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BUSSETO, Italy -- Calling it a "heartbreaking" decision, defending champion Ryder Hesjedal has pulled out of the Giro dItalia after struggling to regain the form that led him to victory in 2012. The Garmin-Sharp team said the Canadian withdrew before the start of Fridays 13th stage due to a "deteriorating physical condition." The Victoria native, who became the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour race last year, has dropped down the overall standings in recent days. He fell into 37th place after finishing 183rd in Thursdays stage, and was over 32 minutes off the lead. Hesjedal was third overall just a week ago. But the challenging Stage-8 time trial appeared to be the turning point and he was not able to get back on track. "I want to be here for my team and for all the people who have supported me to get me here to this point," Hesjedal said Friday. "I built my entire season around the Giro and I came here feeling great, but I have been suffering since the TT. Were working on it, but were not sure whats wrong. Theres a virus thats been going around, so it could be that, or severe allergies, or going too deep on the TT combined with both. "Whatever it is, Im only getting worse," Hesjedal added. "Yesterdays stage was just too much for me. I fought to get through it and I know everyone suffered but after seeing the medical staff last night, I also know that its time for me to go home, get some tests done and get healthy again." Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins also withdrew on the advice of the team physician due to "a worsening chest infection." Britains Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in the 13th and longest stage of the race on Friday. Italys Vincenzo Nibali kept the overall lead, boosting his chances of winning his home countrys biggest cycling race for the first time. Team Sky said Wiggins condition has been getting worse. "We monitored Bradley overnight and this morning weve withdrawn him from the Giro after consulting the team doctor," Team Sky general manager Dave Brailsford said. "His chest infection has been getting worse and our primary concern is always the health of our riders. Bradley will return to the UK today for treatment and to rest and we hope to have him back on the road as soon as possible." Wiggins struggled throughout the Giro, both on rainy descents and on steep climbs. He lost more than three minutes in Thursdays rainy stage and left the race in 13th place. "As a passionate racer he wanted to continue but he is simply unable to do so on medical grounds," Brailsford said. Wiggins is expected to help teammate Chris Froome at the Tour this year but he said before leaving for Italy that he might grab the team leadership in France himself and try to defend his title. That prompted Sky to issue a statement saying that Froome will be the team leader for the French race. In last years Tour, Froome finished runner-up to Wiggins. The race hits the mountains again over the weekend, with Saturdays stage climbing Sestriere and Bardonecchia and Sunday taking riders into France and up the Col du Galibier, which is often included in the Tour. The race ends May 26 in Brescia.Cheap Packers Jerseys . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Wholesale Packers Jerseys ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. http://www.wholesalepackersjerseys.com/?tag=youth-curtis-bolton-jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Pharoah McKever Jersey . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. Clay Matthews Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Soon after Derek Carr and Khalil Mack were drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2014, they got together and vowed to change the culture of a franchise that had only known losing for more than a decade.With the franchise quarterback and pass rusher entering their third season as pros, that has been accomplished. Now the Raiders have their sights set on larger goals of getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.I feel like were in the midst of a great turnaround, especially when you think of the leadership, Mack said. Both of us are coming up on our third year, a lot of new faces, a lot of great guys and a lot of guys that want to come in and work hard. Thats what you need.With a core led by perhaps the most talented 25-and-under trio in the league with Carr, Mack and big-play receiver Amari Cooper; key free agent acquisitions Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson in the secondary; Super Bowl champion linebacker Bruce Irvin and imposing offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele; and several other key young contributors, the Raiders have put together a roster with no glaring holes.That has led to heightened expectations for a team that has spent more than a decade at the bottom of the AFC West, with no playoff berths or winning records for 13 straight seasons.Oakland took a big step last year, more than doubling the win total from three to seven. Now the task is to get over that next major hump.Last year when I got here, I really thought it was important to re-establish expectations, high expectations, second-year coach Jack Del Rio said. We didnt back down from that. Were always going to make winning our division the first goal; it has to be.Here are some other things to watch this season from the Raiders:LOOKING FOR LEADERS: With veterans Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck retired, the leadership role has shifted to younger players such as Carr and Mack. The incoming veterans Irvin, Nelson and Smith have also filled that void.We have a really good core of guys that are assuming leadership positions within their respected groups and I feel really good about that, Del Rio said. In fact, I think weve taken a significant step forward overall with leadership abilities.STEPPING UP: Carr took a major step forwarrd in Year 2 as a starter, throwing for 32 TDs and 3,987 yards last season.dddddddddddd But with a second year in coordinator Bill Musgraves system and nearly all of his key skill position players back, Carr expects even better results this season.Its crazy the jump thats its been each year, he said. I say it all the time, but `C-Wood always told me, from Year 1 to Year 2 is the biggest jump, and then when you hit Year 3, youre just playing ball again. You know, it takes time. It really does.RUN SUPPORT: After a dynamic start last season, the Raiders offense slumped in the second half. A big reason was a drop in production from running back Latavius Murray, whose yards per carry fell from 4.8 yards in the first eight games to 3.3 in the final eight. Murray had no help last year as Oakland never found a second back to share the load. The hope this season is rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard can do that to give the Raiders a more balanced offense.Going into the offseason we were hoping we could develop a running back that could be a really good backup for us and it looks like we have a shot at having one of those guys help us, potentially both, Del Rio said.SOLID SECONDARY: Ever since GM Reggie McKenzie took over the team in 2012, cornerback has been a major problem. He brought in a new pair of starters in each of his first three years without ever finding an answer, and 2013 first-round pick DJ Hayden has struggled. Now the Raiders might have found their answer on the outside. David Amerson went from a waiver-wire pickup early last season to an established starter by the end, and the signing of Smith, one of the top available options on the free-agent market this offseason.HOME SWEET HOME: The Raiders once again enter the season with uncertainty about their long-term future. With no plans for a new stadium in Oakland, owner Mark Davis is trying to get a stadium built in Las Vegas for a possible move. The players and coaching staff tuned out the relocation talk last year and are trying to do the same this season.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys enter the season with uncertainty about thei'