They felt like they had already won the Sun Belt title

They felt like they had already won the Sun Belt title

18.10.2019 17:25

PARIS -- After the beer and champagne celebrations, Chris Froome delivered a sobering and emotional message from the Tour de France winners podium on the Champs-Elysees.Ten days after the Bastille Day truck attack in Nice that killed 84 people, Froome -- a Kenyan-born British rider who often trains on the French Riviera -- reminded everyone what the Tour stands for.These events put sport into perspective but they also show why the values of sport are so important to free society, Froome said on Sunday in a prepared speech. We all love the Tour de France because its unpredictable but we love the Tour more for what stays the same -- the passion of the fans for every nation, the beauty of the French countryside and the bonds of friendship created through sport. These things will never change.Thanks for your kindness in these difficult times, Froome added, switching to French as he addressed the local fans. You have the most beautiful race in the world. Vive le Tour, Vive la France.Cheered on by thousands of fans undeterred by the recent spate of violence across Europe, Froome celebrated his third Tour title in four years. He finished safely at the back of the main pack in the final stage, arm-in-arm with his teammates during the mostly ceremonial leg ending on the cobblestones below the Arc de Triomphe.Immediately afterward, Froome was greeted by his wife and infant son, who he took in his arms.To Michelle my wife and my son Kellan, your love and support make everything possible. Kellan, I dedicate this victory to you, Froome said, also thanking his teammates and coaches.Andre Greipel of Germany won the 21st leg in a sprint finish.At the start of the stage, Froome dropped back to his Team Sky car to collect bottles of beer and distributed them to each of his eight teammates for a celebratory round.Then it was time for the traditional flute of champagne.Froome rode a yellow bike to go with his yellow jersey, helmet, gloves and shoes. His teammates had yellow stripes on their jerseys and yellow handlebars on their bikes.Froome also still had bandages on his right knee and elbow, the result of a downhill crash two days ago.Froome finished with an advantage of 4 minutes, 5 seconds ahead of Romain Bardet of France, while Nairo Quintana of Colombia placed third overall, 4:21 back.Only four men -- five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain -- now have more Tour victories than Froome.Ive definitely grown to appreciate this history of the sport a lot more, Froome said. Being in the position that Im in now, Im understanding how tough it is to win a race like the Tour de France. To win back-to-back editions and now to be a three-time winner is incredible. Its beyond what Ive ever dreamed.While other big riders of his generation like Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali have all three Grand Tours -- the Giro dItalia, the Tour de France and the Spanish Vuelta -- Froome plans to keep his focus on the Tour.It would be my dream to keep coming back to the Tour de France for the next five, six years, he said. Ive already won it three times and I wouldnt say the novelty is wearing off. ... Its the biggest event we have on our calendar and to be here in the yellow jersey, its every cyclists dream.Compared to his wins in 2013 and 2015, Froome has become more adept at handling speculation that he is doping. After facing constant accusations during last years race -- including a spectator yelling `doper! and hurling a cup of urine at him -- Froome released some of his training data at the end of last year.I think Ive put that to rest now, he said. Ive really done a lot in terms of offering up my physiological data and trying to be open to people as much as I can while protecting a competitive advantage at the same time.Froome took the yellow jersey with a daring downhill attack in Stage 8, padded his lead with a late breakaway in Stage 11, and overcame a motor bike crash on the legendary Mont Ventoux and a fall on a slippery descent in the Alps with two stages to go.Tour director Christian Prudhomme complimented Froome for showing panache after his downhill attack in the Pyrenees, and the fans have treated him better, too.The atmosphere on the roads has been fantastic, Froome said. The French public, they make this race what it is.Out of respect for the Nice victims, Froome refused to discuss race details the day after the attack. But he lauded Tour organizers for deciding to keep the race going.Its been a really strong sign, he said, that life goes on and its not going to be stopped by these terrorist activities.---AP Sports Writer Samuel Petrequin contributed to this report. Nike Air Max Billigt Rea . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Nike Air Max 720 Sverige . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. http://www.reaairmaxsverige.com/air-max-200-rabatt.html . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Nike Air Max 95 Herr Rea . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Nike Air Max Sverige . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. TROY, Ala. -- The Arkansas State Red Wolves used big plays, smothering defense and a well-executed gamble to prove they are still the team to beat in the Sun Belt Conference.Chris Humes caught a 31-yard pass on a fake punt and recovered a fumble in the end zone to help Arkansas State upset Troy 35-3 on Thursday night.The Red Wolves (6-4, 6-0) gained the inside track for a fifth league title in six years after starting the season 0-4.Four days earlier, Troy (8-2, 5-1; No. 25 AP) had become the first ranked Sun Belt team after winning seven straight games. But the leagues top scoring offense committed five turnovers and couldnt reach the end zone.We took it very, very personally, said Arkansas State defensive end Chris Odom, who forced the fumble that led to Humes touchdown. Top 25, they thought they were already No. 1 in the conference. They felt like they had already won the Sun Belt title.Well, they had to go through us tonight and we showed them how we play.Arkansas State has won 15 straight conference games. The first Sun Belt team to start 8-1, Troy scored first but wound up losing to the Red Wolves for the fourth straight year.They came in here as champions and theyre leaving as champions, Trojans coach Neal Brown said. We havent earned that yet.Humes had a big role in two straight touchdowns. Arkansas State turned a fake punt into a 7-3 halftime lead. Cam Echols-Luper took the punt snap and hit a wide open Humes, who raced down the left sideline to inside Troys 10.Three plays later, Justice Hansen hit a leaping Kendall Sanders in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown. The Red Wolves at one point had more punts (7) than complettions (6).ddddddddddddHumes recovered a fumble in the end zone on the first play of the second half after Odom knocked the ball loose from quarterback Brandon Silvers. It was one of many plays by the defense that Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson said came up as big as you possibly can.That was about as complete a game defensively as you can play from beginning to end, Anderson said. They came up aces. We all knew they were capable of it.Hansen started slow but completed a few balls downfield in the second half. He finished 13 of 24 for 149 yardsSilvers was 20 of 39 for 207 yards with two interceptions. The Sun Belts leading rusher, Jordan Chunn, was limited to 51 yards on 16 carries.THE TAKEAWAYArkansas State: Has won 18 of its last 21 Sun Belt road games. Gained 126 yards in the first half and 262 in the second. JaVon Rolland-Jones tied the Sun Belt career record with his 26th sack.Troy: The Trojans had only lost four fumbles all season, but twice coughed up the ball in Arkansas State territory before halftime and fared worse the third time. An offense that came in averaging 474 yards and 38.1 points was held to 262 yards.QB PRESSURE: Troy allowed two sacks after coming in having given up a nations best three in nine games.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Trojans had only a few days to celebrate being in the Top 25 , but are still having their best season in years.UP NEXTArkansas State faces Louisiana-Lafayette in the second of three straight Sun Belt road games.Troy visits Sun Belt opponent Texas State trying to regroup. ' ' '


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