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BELLEGARDE-SUR-VALSERINE, France -- Thomas Voeckler of France led a five-rider breakaway to win the 10th stage of the Tour de France as the race entered the Alps on Wednesday, while Bradley Wiggins retained the overall lead. Jason Witten Cowboys Jersey . The 194.5-kilometre ride from Macon-sur-Valserine marked a return to racing after Tuesdays tumultuous rest day in which a Cofidis rider was suspended by his team following his arrest by police in a doping probe. For the first time in the Tour, the peloton scaled the 17.4-kilometre Grand Colombier pass - classified as one of the hardest climbs in pro cycling in part for two tough patches with steep, 12 per cent gradients. Voeckler, the Europcar rider who wore the yellow jersey for 10 days last year, earned his third Tour stage victory in a decade-long career competing in cyclings premier race. With a few kilometres to go, Voeckler dusted off the breakaway group, beating runner-up Michele Scarponi of Italy by 3 seconds. Jens Voigt of Germany - at 40, the oldest rider this year - was third, another 4 seconds slower. "I really pulled this out with my guts," Voeckler said. "I only knew Id won with about 5 metres left." Voeckler said he didnt ride for about 10 of the 20 days immediately preceding the Tour start because of knee pain that still hasnt fully dissipated. At several points during the stage, Wiggins came under attack from some of his biggest rivals -- but nearly all failed to make up any ground. Italys Vincenzo Nibali tried to surge ahead in a big descent; Belgiums Jurgen Van Den Broeck attempted to jump ahead on the days big climb; reigning champion Cadel Evans tried to shake Wiggins near the end -- but to no avail. "It was pretty straightforward today," said Wiggins, the Team Sky leader. "Fortunately the break went pretty early and we didnt have to go crazy (chasing it) ... it all sort of went to script today, really." An early breakaway group of 25 riders -- all far back in the overall standings -- set the early pace, chiseling out a lead of nearly eight minutes on Wiggins and the other contenders. But as the riders started the big ascent, that breakaway bunch splintered. By the top, four were out in front: Luis Leon Sanchez of Spain, Italys Michele Scarponi, Dries Devenyns of Belgium and Voeckler -- who led them over the top. The pack was more than five minutes behind. On the downhill, Nibali benefited from help from Liquigas teammate Peter Sagan and sped ahead, gaining a minute on Wiggins. But a mid-grade climb remained, and the Sky team erased Nibalis lead by the finish. "We sort of gambled a bit that wed be able to take them back in the valley, which we did," Wiggins said. "We knew he was going to do that, its his ace card, and we were waiting for it, and it came. "We just didnt panic." Evans said he was perhaps a bit too hesitant as Nibali surged. "Maybe it was a missed opportunity for something," the BMC leader said. "(But) Sky have built a team for exactly this course and these kinds of situations, so it leaves opportunities few and far between." Doping cases past and present have cast a shadow over this Tour. Just days before the Tour, news emerged of an investigation by French state prosecutors into allegations of improper use of a controlled corticoid by Europcar in last years Tour - claims the team has vigorously denied. Voeckler said the stage win "is really special because we had criticism before the Tour, because it really hurt me." Some fans in Belgium at the start of the Tour on June 30 booed Europcar riders in the wake of the news. "In a small way, my victory today was an answer to that," Voeckler said. The stage came a day after the arrest of Cofidis rider Remy Di Gregorio of France at his teams hotel as part of a doping probe in southern Marseille. The team has provisionally suspended him. Wiggins finished the stage 3:16 behind Voeckler, in 13th place, in a group including most of his rivals in the quest to win the yellow jersey when the Tour ends in Paris on July 22. With Wiggins under a close escort by his Sky teammates, only Van Den Broeck was able to erase 32 seconds with a surge late in the stage. The Belgian trails Wiggins by 4:48 in eighth place. Overall, Wiggins leads Evans by 1:53. Wiggins teammate, Christopher Froome, is 2:07 back in third place. Nibali is fourth, 2:23 back, and Russias Denis Menchov is fifth, 3:02 behind. Riders embark Thursday on what Wiggins called the hardest stage of the race this year - a relatively short 148-kilometre trek from Albertville to La Toussuire, but with two of the toughest climbs in pro cycling and an uphill finish. Evans said hell be looking for any opportunity. "I think the attacking riders will be more rewarded tomorrow," said Evans, adding that he felt "a bit empty, a bit tired" after Wednesdays stage. Jason Witten Pink Jersey . While Liverpool has dithered about the future of the 45,000-capacity Anfield, Manchester United has expanded Old Trafford to accommodate 76,000 people and Arsenal moved into the 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium in 2006. Hamstrung by the limitations of its 120-year-old ground, Liverpool has struggled to generate the income needed to produce its first English league title since 1990 with United and Arsenal having won a total of 16 championships since then. Emmitt Smith Elite Jersey .E.I. Rocket shut out the Saint John Sea Dogs 4-0 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. http://www.fanscowboysroom.com/demarcus-ware-jersey . Votto had 4,475,180 votes in the fourth update from Major League Baseball released Tuesday, supplanting injured Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. DeMarcus Ware White Jersey . And after just 71 regular-season games, the Lakers decided Brown wasnt the man for a pressure-packed job. The Lakers fired their coach on Friday after a 1-4 start to his second season in charge, making one of the earliest coaching changes in NBA history. Brandon Carr Womens Jersey . The 33-year-old cornerback was the fifth overall pick in 2003. