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LE LIORAN, France -- Vincenzo Nibalis struggles in the first hard climb of the Tour de France have settled the leadership debate within the Astana team.The 2014 Tour champion was dropped by the top Tour contenders in the punishing category-2 ascent of the Pas de Peyrol in Wednesdays first mountain stage, crossing the finish line at Le Lioran ski resort eight minutes and 38 seconds behind his younger Astana teammate Fabio Aru.After winning the Giro earlier this season, the Sicilian rider made the pledge that he would ride the Tour in support of Aru to focus instead on the Olympic Games road race next month. The plan was that Aru would return the favor by working for him in Rio, where both cyclists traveled in January to check out the course.But given Nibalis proud temper and stunning comeback on the penultimate stage of the Giro, there was speculation that he would play his personal card at cyclings showpiece event.Its now obvious that Nibali is not fresh enough to compete for the overall win.With three very difficult stages in the Pyrenees looming this weekend, Nibali dropped to 50th overall, 14.06 minutes behind new race leader Greg Van Avermaet.I wanted to stay near the front with Fabio, but I didnt have the legs and I wasnt having a good day so I really let it all go, Nibali said at his team bus after the 216-kilometer stage on the middle mountain roads of Massif Central.After the Giro, I took 15 days off. Its not easy to race here after the Giro. Weve all said many times that Fabio is racing for the Tour, so were here in support of him. Today it would have been nice to be alongside Fabio, but it wasnt my day. Im fine with this, I dont have any regret.Astana manager Alexandre Vinokourov said Nibali suffered from the heat and was not surprised by his riders failure to deliver.We knew he would not be a contender, Vinokourov said. Today was difficult for everybody, a real mountain stage even if the climbs were not so long. And everyone saw that Aru was there.A climbing specialist who won the Spanish Vuelta last year, Aru is widely regarded as a future great of his sport. At 25, he has also finished twice on the Giro podium and is attempting to win the Tour on his race debut. Only 11 cyclists have achieved the feat, including Eddy Merckx, Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil and Felice Gimondi.Aru, who was mentored by Nibali earlier in his career, was at ease throughout the days five climbs and crossed the line in the same time as favorites Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana, keeping his chances alive.Although he is not sure he will recover his form before the Pyrenees, Nibali repeated that he would try his best to help Aru. He is in great shape and we all want to ride a good race for him. Alvin Kamara Saints Jersey Morten Andersen Saints Jersey . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. http://www.saintsrookiestore.com/Saints-Bobby-Hebert-Jersey/ .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Alvin Kamara Womens Jersey . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Drew Brees Jersey . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. LOS ANGELES -- The Clippers needed more offense and Mo Buckets delivered in the clutch.Maurice Speights scored 11 of his season-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, rallying Los Angeles past Chicago 102-95 on Saturday night to snap the Bulls four-game winning streak.You can take losing in this league, but you dont want to lose that way, Chicagos Dwyane Wade said.Even with all the offense, Speights biggest play came on an assist with 49 seconds left . Jamal Crawford missed a 3-pointer and Speights grabbed the offensive rebound. He fed Crawford for a driving reverse layup that restored the Clippers lead to five points.I was in position to get it and he didnt expect it so I surprised him, said Speights, who was yanked after going scoreless during a brief stint in the first half.Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, It was a great example where you just got to figure it out.Blake Griffin had 26 points and 13 rebounds and Chris Paul added 19 points for the Clippers, whose only two losses have come at home to Oklahoma City and Memphis. Rallying from a 19-point deficit for the victory moved them to an NBA-best 12-2.Wade led Chicago with 28 points, hitting five 3-pointers. Jimmy Butler added 22 points, making 11 of 12 free throws.They had to dig deep into their bag to pull this one out at home, Wade said. Thats what we want to do, make teams walk away scarred up. Feeling like that got away with one, and thats what they should be feeling.The Bulls made just one field goal over the final 6:30, keeping it close on seven consecutive free throws, including five by Butler. Isaiah Canaan hit a 3-pointer to draw them to 97-95 with 44 seconds left.Butler fouled Griffin with 20 seconds to go and he made both for a 99-95 lead. Wade missed a pullup jumper before Taj Gibson and coach Fred Hoiberg were hit with technical fouls in the closing seconds. Hoiberg was ejected.Thats a great team, playing the best basketball in the league, Hoiberg said. We fought them and we gave ourselves a chance.Wade scored 10 of the Bulls first 12 points to start the second quarter, pusshing their lead to 19 points before the Clippers suddenly awakened.ddddddddddddThey outscored Chicago 21-7 to head into halftime trailing 52-47.Griffin scored eight points, highlighted by his dunk over Robin Lopez off a bounce pass in the lane from Paul. Griffin elevated, with his left hand on Lopezs shoulder, and slammed the ball down, drawing a foul. Wades wife, Gabrielle Union, grimaced from her fourth-row seat while the crowd roared.TIP-INSBulls: They shot 68 percent in the first quarter, their best in a quarter this season. ... They are 0-3 in the first game of a back-to-back and 1-1 in the second game.Clippers: Griffin has scored 20-plus points in seven straight games. ... Since their home opener on Oct. 30, they have played 12 games in 20 days, most in the league in that span. They dont have two days off in between games until Dec. 5-6. ... C Diamond Stone was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League after appearing in three games for the Clippers. Stone was the 40th overall pick in the June draft after playing one season at Maryland. ... F Wesley Johnson missed his fifth straight game with a left heel contusion.HE SAID ITHe proves you can be a gentleman and a killer at the same time. -- Rivers on Butler.RONDO RETURNSRajon Rondo returned to Chicagos starting lineup after missing two games because of a sprained left ankle and bronchitis. He just missed a triple-double, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.Hoiberg said the team missed Rondos energy.Hes done a nice job of throwing the ball ahead, getting the ball to our wings where we can attack or getting the ball to the post, Hoiberg said.UP NEXTBulls: They stay in LA to play the Lakers on Sunday in the second game of a back-to-back, their third of the season. They swept the Lakers last season for the second time in three years.Clippers: Host Toronto on Monday before departing on a six-game trip, their longest of the season. ' ' '