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sports Saturday 23 July 2022
Laporte wins Tour Stage 19 and ends drought for France

CAHORS, France (AP) — change in the general
Christophe Laporte ended classification. Vingegaard
the host's drought of stage had an overall lead of 3
winners when he surged minutes, 26 seconds over
out of the peloton in the fi- defending champion Tadej
nale of the 19th stage and Pogacar, and 2018 cham-
claimed his maiden win on pion Geraint Thomas was
the Tour de France on Fri- still in third place, 8 minutes
day. off the pace.
Just two days before the Organizers initially said
race ends in Paris, Laporte Pogacar managed to
spared the blushes for take five seconds off
French riders who had not Vingegaard as he sprinted
tasted a victory all month. to fifth place in Cahors but
Only twice in race history they ultimately credited the
has France not produced pair with the same time.
a stage winner, in 1926 and Pogacar tried to escape
1999. from the peloton in the last
Laporte made his move hour but Van Aert reacted
after a trio of breakaway quickly and did not let him
riders was caught with go before Alexis Gougeard,
1.5 kilometers left in the Fred Wright and Jasper
188.5-kilometer flat stage Stuyven moved away with
to Cahors in southwest- 32 kilometers left.
ern France. On paper, the Van Aert pulled the pelo-
stage looked enticing for ton to set up Laporte, while
pure sprinters but Laporte Michael Matthews, from
made the most of the slight the BikeExchange-Jayco
uphill section to the finish to team, also took part in the
deny them. chase to pave the way for
A support rider for race sprinter Dylan Groenewe-
leader Jonas Vingegaard gen to deliver.
at Jumbo-Visma, Laporte Once he caught the break-
won ahead of Jasper Phil- away, Laporte accelerat-
ipsen and Alberto Dainese. ed again and never looked
It was the fifth stage win this back.
month for the mighty Dutch There is just one big test left
team that also includes before the race reaches
Wout van Aert. The versa- Paris — a 41-kilometer time
tile rider from Belgium did France's Christophe Laporte celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the nineteenth stage trial on Saturday — and
not compete for the stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 188.5 kilometers (117.3 miles) with start in Castelnau- Vingegaard seems all but
win on Friday, offering the Magnoac and finish in Cahors, France, Friday, July 22, 2022. guaranteed to win a maid-
chance to Laporte. Associated Press en Tour title after he built his
"I'm super happy, I can't comfortable cushion at the
believe it. Wout told me, said. "I was already fully work, but to win a Tour come true." top of the standings in the
'Today is for you,'" Laporte satisfied by our great team stage is a childhood dream There was no significant Alps and Pyrenees.q

Mets ace deGrom to make at least 1 more rehab start

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets filiate a few days later and cuse.
ace Jacob deGrom will then get slotted into the big It's still unclear which af-
make at least one more league rotation. filiate deGrom will pitch for
minor league rehab start That means deGrom defi- next.
before rejoining New York's nitely won't return in time The 34-year-old deGrom
rotation. to face the crosstown New was initially supposed to
The two-time Cy Young York Yankees at Citi Field throw live batting practice
Award winner, sidelined all next Tuesday or Wednes- Tuesday, but the outing
season by a stress reaction day. The earliest possibilities was pushed back two days
in his right scapula, threw for his season debut would after he experienced mus-
60 pitches over five innings be July 31 at Miami or a cle soreness in his pitching
in a simulated game Thurs- three-game series in Wash- shoulder.
day at the team's complex ington from Aug. 1-3.The DeGrom hasn't pitched
in Florida. right-hander has already in the majors since July 7,
Mets manager Buck Show- made three minor league 2021. He missed the sec-
alter said deGrom felt good rehab starts totaling 8 2/3 ond half of last season with New York Mets' Jacob deGrom delivers a pitch during the first
Friday and his next step will innings. He's allowed an right forearm tightness and inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the
be a throwing session Sun- unearned run and five hits a sprained elbow. Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, July 7, 2021, in New York.
day as part of a work day with 15 strikeouts and one Even without him, the Mets Associated Press
at Citi Field in New York. Af- walk. He went four innings had a 2 1/2-game lead in
ter that, if all goes well, he'll during the most recent one the NL East over defend- Atlanta as they got set to day night at home against
pitch for a minor league af- last week for Triple-A Syra- ing World Series champion open the second half Fri- the San Diego Padres.q