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2009. He was targeted in coverage last season, and the Cowboys released him last month.MINNEAPOLIS -- Jake Peavys strong start for the White Sox reached a critical point with runners at the corners and Twins All-Star Joe Mauer at the plate. After paying Peavy a visit, Chicago manager Robin Ventura liked what he heard -- and what he saw after their talk. Peavy struck out eight over eight smooth innings, Alejandro De Aza hit a go-ahead infield single off Scott Diamonds leg in the eighth and the White Sox beat Minnesota 3-2 on Wednesday. Mauer popped out to end the eighth with speedsters Denard Span on third and Ben Revere on first. Ventura said he wasnt sure if hed leave Peavy in when he walked from the dugout to the mound. He wanted to make sure Peavy was still comfortable facing Mauer, the three-time American League batting champion, in that situation. "He still wanted it. I trust him," the first-year manager said. Peavy (9-7) allowed five hits and walked two. He said he was confident against Mauer, based on the way hed pitched to him previously. "Just decided to stay hard in and try to get a ball in the air," Peavy said. One of the runs Peavy gave up was unearned, due to a way-wide token pickoff throw to second base in the first inning that sailed into centre field. The miscue let Revere move to third, and he scored on Mauers groundout. Danny Valencia homered in the second, but Peavy toughened up after that to lower his ERA to 3.04 and notch just his third victory since May. Addison Reed pitched a shaky-but-scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 21 attempts and the White Sox improved to 9-1 in their last 10 one-run games. They have won seven of nine overall. "Just wanted to make it more interesting," Reed said, smiling. Brian Dozier flied out to end the game with runners on second and third. "Thats part of being a closer. I dont think it can always be clean," Ventura said. "Hes used to it. It doesnt seem to affect him, even in big games when it doesnt seem to go so well." Diamond (9-5) had one out in the eighth inning with Tyler Flowers on third when De Aza hit a sharp liner that glanced off Diamonds thigh. The right-hander was a bit stunned, and his short throw home was well off target as Flowers scored the go-ahead run. De Aza created his own run after leading off the game with a single, moving up on a stolen base, a groundout and Adam Dunns sacrifice fly. Flowerss almost hit into an inning-ending double play in the fifth after a diving stop by Dozier, but the shortstop had trouble getting the ball out of his glove and Flowers beat the relay throw to first as Alex Rios scored the tying run. DeMarcus Ware Pink Jersey. The AL Central-leading White Sox began the first day of the month 2 1/2 games ahead of Detroit. This is the fifth time since 2000 that they have started August in first place, and including their 2005 World Series title they made the playoffs in three of the previous four. Theyre in good shape to go again, with the addition of Francisco Liriano to a rotation deepened this year by youngsters Chris Sale and Jose Quintana and stabilized by Peavys return to good health. "One thing with the Whities: They have a good pitching staff, and youre going to face some tough pitchers. Doesnt matter which one they throw out there, including Liriano. Its going to be a battle scoring runs," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Bothered by an elbow injury in 2008, an ankle problem in 2009 and shoulder trouble in 2010 and 2011, Peavy is back on track. This was his 21st start of 2012, his most since 27 turns in 2008 for San Diego. The 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner made a total of only 51 starts in the majors over the three seasons prior to this one. Satisfying? "Not yet. I feel excited to be able to help up to this point. But we want to win," Peavy said: "It certainly does feel gratifying to be able to be healthy for the team, like Ive wanted to be the whole time that Ive been here." NOTES: The White Sox are off Thursday before beginning a nine-game homestand by hosting the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. RHP Phil Humber (5-5, 5.90 ERA) pitches for the White Sox against Zack Greinke, who will make his second start for the Angels. ... Liriano will make his second start for the White Sox on Sunday, followed by Peavy on Monday. Sale will pitch Tuesday with 10 days of rest, and Quintana will throw Wednesday after an eight-day break while the White Sox use a six-man rotation to protect their young pitchers from overuse. ... The Twins start a four-game series in Boston on Thursday. RHP Samuel Deduno (2-0, 3.13 ERA), coming off his strongest of four starts this season, faces LHP Jon Lester (5-8, 5.49). ... The White Sox have drawn only two walks and committed seven errors in their last four games. ' ' '
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