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Show DAILY C4 HERALD Saturday. July H 2007 TOUR DE FRANCE After slow first week, Tour de France heads into the Alps Jamey Keaten THE mn ' A'yjOCiA'tD PSLiS ' fin ; qualified from the Tour on the eve of the race after five of its riders were linked to Opera- s . tion Puerto, a Spanish doping investigation. Over the last 14 months, the Spanish inquiry, doping claims against 2006 Tour winner Floyd Landis and a string of admis-sion- s about doping several top former and current riders has tarnished cycling's image. 4 J Few experts believe this race is totally clean, but the International Cycling Union has cracked down by getting riders to sign a promise they're not involved in doping. As the Tour enters the Alps, Associated Press photos riders who might make a mark Left: Tom Boonen, center, speeds towards the finish line ahead of Oscar Freire, left, and Erik Zabel to win the sixth stage of the include Spain's Alejandro to Le American Levi Leiphe-ime- r, and central France, on Friday. Right Overall leader Fabian featuring the Category 1 climb 94th Tour de France between Russia's Denis Menchov, Cancellara pedals with teammates during the sixth stage Friday. at La Colombiere pass. and Cadel Evans and Michael "You watch, it's going to be ... fast this weekend," said Rogers of Australia. cruised gingerly in the back of David Millar of Britain. "When- - For now, race favorites have year, held onto the overall lead frenzied stage across the Bur"Now, we're really going to see the leaders who are been content to sit back and let by finishing in the pack. the pack, eager to stay out of ever you get into the hilly gundy winemaking region, trouble. A time-triace, Cancellara going to want to position for sustaining a hairline fracture sprinters jostle for stage wins stages, everybody will want said he doesn't expect to stay of his tailbone. His coach said race. the overall standings," said Astana already has had to go put on the break. No one early in the three-weeFrench champion Christophe in yellow through the Alps. Kloeden was riding with sehas wanted to go this week." Former world champion enough of that. The team on Boonen thundered to his fifth vere sciatic nerve pain. Moreau, who won last month's Friday fired Matthias Kessler Germany 's Andreas Kloeden, High headwinds across to Armstrong in the runner-uAstana teammate Alexandre after the backup "B" sample northern French farmland Tour stage victory in a sprint Dauphine Libere stage race. e "The setbacks for Astana's 2004 and third last year, is secfrom a surprise April doping at the end of Friday's Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, were the big deterrent. The Vinokourov and Kloeden ... are test turned up positive for viewed by many as the pre-ratrek from the Burgundy town ond overall, 33 seconds back. leader has averaged 24.8 mph s And 21 other riders are within to favorite, also was banged unusually high levels of testosgoing to change things." through six stages, down from of one minute of Cancellara. 26.6 mph a year ago. In 2005, up in another crash Thursday, terone. The German already Associated Press Writer had been suspended and was But Kloeden's victory hopes Swiss rider Fabian Cancelwith Lance Armstrong en suffering deep cuts on his Jerome Pugmire contributed knees. soured after he crashed into route to a record seventh Tour lara, the only man to wear sitting out the Tour, to this report. Last year, Astana was dis a ditch along Thursday's Friday, he and Kloeden victory, the pace was 29.8 mph. the leader's yellow jersey this France Slow through the flats, and fast in the mountains that's just what some riders are predicting as the Tour de France enters the Alps. Belgian Tom Boonen won Friday's sixth stage, ending a crash-pron- e and unusually slow first week in which sprinters ruled and two potential title contenders were injured. Burning thighs and heavy breathing await as riders embark on three days in the Alps, e starting with Saturday's course from BOURG-EN-BRESS- .. . sS,i X . hr '; 1 ffl 122.7-mil- Bourg-en-Bress- e Val-verd- e, Grand-Bornan- Semur-en-Auxo- is Bourg-en-Bress- e, k 124-mil- Semur-en-Auxoi- Bourg-en-Bress- e. BECKHAM COMES TO AMERICA BYU ROUNDUP Beckham her left hand on her tiny waist. Friday , albeit in a luxury SUV The Beckhams' three young he had just purchased. "The traffic was great," he sons were out of sight. Madrid," he said. "I'm glad I Continued from CI said. "It only took us like 50 ended that challenge at Madrid Alyssa Bricker, a soccer player in the crowd, minutes from the house, which Hopefully, I can handle it in the with a title. It couldn't have wasn't too bad. Someone said been a better time for me to said, "I can't wait to see him right way." it was going to take an hour midfielder start playing." The end it." and a half." Beckham was resplendent Asked if she thought Beckjoins the Major League Soccer Once the confetti fell, Beckham was handsome, Bricker team at a time when his career in a gray Burberry suit, white ham posed for endless photos is on the upswing. In Janusaid, "Oh, yeah. He's hot." shirt, pale gray tie and an ac- before visiting a series of suites cent pocket square. A glittering And his wife? ary, when he signed with the "She's pretty," Bricker said. jammed with international and wide diamond wedding band Galaxy, he had been benched domestic print, radio, television "And very lucky." by Real Madrid and was out of flashed on his left ring finger. e media. and Beckham assured everyone favor on the England national His blond hair was buzz cut and He quickly dispelled rumors he sported a stubbly beard. team. that he's a regular bloke who of having Hollywood aspiraHis