will sign a deal worth slightly over $68 million,
three minutes, 26 seconds. got off a lively start with a grueling ascent. paying him about $33 million this season and with a
With only one big test left — myriad of attacks outside Pogacar went full speed $35 million player option for the 2023-24 season, ac-
a 41-kilometer (25.5-mile) the city of Lourdes. in the technical down- cording to the person who spoke to The Associated
time trial scheduled for Vingegaard’s Jumbo-Vis- hill and Vingegaard was Press on condition of anonymity because the team
Saturday — the Jumbo-Vis- ma team managed to put forced to ride hard to fol- has not announced the deal.
ma leader from Denmark the powerful and versa- low the pace. The Danish ESPN first reported the agreement being finalized be-
seems all but guaranteed tile Belgian Wout Van Aert rider had a scare when his tween the 76ers and the 10-time All-Star guard.
to win his maiden Tour title in the day’s breakaway. back wheel swerved but it Harden had a $47.4 million option for this coming sea-
after reaching the Hau- By sending the strong was Pogacar who made son that he declined last month, saying he wanted
tacam resort on his own. all-rounder up front, the a mistake. He misjudged a to give the 76ers flexibility to improve their roster and
“It’s incredible. I told my mighty Dutch team made curve and went down in compete for a championship. Giving back that much
girlfriend and daughter sure he would be available the gravel on the side of money — Harden basically gave himself a 30% pay cut
this morning that I wanted later in the stage to pace the road. for this coming season — allowed the 76ers to make
to win the stage for them. Vingegaard. “It took me a little bit by sur- moves such as signing power forward P.J. Tucker and
I’m happy and proud that I And it was indeed Van Aert prise, and there was gravel small forward Danuel House earlier this month.
won for them,” Vingegaard who made Pogacar crack on the side and I hit the “We got some really good pieces this summer, so now
said. “I need to stay fo- with his frenetic tempo in ground, but I’m OK,” Poga- it’s time for us to go do the hard work,” Harden said
cused and keep taking it the last climb. Van Aert car said. in an interview with AP earlier this week to promote
day by day. I don’t want completed the stage po- The crash took place at the upcoming launch of a new wine label bearing his
to talk about winning the dium. a moderate speed and name.
Tour yet. Let’s talk about it Earlier, Pogacar had asked the UAE-Emirates rider was Harden’s plans have been clear since Philadelphia’s
in two days.” Brandon McNulty to set a quickly back on his bike season ended: He was committed to staying with the
Pogacar, the two-time de- fast pace on the narrow with road rash on his left 76ers and committed to help them get better.
fending champion, took all and winding roads lead- thigh. Vingegaard then “I’ll be here,” Harden said on May 12, when Phila-
the risks and crashed on a ing up to the Col de Span- waited for Pogacar and delphia’s season ended with a playoff loss to Miami.
downhill as he relentlessly delles, the only unprec- both men shook hands be- “Yeah, I’ll be here. Whatever makes this team, what-
tried to isolate Vingegaard. edented climb of the 2022 fore their final showdown ever allows this team to continue to grow and get bet-
Back on his bike, Pogacar Tour. Pogacar launched on the road to Hautacam. ter and do the things necessary to win and compete
cracked about four kilo- his first attack in that climb. Thomas, the 2018 Tour at the highest level.”
meters from the finish in the But Vingegaard looked champion, finished the Harden is a three-time scoring champion and aver-
final ascent, with his hopes unfazed and immediately stage in fourth place, 2:54 aged 22.0 points and 10.3 assists during his time with
of winning a third consecu- took the wheel of his rival. off the pace. The Ineos- Brooklyn and Philadelphia last season. The seven-time
tive title all but dashed. The duo was later joined by Grenadiers leader was All-NBA player was the 2018 NBA MVP and is a mem-
“I went all in for the yellow,” Vingegaard domestique third overall, eight minutes ber of the league’s 75th anniversary team.q
Pogacar said. “I did not Sepp Kuss, who positioned behind Vingegaard.q