opportunity to win every night. It

BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France -- Left alone and with his teammates far behind, Chris Froome held off repeated attacks to retain the Tour de France lead Sunday as the three-week race left the Pyrenees mountains. Dan Martin of Ireland, a 26-year-old Garmin-Sharp rider, won Stage 9 following a two-man sprint against Denmarks Jakob Fuglsang after they escaped Froome and the other pre-race favourites on the last of five tough climbs along the 168.5-kilometre trek from Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre in southwest France. As the race neared its first rest day Monday, Froome was relieved he was able to quash four attacks by Movistars Nairo Quintana on the last climb -- la Hourquette dAncizan -- despite his Sky teammates lagging behind. They were worn out after a strong team effort to help him win the yellow jersey a day earlier. "That was one of the hardest days Ive ever had on a bike," Froome said. "Im really happy with how I came through today ... Its not easy to follow Quintana in the climbs. Hes a light little Colombian who can fly up hills -- so to cover his attacks definitely wasnt easy." "But yeah, I was quite ready for more attacks, and Im quite glad there werent," he said, adding that it was "quite understandable" that his teammates werent with him after Saturdays effort. The Briton ketp an eye on his top rivals to win the title in Paris on July 21, including Spaniard pair Alberto Contador, of the Saxo Bank team, and Alejandro Valverde -- one of five Movistar riders in the front bunch of about two dozen riders. The Briton was content to let Martin and Fuglsang go ahead, and fight for the stage win. After a brief cat-and-mouse game, Martin wheeled around the Dane before the final bend with about 150 metres to go and held on for his first Tour stage win. Martin is the nephew of 1987 Tour champion Stephen Roche and a cousin of fellow cyclist Nicolas Roche. "I was confident in the final stretch because I know I have some speed," Martin said, adding he was lucky to have Astanas Fuglsang with him to share the work of holding off the favourites. "I knew I had to be ahead in the last two corners and, when I saw that I was, I knew I could win." "Luckily I had the legs to finish the job." They crossed 20 seconds ahead of Froome, two-time Tour winner Contador, and 2011 champion Cadel Evans of Australia, among others. Overall, the top standings didnt change much, except that Sky rider Richie Porte of Australia tumbled from 2nd place overall to 33rd after finishing nearly 18 minutes behind Martin. Froomes closest challenger is Valverde, who is 1:25 behind. Contador is sixth overall and trails by 1:51. Martin is eighth, 2:28 back. Froome captured the yellow jersey Saturday by launching a devastating attack in the final climb to win Stage 8, thanks in large part to a strong escort from Sky -- including Porte, who was second in that stage. But the fact there were none of his teammates around to help Froome will encourage the other teams that the seemingly unbeatable Sky team may have weaknesses. Tired from their efforts Saturday, the other Sky riders fell back early on and Froome was left to fend for himself. As is required of the yellow jersey holder after each stage, Froome went straight to anti-doping control after the race. This is the first Tour since Lance Armstrongs fall from grace after he was stripped of his seven Tour titles from 1999-2005 for serial doping. Froome vouched after his win Saturday that he was "100 per cent" clean and was asked on French television after Sundays stage if he has ever taken a performance-enhancing product. "No," Froome said. "I trained for many months to arrive here in this form." With temperatures once again well into the 30s C, Froome found himself isolated on the days first category 1 ascent up to Col de Mente, where Evans fell 40 seconds behind the yellow jersey group. Then, a breakaway group featuring Canadas Ryder Hesjedal, Tom Danielson and Pierre Rolland forged ahead. Hesjedal finished the stage 59th to drop into 41st overall. David Veilleux of Cap-Rouge, Que., and Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., are 132nd and 173rd respectively. Froomes chasing group included Contador, flanked by his Saxo-Tinkoff teammates, while Quintana sat behind Froome. Once they got over Col de Mente, Valverde attacked on the descent and chased after the breakaway group, prompting Froome to go after him. The second tough climb was the days longest -- about 13 kilometres up the famed Col de Peyresourde -- and a new breakaway took the initiative. Hesjedal, last years Giro dItalia winner, and climbing specialist Rolland were still there, joined by Romain Bardet of France and Belgian trio Bart De Clercq, Thomas De Gendt and Jan Bakelants. They were about 40 seconds ahead of Froomes group at the top of Peyresourde. Quintanas Movistar teammates drove hard at the front of the 20-man yellow jersey group as they chugged toward the third climb in the blazing sun. Australias Simon Clarke joined the leaders as the seven-man breakaway started to up the tempo and then broke away on his own up the Col de Val Louron-Azet -- a 7.4-kilometre ascent. Clarke was 1:10 ahead of Froomes group before he sped down a sharp descent to La Hourquette dAncizan -- 10 kilometres at 7.5 per cent gradient. Froome, meanwhile, tucked in behind four Movistar riders -- with Quintana riding his wheel -- for the last few kilometres until the last climb, where the breakaway riders were caught. French President Francois Hollande was among the spectators, protected from the heat in Tour director Christian Prudhommes car. Tuesday is a flat stage for sprinters. Froome will be among the favourites to win Wednesdays time trial on Stage 11. Basketball Jerseys Black Friday . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Basketball Jerseys For Sale . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. https://www.fakebasketballjerseys.com/ . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Cyber Monday Basketball Jerseys . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Fake Basketball Jerseys China . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. BOSTON -- Connor Hellebuyck is experiencing a series of emotions heading into this weekend.The Winnipeg goalie posted his first shutout of the season when he blanked the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday night -- making 27 saves for his third shutout in 38 career starts.Thursday, the tables were turned and he gave up four goals in a loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.Saturday, Hellebuyck, who played collegiately at UMass-Lowell, comes home, with the Jets facing the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.They also play Sunday at Carolina. Coach Paul Maurice says he will play both goalies -- Hellebuyck and Mike Hutchinson -- over the weekend, but you know Hellebuyck wants another shot at the Bruins. He lost to Boston 4-1 in Winnipeg Oct. 17.As far as whats happened to him this week, especially the loss, Hellebuyck told the teams website, Put it behind you and continue striving forward. Thats just how hockey goes. Theres 82 games and you cant look at one as the most important game of all. You just have to continue going forward and winning as many as possible.If Hellebuyck, 0-2 with a 4.55 goals against average and just a .829 save percentage in two games against the Bruins, plays Saturday, hell likely face Bostons Tuukka Rask, who was at the other end of the Oct. 17 Boston win. That was one of seven wins recorded by Rask before suffering his first road loss, at Minnesota, Thursday -- a 1-0 defeat on a goal with 45 seconds left.Rask, who didnt have a strong season as the Bruins missed the playoffs for a second straight year in 2015-16, is offf to a great start.dddddddddddd He is 10-2 overall, with a 1.49 goals-against average and .947 save percentage.He was great again Thursday before suffering the loss on a goal that went by him off the skate of defenseman Adam McQuaid.Hes been great, said teammate Brad Marchand. We need him to play like that if were going to be a good team. When he does, he gives us an opportunity to win every night. Its great to see him at the top of his game. We need him to continue to do that.Said coach Claude Julien: He had a bit of an off year last year, but hes been good. Hes won the Vezina, hes a guy thats had some good save percentages. Hes a guy that certainly deserves the accolades hes getting right now.Hes been solid since the start of the season, and hes given us a chance to win every night.The Bruins scored just four goals on their three-game trip that ended in Minnesota -- but they went 2-1 thanks largely to Rask. Boston comes into this game 10-7-0 on the season.The Bruins played without young scoring star David Pastrnak (undisclosed injury) Thursday, and there was no word on whether hell be back for Saturdays game. But the local fans will see another high-scoring young player as Winnipegs Patrick Laine makes his TD Garden debut.While he scored just one goal in the last five games, Laine has 12 for his rookie season and already had two hat tricks.The Jets enter this game 9-8-2 on the season. ' ' '