CHAMROUSSE, France -- If Vincenzo Nibali was looking happier Friday after the Tour de France rode into the Alps, heres why: His top rival fell out of contention, he gained nearly a minute on his next-biggest challenger and oh, he won Stage 13 to boot. Jason Williams Kings Jersey . On a sunbaked and melting Alpine road, the 29-year-old Italian, cemented his control of cyclings greatest race with a solo-finish victory that was an afterthought to gaining time on other title contenders. Team Skys Richie Porte, who began the day in second, saw his title hopes all but vanish after he lost about 9 minutes to Nibali on the last climb along the grueling 197.5-kilometre (122-mile) trek from Saint-Etienne to Chamrousse ski station. Ever cautious, calm and understated after his stage win, Nibali noted that three big Alpine climbs still await Saturday and other punishing ascents are on tap in the Pyrenees next week. "For the coming days, I only know that I have to remain quiet," he said. But in the winners circle, where he collected the yellow jersey for the 11th time this year, Nibali perhaps let slip a bit more happy emotion -- knowing that a first Tour victory for an Italian since Marco Pantani in 1998 just got a little closer. "I expect more attacks tomorrow in another very hard stage and next week," Nibali said. "My advantage over Porte is good now. Hes the rider I feared the most in the closing time trial." If Nibalis mountain dominance keeps up -- on Monday, he won the only other high-mountain stage so far -- the 54-kilometre (33-mile) time-trial in Stage 20 from Bergerac to Perigueux is the only real challenge left in his way. The unexpected has gone Nibalis way. He surprised himself by winning an up-and-down Stage 2 stage in the hills and dales of Yorkshire and capturing his first Tour yellow jersey. He mastered cobblestone treachery in Stage 5, when 2012 Tour champ Chris Froome crashed out. And then, two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador went out five stages later after a fast downhill crash fractured his tibia. In a sport where many dominant riders in past years later turned out to be drugs cheats, Nibali confronted the issue of doping a day earlier, saying he expected questions about it. "This theme belongs to the past," he said, crediting recent efforts like enhanced testing and the biological passport to clean it up. This 101st Tour could become the third straight in which the winner locked up victory from before the halfway point. Last year, Froome was in yellow from the eighth stage onward. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins had the shirt for good after Stage 7. Nibali took it in Stage 2, lost it in Stage 9, and regained it a day later. Hes hoping to take it home after a largely ceremonial ride on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on July 27. A comeback by a rival would be exceptional by recent standards. After the 13th stage last year, Froome had three other riders within minutes. In 2012, Wiggins had only two. After Fridays ride, no one is within three minutes of Nibali. The first of two days in the snow-capped Alps lived up to its billing as the daunting final climb of 18 kilometres (12 miles) with an average 7.3 per cent gradient shook up the overall standings. The ride was hot: black tar on the recently resurfaced road to Chamrousse melted. Big crowds lined the route, including fans dressed as superheroes and one as a scantily clad Borat -- the Sacha Baron Cohen film character. As riders embarked on the final climb, the pack was mostly together and Valverdes Movistar team was pushing the pace. But when it hit the steepest part, Porte struggled and dropped off the back and Nibali briefly turned his head to look. Valverde attacked a short while later, but Nibali and the others reeled him in. Nibali said he felt "better and better" as he climbed, despite the heat of more than 30 degrees Celsius (86 F). When the Italian saw "Richie Porte in trouble," he turned his attention to gaining time on Valverde, he said. After two riders raced ahead, the Italian leader struck -- jumping out of his saddle, and pedaling while standing in the upright riding position known in French as "la danseuse" or the dancer. He overtook them, and went on to win. Portes troubles also meant others climbed in the standings: Frances Romain Bardet moved up to third, countryman Thibaut Pinot was fourth, and American Tejay van Garderen fifth. Nibali appeared to be taking a risk that his effort to distance his rivals could come back to haunt him. By his own admission a day earlier, he said that he feared the second Alpine day more. Saturdays 177-kilometre (110-mile) stage takes riders over three tough climbs from Grenoble to Risoul -- including the Izoard pass that is one of the hardest under cyclings ranking system. Some of his rivals seem to be accepting that Nibali may win. "Vincenzo is the strongest rider in the race, but after him, there is a place to take," Bardet said, referring to the final podium. Nibali "played it well", said FDJ.FR team manager Marc Madiot. "Now he can say Ive got all the cards, I can do what I want, when I want and if you try to slap me, I give two slaps in return." Bogdan Bogdanovic Kings Jersey . Joakim Nordstrom and Garret Ross also scored for Chicago and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Tomas Tatar scored twice for Red Wings (2-3-0), Jonathan Ericsson added a goal and Gustav Nyquist had three assists. Iman Shumpert Kings Jersey . The Calgary skip fell 10-8 to Swedens Oskar Eriksson in semifinal action Saturday and will face Switzerlands Peter de Cruz for the bronze medal (Saturday at 10pm et/7pm pt on TSN2). https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Demarcus-Cousins-City-Edition-Jersey/ . UCI President Brian Cookson said Wednesday the commission will investigate allegations "that the UCI has been involved in wrongdoing in the past -- allegations which have done so much to hurt the credibility of the UCI and our sport.It just keeps getting better and better. My statement is in reference to Blue Bombers quarterback Drew Willy and his pressure performance in Winnipegs 27-26 win over Hamilton. His game was good - 31 out of 43 completions - but it was the last drive that was so impressive. With 1:40 to go, he moved the ball 94 yards, completing 7 of 9 passes for 79 yards and running for another 15; every yard had something to do with Drew Willy. So as much as it is time to recognize the performance, it is also good to recognize the support behind the performance on two levels. First Marcel Bellefeuille as an offensive coordinator has excelled at teaching the foundation and developing the game plan for Willy. Also, theres Buck Pierce. Listed as running backs coach you know he must have a calming influence on the present quarterback. Pierce as a former player has pretty much experienced everything you can as a player, both good and bad, and that experience is very valuable to a player like Drew Willy who is going through that process right now. Its been mainly good for him, but you know the bad is coming. The game itself was a battle of the punters in the first half and an exchange of big play makers in the second. And that half was the only good half for Hamilton. To say that Dan LeFevour was humbled a bit is accurate as Winnipeg did an exceptional job of running, chasing and catching a quarterback who had over 100 yards rushing the previous week. One bright moment for Hamilton was the punt return for a touchdown by Quincy McDuffie - at 510" and 178 lbs he has an elusiveness that makes him special. Whomever found him deserves a pat on the back because I think the young man can play and produce. Yes, the Ticats had one and gave one away on the last play but what can you do? Only "man up" as players, learn from the mistakes and move on to play the BC Lions on Friday night. Dont over-analyze or criticize, just learn and move on. In Montreal I just dont get it. Yes they have some serious quarterback problems and some absence of confidence in both pivots. Throwing accuracy is the No. 1 problem but how do you improve upon that when you can play consistently as an opportunity to improve? Troy Smith started out the game and ran 13 plays. Then Alex Brink came in and ran 15 plays. Back to Smith and eight more plays and to conclude the game Brink ran 18 plays. That is the type of rotation you use in an exhibition game if you want to evaluate four separate quarterbacks. Its not what you do in Week 6 when you need to commit to one QB until you conclude that one can or cannot do the job. For Toronto the best running back they have is Steve Slaton. Zach Randolph Kings Jersey. That is the guy I would make my starter. Watching the second game on Friday night, you have to wonder what type of team the BC Lions will be from week to week. Kevin Glenn showed remarkable resiliency in going 3-for-3 to win it in the end but when Travis Lulay is back it will be his team. The early performance by Andrew Harris this season has been enjoyable to watch. IF, and I know it is a big IF, he keeps this pace up Harris is on pace for 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. Easy to say, tough to do. Finally, Saturday night in Ottawa and you could see it coming. Every team at some point of the year has a game that starts bad, gets out of control and in the game film afterward you remember it but dont let it get you down. On Saturday night the Redblacks looked like an expansion team for the first time this year. They have pieces but not the parts just yet. Rick Campbell has assembled a good CFL staff and they should be confronted with the mistakes made to make sure they dont happen again. This one has to be an education that provides future results as Ottawa looked like a collection of players, as opposed to a team of performers. With Saskatchewan this thought popped into my head at halftime. Someone should give George Cortez another shot as a head coach. For whatever the reason and its insignificant now, George did not endear himself with many in Hamilton when he was a head coach there. Why, who knows? But the second time around you learn and adapt with flexibility. His success with quarterbacks and QB systems is undisputed and like John Hufnagle his overall experience is this league is an asset of extreme benefit. I dont know if the next young talent is out there but a slightly older one is Cortez. The Riders had intense focus in Ottawa and just like Cory Chamblin said after the crushing 48-15 defeat in Toronto during Week 2, "we will learn from this" - and they did. For the future? Saskatchewan at Winnipeg is the best game in the seventh week with only 13 to go. And a final thought after the final note. My congratulations and sincere thanks to the people in Calgary. An all-time record was set in the Purolator Tackle Hunger food donation with 258,000 lbs of food brought to the stadium in one night. I an trying to visualize what that looks like and I cant. That type of response says in loud volume the compassion and strength of the people in Alberta and in the city of Calgary. And Im not comparing to any other cities, just acknowledging a great moment to help others. Oh, and Edmonton: your day is Friday, September 26. Just a reminder. ' ' '