Pirate Galaxy » July. The legal case is still pendi

A look at the top contenders for overall victory in the 103rd Tour de France, which starts Saturday at Mont-Saint-Michel and concludes July 24th in Paris:---CHRIS FROOMEThe overwhelming favorite after his victories in 2013 and 2015, Chris Froome is aiming to join an elite club of just seven riders who have won cyclings biggest event at least three times.Born in Kenya and representing Britain, the 31-year-old Froome will be supported by a Sky squad that is considered the sports best.Froome enters in top form, having won the Criterium du Dauphine warmup race -- just as he did before his two Tour victories.With Lance Armstrong having been stripped of his seven consecutive titles, Froome can become the first man to win consecutive Tours since Miguel Indurain took the last of his five victories in 1995.While often criticized as an ugly rider for his high-cadence seated technique on climbs, Froomes frenetic pace is often unbeatable once the road tilts uphill.Hes also an able time trialer, although in 2014 his weaknesses on cobblestones, technical descents and wet roads were exposed.---NAIRO QUINTANAA pure climber and a two-time runner-up at the Tour, Nairo Quintana is looking to make his breakthrough in the Grande Boucle.Having finished second to Froome on his Tour debut in 2013 at the age of 23, Quintana won the Giro dItalia in 2014 and returned to the Tour in 2015, only to finish second to Froome again.Small and light at about 130 pounds (less than 60 kilograms), Quintana developed his technique while cycling to school in the Colombian town of Combita, which has an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters (10,000 feet).Riding for the Movistar team, Quintana will have his eye on the penultimate stage, which ends in Morzine and is the final mountainous leg before the mostly ceremonial finish in Paris.Fellow Colombian greats Luis Herrera, Fabio Parra and Santiago Botero posted wins in Morzine in 1985, 1988 and 2000, respectively. And Quintanas first WorldTour victory came in the Alpine town during the 2012 Criterium du Dauphine.---ALBERTO CONTADORAt 33, this could be Alberto Contadors last chance to take a third Tour victory.Last year, the Spaniard with the Tinkoff team made a declared attempt to follow up his Giro victory with a Tour triumph and finished only fifth, acknowledging that he ran out of steam.This year, Contador has built his entire season around the Tour, finishing fifth in the Dauphine, 35 seconds behind Froome, and winning the Tours of Catalunya and Basque Country.One of six riders to have won all three Grand Tours, Contadors record includes two Tour de France wins (2007, 2009), two Giro wins (2008, 2015) and three Spanish Vuelta wins (2008, 2012, 2014).Contador once seemed destined to dominate cycling. But a failed doping test at the 2010 race for the fat-burning, muscle-building drug clenbuterol punctured his progression. Stripped of his first-place finish that year, Contador has not won the Tour again.Nicknamed El Pistolero, Contador likes to celebrate his wins with a mock-gun salute using his right thumb and index finger. But after the November terrorist attacks in France, Contador suggested he might abandon the salute at the Tour.---RICHIE PORTE AND TEJAY VAN GARDERENAustralian standout Richie Porte and top American rider Tejay van Garderen are joint co-captains of the BMC team.Previously with Sky, the 31-year-old Porte was the top support rider for both of Froomes Tour wins, and for Bradley Wiggins yellow jersey ride in 2012. Now he has a chance to challenge Froome.First, though, Porte may have to battle Van Garderen for leadership within BMC.The 27-year-old Van Garderen was in third place when he had to abandon last years race in tears due to illness during Stage 17.---ROMAIN BARDET AND THIBAUT PINOTRomain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot represent the best chance to give France its first home winner since Bernard Hinaults fifth and final win in 1985.Riding for the AG2R La Mondiale team, Bardet finished second behind Froome in the Dauphine.FDJ rider Pinot, who placed third in the 2014 Tour, has shown improved time trial performance this season.---FABIO ARU AND VINCENZO NIBALIAt 25, Fabio Aru is attempting to win the Tour on his race debut.A climbing specialist, Aru won the Spanish Vuelta last year and has also achieved two podium results at the Giro in his short but successful career.Aru is expecting to be paced through the mountains by fellow Italian Vincenzo Nibali on the deep Astana team.Fresh off a dramatic Giro win where he took the pink jersey on the penultimate stage, Nibali is meant to use the Tour as preparation for the Olympics.But having won the Tour in 2014, Nibali could take over team leadership if Aru struggles.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf Air Force 1 Mid Just Do It . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Sf Air Force 1 Mid Desert Ochre . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-air-force-1-alte-bianche.html . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Air Force 1 Italia . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Air Force 1 Alte Supreme . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- No. 25 Florida will be without its most versatile player for the rest of the season.Coach Jim McElwain said Monday that receiver Dre Massey will have season-ending knee surgery, a big blow considering the Gators were counting on the junior college transfer to make an immediate impact this fall.Massey injured his right knee during the opening kickoff in Floridas 24-7 victory over UMass on Saturday night. He continued to play until halftime.Theres obviously disappointment any time something like that happens, McElwain said. And yet the beautiful thing about teammates, family, is theyre there to support, elevate, pick him up. Thats what we saw. He had a lot of family members here, too, for the first (game).I know it was disappointing for him and yet hes got a lot of ball in front of him. Hell get this thing handled.Massey is capable of lining up at receiver, running back, quarterback, returner and even punter. He did it all at Holmes (Mississippi) Community College last year. He caught 21 passes for 548 yards and six touchdowns, and carried 59 times for 452 yards and three scores. He also punted three times (averaged 22.3 yards) and threw three passes (all incomplete).The Gators (1-0) had planned to get him on the field alongside fellow speedsters Antonio Callaway and Brandon Powell. Now, though, Massey will have to wait until 2017 to make an impact at the major college level. He will have two more years of eligibility remmaining.ddddddddddddThats a hard injury to have happen to him, but I think he showed how tough he is, quarterback Luke Del Rio said. Its going to be tough to lose a great player like Dre, but were talented in that room and well rally around him and support him through the rehab process.Florida will turn to several freshmen to fill the void. Freddie Swain and Josh Hammond caught passes in the opener, and Tyrie Cleveland and Rick Wells are back after serving one-game suspensions. Cleveland and Well were suspended for firing BB guns inside a residence dorm in July. The legal case is still pending.Cornerback Jalen Tabor and tight end Cyontai Lewis also are returning from one-game suspensions for fighting in practice.All four could play when the Gators open Southeastern Conference play Saturday against Kentucky (0-1).Lewis is expected to bolster the teams receiving corps in Masseys absence, and Tabor should solidify a secondary that allowed receptions of 24, 30 and 53 yards against the Minutemen.Were going to have a lot more exciting plays, linebacker Jarrad Davis said. I think a lot of guys are going to be able to really let their guard down and go play now. Were locked tight back there, and its going to be really exciting to see what goes down when hes there.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '