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Published: July 25, 2008 at 5:15 PM

Chavanel wins Tour's 19th stage

MONTLUCON, France, July 25 (UPI) -- Sylvain Chavanel held off Jeremy Roy over the final 100 yards to claim Friday's 19th stage of the Tour de France.

In a repeat of Thursday's race, when two riders had a large lead over the field and battled it out through the final miles, Chavanel and Roy were well ahead of the other riders with about 50 miles to go in the 99.3-mile ride Friday.

Each jockeyed for the final edge, with Chavanel ahead in the final mile. As the race entered its final several 100 yards, Chavanel seemed to be smiling and talking with Roy, about two bike lengths behind. When Roy made his final push, Chavanel charged and never gave up the lead.

Both riders finished the route from Roanne to Montlucon in 3 hours, 37 minutes, 9 seconds. The peloton was 1:13 behind the leaders.

Overall race leader Carlos Sastre was 38th Friday and retained his 1:24 edge over Frank Schleck as the 2008 Tour de France enters its final two stages. Bernhard Kohl is 1:33 behind Sastre and Cadel Evans was another second back.

Saturday's race is a 31.8-mile time trial time trial from Cerilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond. The tour wraps up Sunday with an 85.8-mile ride into Paris.


Stewart to honor Foyt with new No. 14 car

INDIANAPOLIS, July 25 (UPI) -- NASCAR driver Tony Stewart said Friday he will drive car No. 14, taking the number to honor his racing idol A.J. Foyt.

Stewart is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing after this season, which he will complete driving the No. 20 Toyota.

His Stewart-Haas Racing team is to begin competition next year. Stewart said he will take No. 14 and have Office Depot and Old Spice as the main sponsors of the red and black Chevrolet. Office Depot will sponsor Stewart's car in 60 percent of the races with Old Spice taking the rest.

The other car in the Stewart-Haas stable will carry the No. 4. A driver hasn't been hired for that car.

"Four was my first-ever go-kart number that I started with," Stewart said. "Everybody knows that A.J. Foyt has always been my all-time favorite hero. And when this opportunity came about, it was about a five-minute tug-of-war between do I want my first number back or do I want A.J.'s number and it was pretty easy to decide that I wanted the number that my all-time hero had."


Report: Favre to report to Packers' camp

GREEN BAY, Wis., July 25 (UPI) -- Quarterback Brett Favre has told the Packers that he will show up when Green Bay opens its training camp on Sunday.

The NFL Network reported Friday that the three-time NFL MVP may be trying to force Green Bay to trade or release him to allow him to join another team before next season.

Favre, 38, has said his retirement announcement on March 6 was premature and has been told by Packers' management that Green Bay's starter next season will be Aaron Rodgers.

Favre recently told Fox News that he is welcome to return to the Packers in a backup role.

In the 2007 season, he passed for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns with 15 interceptions.

He was voted a Pro Bowl starter, received NFL MVP votes and was the Packers' team MVP.

The report added that Favre is expected to submit a letter of re-instatement to NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell.

Favre has a contract with the Packers through the 2010 season.


Lundberg, Sandelin lead at Russian Open

MOSCOW, July 25 (UPI) -- Mikael Lundberg and Jarmo Sandelin each shot 8-under-par 64 Friday and are tied for first halfway through the Russian Open Golf Championship in Moscow.

Lundberg and Sandelin are at 13-under 131 for 36 holes. They have a 1-stroke lead on Robert Rock, who also shot 64 Friday.

The four golfers who were tied of the lead after shooting 65s Thursday saw their scores balloon. Joakim Backstrom, David Carter and Roope Kakko each had 73s Friday and are seven strokes off the pace. Fredrick Henge shot 77 and is 11 strokes back.

Lundberg started his round with a birdie and a eagle but then had bogeys on both 3 and 4. He still made the turn at 3-under and had four birdies in five holes on his second nine in climbing the leader board. He added a birdie at No. 17 for a closing nine of 31.

Sandelin opened play on the back nine and was also 31 for the first half of his round. He bogeyed No. 1 -- his 10th hole -- and answered with a birdie at No. 2 and strung together three birdies at Nos. 6-8 for his 64.


Report: Iraq angry about Olympic matter

NEW YORK, July 25 (UPI) -- Iraq continues to dispute its loss to Qatar in an Olympic qualifying match earlier this year.

The New York Times Friday said Iraq's national soccer federation remains angry because Qatar used a Brazilian-born midfielder who was not eligible to compete in the contest.

The player, "Emerson," who became a citizen of Qatar this spring, helped his adoptive nation win the match.

The Iraqi federation, citing the rules of soccer's world governing body, FIFA, believes that Qatar should have to forfeit the game and that Iraq should be allowed to advance in the qualifying tournament.

Any team found guilty of fielding an ineligible player must forfeit the match in question, but FIFA has denied Iraq's request to change the result.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee examined the case and determined that the Qatar Football Association was not responsible," a FIFA spokesman said in an e-mail message.

"It is unfair and now they will have to decide whether we will qualify or not," said Hussain Saeed, the head of the Iraqi national soccer federation.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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