Fragen » Vogel said. Their starters outplayed our starters

SAINT-ETIENNE, France -- Because of dopings ravages on cycling, its natural for suspicion to fall on Vincenzo Nibali, who led the Tour de France on Thursday for a 10th time in 12 stages. But Nibali says the sport has changed, doping cases have become rare, and "this theme belongs to the past." The Italian has had a praiseworthy, almost unbreakable lock on the yellow jersey, yet he will be looking over his shoulder more on Friday. The great race enters two days in the Alps that feature uphill finishes, starting with the hardest climb that the peloton has faced so far. Off the roads, Nibali said he expected questions about doping, a scourge of much of the last generation, for whom performance-enhancers such as blood-booster EPO or human growth hormone, and methods like blood-doping were common. Many cycling experts say the sport has greatly cleaned up its act. On Thursday, the Sky team, which has won the last two Tours, sacked British cyclist Jonathan Tiernan-Locke after he was banned for an irregular biological passport. He was not a Tour rider, but few would say the Tour peloton was totally clean. Dopings shadow remains at the Tour, among team staffers, and even a rider or two. Nibalis team, Astana, was kicked out of the 2007 Tour after its star rider Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for banned blood transfusions. He served his ban, returned to racing, and won gold at the London Olympics. Vinokourov is now Astanas general manager. Rider Michele Scarponi who, like Nibali, won the Giro dItalia and was racing in this Tour, was given a three-month ban in 2012 for seeing banned physician Michele Ferrari, a longtime adviser of Lance Armstrong. Nibali says Astana has changed. "Ive chosen Astana for the possibility to build a group that I can trust to bring me at a competitive level for important races like the Giro, the Tour and the (Spanish) Vuelta," he said. "There have been many mistakes in cycling in the past, by many riders, but they belong to the past," Nibali said. "We now have a biological passport, out-of-competition controls, controls at home ... "Nobody can say that cycling hasnt changed. Nowadays, there is an isolated case. Theres always the possibility that an idiot does something stupid ..." Nibali, a native of Messina, Sicily, nicknamed the "Shark of the Strait" after the Strait of Messina, is trying to become only the sixth rider in history to win all three Grand Tours of France, Italy and Spain. He would also be the first Italian to win the Tour since Marco Pantani in 1998. The late Pantani was convicted in Italy of doping offences during his career. Giuseppe Martinelli, a cycling guru who worked with Pantani for years before they fell out, is an Astana manager. "Thanks to him," Nibali said of Martinelli through a translator, "I became closer to the Astana team that has invested a lot in an Italian group in order to regain credibility." To succeed Pantani, Nibali is keeping an eye out on other race contenders: Richie Porte of Australia trails by 2 minutes, 23 seconds, and Alejandro Valverde of Spain was third, 2:47 back. The mostly flat 185.5-kilometre (115.5-mile) course from Bourg-en-Bresse to Saint-Etienne in southeastern France was well suited for a possible sprint finish and thats how it was won by Alexander Kristoff, a Norwegian specialist with Katusha. American rider Andrew Talansky pulled out before the stage due to back pain from two previous crashes. A day earlier, the Garmin-Sharp leader rode for hours and finished last. Stage 13 will put riders legs under the most strain yet. The 197.5-kilometre (123-mile) trek begins in Saint-Etienne and will crescendo: It first covers a mid-sized climb and the Category 1 Palaquit pass, and finally an 18-kilometre (12-mile) ascent to Chamrousse -- one of cyclings hardest climbs. "Im sure our rivals will try to attack but on the other hand, if I can gain some seconds, Ill go for it," the race leader said. "Ill have to evaluate the strength of my adversaries and consider every race situation." The race has 10 more days. Cheap Texans Jerseys Authentic . Hoefl-Rieschs exit — from the downhill course into safety nets, then airlifted from the slope by helicopter — left Anna Fenninger of Austria favourite to win her first giant crystal trophy one month after becoming an Olympic champion. Wholesale Texans Jerseys . Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said. http://www.cheaptexansjerseysauthentic.com/ . On Wednesday, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas hit back. In a passionate defence of himself and the London clubs medical staff, the Portuguese coach rebuked the "incompetent people" who have attacked Tottenham for allowing Lloris to continue playing after being briefly knocked unconscious against Everton on Sunday. Texans Jerseys China . JOHNS, N.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns hope to regain their winning trend when they host the Indiana Pacers Tuesday at US Airways Center. The Suns have lost two straight and three of four games after winning four in a row, and closed out November with Sundays 93-90 loss to the Orlando Magic. Goran Dragic led the Suns with 22 points and Markieff Morris supplied 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the loss. The Suns turned a 16-point hole (74-58) in the fourth quarter to a one-point difference on Gerald Greens 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds to go, but Orlando held off the hosts. Phoenix shot 40 percent for the game and struggled beyond the arc, making only 7-of-26 3-pointers. Orlando played hard for 48 minutes, you have to give them credit, said Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek. Morris is averaging 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds over the past eight games, while the consistent Dragic has posted an average of 15.4 ppg in his last 13. Eric Bledsoe had 13 points and six assists in the recent loss for Phoenix, which is 5-4 at home The Suns are sixth in the NBA with 104.5 ppg, but they are 25th in opponents scoring at 103.3 points. They will try to shoot 50 percent or better versus the Pacers and have won 24 straight games when reaching that mark. After hosting Indiana, Phoenix will open a three-game road trip against Dallas, Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers. Suns guard Isaiah Thomas (ankle) is questionable Tuesday. Indiana has alternated wins and losses over the previous six games and opened a four-game jaunt with Saturdays 109-97 loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. James had 19 points, but Kevin Love led the way with 28 points and 10 rebounds.dddddddddddd Kyrie Irving scored 24 points in the win. James, Love and Irving all made nine shots for the Cavs, who finished at 52.6 percent shooting from the floor and stormed out to a 27-8 lead. The Pacers were led by David Wests 14 points. West was playing his second game after returning from injury. Solomon Hill had 13 and Chris Copeland netted 11 for the visitors. Indiana shot 39.3 percent and managed to connect on 7-of-22 3-pointers. They just imposed their will on us, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said. Their starters outplayed our starters tonight. Indiana is 26th in scoring (93.4 ppg), but still plays tough defense as evidenced by the 95.3 ppg from the opposition. Pacers center Roy Hibbert has missed four straight games with a sprained ankle and is questionable against the Suns. Hibbert is averaging 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds. The Pacers will also visit Portland and Sacramento on this western portion of the road swing and are 3-5 away from home. Weve got to find a way to get some wins, Vogel said. Weve got a tough stretch of the schedule coming up that were in the midst of, going out west right now and then some tough ones when we come back home. So we cant be pleased with our effort. Weve got to get wins. Phoenix and Indiana recently played on Nov. 22 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where the Suns recorded a 106-83 victory. Green and Thomas scored 23 and 16 points, respectively, in that one for the Suns, who have won three in a row and 15 of the past 20 meetings between the teams. Indiana has lost 11 of the past 14 encounters in Arizona. ' ' '