CYCLING 2010 Stages
July 3 - Prologue, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 8 kilometers (5.0 miles) July 4 - Stage 1, Rotterdam-Brussels, plain, Belgium, 224 (139.2) July 5 - Stage 2, Brussels-Spa, France, hilly, 192 (119.3) July 6 - Stage 3, Wanze-Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, plain, 207 (128.6)

CYCLING 2010 Stages
July 3 - Prologue, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 8 kilometers (5.0 miles) July 4 - Stage 1, Rotterdam-Brussels, plain, Belgium, 224 (139.2) July 5 - Stage 2, Brussels-Spa, France, hilly, 192 (119.3) July 6 - Stage 3, Wanze-Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, plain, 207 (128.6)

S100 batting helmet The first major-league baseball game I saw in person was the Cleveland Indians vs. the Washington Senators in 1965. When Rocky Colavito came to bat for Cleveland, I noticed he was wearing the same cap to hit as he wore in the field. I pointed this out to my father, who said Colavito probably had a plastic liner in his hat.

What : A 104-mile trip from Montelimar to the Mont Ventoux, with a 13-mile final ascent at an average gradient of 7.6 percent.
  Winner : Juan Manuel Garate. The Spaniard, who entered the stage more than 1½ hours behind race leader Alberto Contador in the overall standings, clocked 4 hours, 39 minutes, 21 seconds, holding off fellow breakaway rider Tony Martin of Germany by 3 seconds. Andy Schleck, who retained second overall, finished third, 38 seconds back—in the same time as Contador. Lance Armstrong was fifth, 41 seconds behind Garate, and Frank Schleck was sixth, 43 seconds back.

A look at the 16th stage: Stage: A 99-mile ride in the Alps between Martigny, Switzerland, and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France, featuring two punishing climbs, the Col du Grand Saint-Bernard and the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard. Winner: Mikel Astarloza, who escaped three other breakaway riders. He beat Sandy Casar and Pierrick Fedrigo. Astana teammates Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong finished in the main pack. Yellow jersey: Contador, the 2007 winner, leads Armstrong by 1 minute, 37 seconds. Bradley Wiggins is third, 1:46 back. Quote of the day: “Lance is super clever, he doesn’t make any mistake. When he went, he knew he would catch the others.“ - Astana sports director Alain Gallopin, about Armstrong’s attack to rejoin Contador’s group Today: The 17th stage is a 105.3-mile ride from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand, featuring five climbs. The final ascent’s summit is only 15 kilometers from the finish and this stage is regarded as the most difficult in the Alps this year. Today’s TV: 6:30 a.m., Versus

BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE, France - Lance Armstrong mustered one of his strongest showings yet at this Tour de France, a dazzling burst of acceleration from yesteryear that allowed him to keep second place. The seven-time champion was so buoyed by yesterday’s performance that he suggested he still could contend for the yellow jersey if teammate and race leader Alberto Contador has a “bad day.“

When: Aug. 8 at 8 p.m.
  At: The ride starts and ends at Sports Backers Stadium, 100 Avenue of Champions off the Boulevard near The Diamond.
  Cost: Through tomorrow, registration is $25 for adults and $10 for youths ages 8-14. From Tuesday to Aug. 6, it’s $30 for adults and $10 for youths. Walk-up registration on Aug. 8 is $35 for adults and $15 for youths.

PARIS - For Lance Armstrong to win an eighth Tour de France, he will not only have to beat the best rider in the world - his Astana teammate and rival Alberto Contador - he also will need to master a grueling last week that includes four mountain stages. The 37-year-old American rider, back in competition this season after more than three years of retirement, says this year’s race, starting Saturday in Monaco, is more likely to favor pure climbers such as Contador.

MONTREAL - Michael Phelps yesterday won the 100-meter freestyle at the Canada Cup to sweep both events he entered at the meet. His time of 48.65 seconds improved on the 48.87 he swam one week earlier, when he finished second to defending world champion Brent Hayden of Canada in Santa Clara, Calif. The 14-time Olympic gold medalist swam a personal-best time of 50.48 in winning the 100 butterfly Saturday.

ROME - Denis Menchov won the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia yesterday despite falling in the final half-mile. The Russian lost control on rain-slicked cobblestones and slid for about 10 yards. He got back up, ran ahead to his bike but then opted to take a spare bike provided by his team car. Menchov entered the final stage - an individual time trial - with a 20-second lead on Danilo Di Luca and was comfortably ahead of the Italian at the final checkpoint before he fell.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.—The first six furlongs were mere posturing. Once Quality Road and Dunkirk were side by side, that’s when the Florida Derby really began. That’s also when Quality Road announced himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender. Pulling away in the stretch, Quality Road held off previously unbeaten Dunkirk yesterday to win the Grade 1 race at Gulfstream Park, giving the colt his second graded stakes win in as many starts.

Cycling enthusiasts looking for a deal converged on the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds yesterday for a swap meet and consumer expo. The Stop, Swap and Save event attracted vendors from all over the mid-Atlantic as a place to peddle their wares to hundreds of cyclists.

When it comes to getting outdoors during the winter months, Larry Rohr, Terry Rea and their disc golf compatriots follow the mail carriers’ code. “Neither rain nor snow . . . nor gloom of night” shall keep them from their appointed rounds.