dramatically expanding the number of charter schools in Massa

ANDORRA LA VELLA, Andorra -- Chris Froome has the yellow jersey, Mark Cavendish has won three sprint stages, and Adam Yates sits second in the overall standings. It has been a very successful start to the Tour de France for British cyclists.Its definitely not a fluke, Froome said on Monday as the peloton enjoyed its first rest day, following nine stages which saw Froomes Team Sky stamping its authority on the race.With Froomes victory at Bagneres-de-Luchon and Steve Cummings solo breakaway to the Lac de Payolle, its not exaggerating to say that British riders have taken over the Tour this summer. They have won five out of nine stages so far, and can reasonably hope for a second 1-2 in the space of four years on the Champs-Elysees.No other nation has won more than one stage this year.You look at how far British cycling has come during the last few years, said Froome, who was runner-up to countryman Bradley Wiggins in 2012 then won the race in 2013 and 2015. Its not just by chance. There has been a plan, there have been structures, riders of talent.Competing in only his second Tour, the 23-year-old Yates is leading the next generation of British cyclists. Yates holds the white jersey for best young rider and is just 16 seconds behind Froome overall. After winning the Tour of Turkey in 2014, and the San Sebastian single-day classic last year, he is already being tipped as a future winner of a major Tour.Yates joined the Orica squad with that goal in mind, but said he would focus on stage wins this year while also trying to keep up with Froome and Nairo Quintana.The strategy has been working well so far, and hes seven seconds ahead of Quintana, the Colombian climber who is in fourth place.Irish rider Dan Martin is third overall, 19 seconds behind Froome.They already have shown themselves as contenders, Froome said of Yates and Martin. If they can do what theyve done in the first half, then theyll be on the podium come Paris. But three weeks is a long time. It is a difference between riding a week-long race and a Grand Tour. But so far, theyve shown no weaknesses in that respect.The other big satisfaction of the week for British cycling has been Cavendish. At 31, the Manx Missile has rediscovered his instinct and burst of speed courtesy of the hard track training he put himself through as part of his preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he will be competing in the omnium.With 29 stage wins under his belt, Cavendish is second on the all-time list of Tour stage winners, five behind Eddy Merckxs record of 34, and one ahead of Bernard Hinault.Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said the main reason behind Britains dominance dates to nearly 20 years ago, when the National Lottery started to invest millions of pounds into British sport federations.Britain has invested heavily in lower ranks, Brailsford said. It does not happen overnight.Here are some other things learned during the first week of the Tour:---NO RIVALS FOR SKYThere is just one team controlling the race this year, and its Froomes Team Sky.Riders from the British outfit protected Froome in the early flat stages, kept him safe from crashes at the front of the pack, then set the pace in the Pyrenees.The fast tempo they impose in every big ascent prevents Froomes main rivals from attacking, and eventually makes them crack. Among the pre-race favorites, BMCs Tejay van Garderen has already lost 1:01 to Froome, and Astanas Fabio Aru trails by 1:23.If they want to just sit on our wheel and wait until the end and try and catch us, if thats the way they want to try and win the Tour de France, thats fine by me Brailsford said. But if nobody else is going to try and take control then we will.CONSERVATIVE QUINTANASeen as the main threat to Froomes ambition to secure a third Tour win, Nairo Quintana has been fairly discreet.Twice runner-up to Froome, the diminutive climber was expected to attack in the Pyrenees. After being caught off guard by Froomes downhill attack, he took an extremely conservative approach in the climb to Arcalis, sat on Froomes back wheel and did not try anything that could have destabilized the Tour champion.In 2013 and 2015, Quintana managed to gain time on Froome in the closing stages of the Tour. His Movistar team insists there is still a long way to go before the race reaches Paris and that Quintana will have plenty of opportunities to challenge Froome, especially at Mont Ventoux or in the Alps.BARDET IN THE MIXWith Thibault Pinot out of contention, the French hopes of producing a first home Tour winner in 31 years hang on Romain Bardets shoulders.There has been no French champion since Bernard Hinaults fifth victory in 1985.Sixth overall, 44 seconds behind Froome, Bardet had never enjoyed such a good start. And he is not impressed by Sky.It boosts my confidence, Bardet said. Sky is a very powerful team, but I expected them to be stronger (Sunday), Froome was a bit left on his own in the finale. Everything is possible.---AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf contributed to this story. Authentic Custom Raptors Jersey . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Tracy Mcgrady Jersey Large . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. http://www.customraptorsjersey.com/custom-tracy-mcgrady-jersey-large-72h.html .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Cheap Raptors Jerseys . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Custom Raptors Jerseys . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling announced plans on Tuesday to run against Elizabeth Warren in the U.S. Senate if his wife agrees, but he declined to apologize to Rhode Island taxpayers left on the hook for tens of millions of dollars when his video game company collapsed.Schilling spoke Tuesday with WPRO-AM, his first interview about 38 Studios since settling a lawsuit over it and since a criminal investigation resulted in no charges.Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo has said Rhode Island residents were hurt by the bad deal and deserve an apology.Schilling said its not that he wont apologize, but he wants Raimondo to tell him what he should apologize for. He asked listeners: What do you want me to apologize for?The company moved from Massachusetts to Rhode Island in 2010 in exchange for a $75 million loan guarantee, then went bankrupt less than two years later.Schilling said his company failed because it didnt raise enough money, not because he did anything malicious or illegal, and that he has apologized to his former employees.I couldnt raise the final tranche of money and get the product to launch and that will never be anyones fault but mine, he said.But Schilling also faulted politicians for giving him a loan guarantee in the first place.If I was the governor, I would have never even offered this deal, Schilling said. The government doesnt belong in private business. But Im on the other side of this. My job and responsibility is to my company and to my employees and I was doing everything I could do, within my legal means, to make that be a success.Schilling took questions from callers in the wide-ranging, three-hour interrview.ddddddddddddHe also said he had decided to run against Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, in 2018, but that he must clear it with his wife.Ive made my decision, Im going to run, he said. But I have to talk to Shonda, my wife, and ultimately its going to come down to how her and I feel this would affect our marriage and our kids.Schilling took issue with Warren opposing a November ballot question aimed at dramatically expanding the number of charter schools in Massachusetts. He said hes not scared to debate her, noting that the Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians when he was a player.Ive beaten the real ones before so Im not worried about that, the self-described conservative and Donald Trump supporter said, an apparent reference to Warrens claims of Native American heritage.Earlier this year Schilling was fired from his job as an ESPN baseball analyst after comments on Facebook critical of transgender rights. He now has an online radio show.A judge recently approved a settlement with Schilling and three other 38 Studios officials over the loan deal. The state of Rhode Island sued Schilling and other key players involved.Just one company remains as a defendant, First Southwest, which acted as the states financial adviser. Schilling said he expects to testify at the trial.Raimondo said on Tuesday that shes angry because Rhode Islanders were hurt by the 38 Studios deal. She said it wasnt right that tax dollars vanished on a terrible deal.---Associated Press writer Matt OBrien in Providence contributed to this report. ' ' '