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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 8 July 2017
Tour set for mountains and Froome keen for separation

By ANDREW DAMPF and ter Mark Cavendish aban-
JOHN LEICESTER doned the race with a
AP Sports Writers broken shoulder this week.
NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES, World champion Peter Sa-
France (AP) — After a gan was disqualified from
stage decided by millime- the Tour for causing Cav-
ters and sprinters, it’s time endish’s high-speed crash.
to see some significant The victory helped Kittel
gaps between the leaders take the green points jer-
in the Tour de France. sey from French national
The race heads into the champion Arnaud De-
mountains this weekend mare, who finished 11th.
and yellow-jersey holder Kittel is aiming to wear
Chris Froome is looking for- green all the way to the fin-
ward to taking measure of ish in Paris on July 23.
his challengers. Sagan won the green jer-
“This weekend, we will see sey in the past five Tours.
exactly where everyone’s Froome said the stage
at,” Froome said, explain- wasn’t as easy as it looked,
ing that the top 10 riders under the searing sun. He
are still too close together said he drank nearly 15
for him to clearly identify bottles of water.
one sole rival. Germany’s sprinter Marcel Kittel, second left, sprints to the finish line ahead of Norway’s Edvald “Every kilometer you think
Stage 8 from Dole on Sat- Boasson Hagen, center and second place, and Norway’s Alexander Kristoff , second right, to win about what can happen
urday finishes at the Rous- the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 213.5 kilometers (132.7 miles) with start that could change the
ses ski station in the Jura in Troyes and finish in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France, Friday, July 7, 2017 race,” Froome said. “If you
Range, close to the bor- all season training for.” Friday, the wine-themed lucky.” It was Kittel’s 12th turn left or right or if there is
der with Switzerland. Three Froome remained 12 sec- Stage 7 was won by Marcel career win in the Tour, tying wind. It was a day for stay-
climbs on the 187.5-kilo- onds ahead of Sky team- Kittel in a photo finish. him with Erik Zabel for the ing in front.”
meter (116-mile) route will mate Geraint Thomas and The German made his German record. The southeasterly route
serve as a warm-up for the 14 seconds ahead of Stage move nearly too late and Kittel clocked slightly more passed by the mustard
extremely tough Stage 9 in 5 winner Fabio Aru of Italy. edged Edvald Boasson Ha- than five hours over the capital of Dijon then con-
the Alps on Sunday, which Dan Martin of Ireland was gen of Norway by six milli- mostly flat 213.5-kilometer cluded with a circuit
has seven climbs, including fourth, 25 seconds behind, meters to win his third stage (132-mile) leg from Troyes through picturesque vine-
three with the “hors cate- and Froome’s former team- of the race, and second in in champagne country yards of Burgundy.
gorie” or beyond rating. mate, Richie Porte, was fifth two days. to Nuits-Saint-Georges in Like in the other three sprint-
The last climb on Saturday at 39 seconds back. Kittel seemed sure he won, the heart of the Burgundy ing stages, an early break-
“could shake things up a “Fabio Aru is certainly holding up three fingers to winemaking region. away — this one featur-
bit,” Froome said. threatening,” Froome said. celebrate his three stage Michael Matthews of Aus- ing Manuele Mori, Yohann
“The bigger obstacles will “But I certainly wouldn’t say wins. “It was super, super tralia crossed third. Gene, Dylan van Baarle
come on Sunday. It should he’s any more of a threat close,” Kittel said. “When Boasson Hagen took over and Maxime Bouet — was
be a big weekend of rac- than Richie Porte.” there’s a photo finish, you the leadership duties at caught shortly before the
ing. That’s what we spend Back down in the flats on have your doubts. I was Team Dimension Data af- finish.q

Villa, Bradley highlight

MLS All-Star picks by fans

Germany’s 2014 World Cup this,” Nikolic said. “We can The All-Star XI along with
team. He is joined on the be proud.” MLS team affiliation:
MLS squad by Chicago Atlanta United defender Goalkeeper: Tim Howard
Fire teammate Nemanja Greg Garza and team- (Colorado Rapids).
Nikolic as first-time All-Stars. mate Miguel Almiron are Defenders: Greg Garza
The MLS team will face Real also first-time All-Stars. (Atlanta United), Graham
Madrid and possibly star Goalkeeper Tim Howard Zusi (Sporting Kansas City),
Cristiano Ronaldo on Aug. of the Chicago Rapids will DaMarcus Beasley (Hous-
2 at Chicago’s Soldier Field. anchor a back line that in- ton Dynamo).
Nikolic, who joined the Fire cludes fellow U.S. national Midfielders: Bastian Sch-
this season, leads MLS with players DaMarcus Beasley weinsteiger (Chicago Fire),
In this May 7, 2017, file photo, New York City FC forward David 16 goals through 19 games. of the Houston Dynamo Miguel Almiron (Atlanta
Villa (7), of Spain, takes a shot with Atlanta United midfielder “It’s really a fantastic feel- and Graham Zusi of Sport- United), Kaka (Orlando
Carlos Carmona (14), of Chile, defending during the first half of
a Major League Soccer game, in New York. ing that I will be part of this ing Kansas City. City SC), Michael Bradley
team and we can repre- Orlando’s Kaka completes (Toronto FC).
By ANNE M. PETERSON Schweinsteiger are among sent the league. We will the 10 fan selections. The Forwards: David Villa (New
AP Sports Writer the fan selections for next play against the best team 11th starter is Toronto’s Se- York City FC), Nemanja
NYCFC’s David Villa, To- month’s Major League in the world with the best bastian Giovinco, who was Nikolic (Chicago Fire), Se-
ronto’s Michael Bradley Soccer All-Star Game. player in the world, and I picked in a vote tied to EA bastian Giovinco (Toronto
and Chicago’s Bastian Schweinsteiger was on hope everybody will enjoy Sports’ FIFA 17 video game. FC).q