wife, Victoria, strolled In the ensuing months, prefers doing his own driving tions. and grocery shopping. Becks helped Real Madrid win on the field in perilously high "Once I've done this in the Spanish League title and stilettos minutes ahead of her "People have talked about husband. Wearing a short front of all these thousands of me going into the movies was recalled to the national blond 'do, huge black sunand going into Hollywood," team, where he has made key people, I'll go back home and contributions and is expected glasses, a fuchsia jump in the pool with the kids," he said. "That's not what I'm here for. I'm here to just play dress and a matching alligator he said. "I always do as many to continue to play between football, ah, to play soccer. handbag, Posh Spice posed for normal things as everybody Galaxy games. else does." assembled photographers, jutHe said he has no regrets Sorry. That's the only reason Like driving himself to work I'm here." about leaving Europe. ting her left leg out and resting Cougar women's hoops announces 2007-0- 8 nonconference schedule DAILY conference schedule, see HERALD C5. . "I needed a new challenge after my four years at Real Spanish-languag- Eight teams that participated in postseason tournaments, along with a home game against UCLA, highlight the 2007-0nonconference schedule for the BYU women's basketball team announced by head coach Jeff Judkins on Friday. The schedule inlcludesl4 games with matchups against a pair of teams from the Big East, two WAC foes and a games against squads from the Pac-1- 0 and America East conferences. "I think this is one of our best preseason schedules we've ever hard," Judkins said. "We're excited about our schedule because we're playing a lot of different teams that compete in very strong conferences." The Cougar team opens the nonconference season with a pair of road games, at UCSB and at Arkansas State on Nov. 9 and 13, respectively. The season opener for the team is on Nov. 17 when BYU hosts Fresno State. Then comes a trip to perennial power Connecticut, who went to the Elite Eight in last year's NCAA tournament and won its league race. The Huskies will host the Cougars on Nov. 29, followed by a game at Sacred Heart on Dec. 1. "Connecticut is a premiere women's basketball program and they along with UCLA, are alHartford and UCSB ways at the top of the standings in their conferences," Judkins said. Another big game on the slate happens when UCLA comes to Provo on Dec. 15. The Bruins haven't visited the Marriott Center since 2000. "With our young team this year, the schedule will be a pretty big challenge for us, but I know it will prepare us for another very competitive and tough conference season," Judkins said. For the Cougar women's non- - I BYU women's track tops list team: The US of Track and 8 ' . Field and Cross , Country Coaches Association released the 2007 Women's Indoor and Outdoor team. BYU had the most representatives on the list with 18, followed by Stanford at 15. Honorees must maintain a 3.25 GPA or better and obtain an automatic or provisional qualifying mark to compete in the NCAA Championships during the 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons. "It just goes to show that we have great athletes that win championships and perform well in the classroom," said BYU women's head coach Craig Poole. "This an indication of the caliber of the young women on our team, and I am very proud of them." For the full list of Cougars named to the team, seeC5. Armour been to the World Cup since 1950, and an American had as good a chance of playing on the moon as he did in any of Europe's top leagues. Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff may have excited fans, but there was nothing to grab onto beyond them. "Pele sort of started on page 1," soccer historian Colin Jose said. "And now we're at page 50."-- . Continued from C2 Will adding Beckham to this mix elevate soccer to NFL status? No, and it's ridiculous to expect that of him. But with his good looks, hairstyles, Spice Girl wife and BFFs who double as Hollywood's A list, Becks will make sure fans and fringe alike watch. He gives MLS the kind of pop culture cred it was years from getting on its own. More importantly, he and e the other players who joined MLS this season will lift the level of play across the league. That helps narrow the g MLS is only in its 12th season, but it has already had an impact. Where the best players once hung up their boots in high school or college, they KEVORK DJANSEZIANAssociated Press can now make a living playing soccer. Maybe not the $32.5 England soccer player David Beckham walks across the pitch million Beckham is getting after posing for a photograph with group of youth soccer paid, but enough to keep them gap with Euplayers after his introduction as the newest member of the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team at the Home Depot Center playing. rope's top leagues and makes U.S. players are no longer in Carson, Calif., on Friday. for stronger American players. novelties in Europe, with three Which eventually means betBrian McBride, Carlos ter results at the World Cup. local TV newscaster. He was, to Pele, saying even he couldn't Which eventually generates and Clint Dempsey at Fulham alone in the Engnot surprisingly, booed. Galaxy convert Americans when more interest in the sport. lish Premier League. And while he played for the New York GM Alexi Lalas couldn't pass It's a work in progress to the Americans didn't exactly be sure, this makeover of the on the opportunity to shill team Cosmos in the heady days of do themselves proud at last United States into a the North American Soccer merchandise. But that is why Beckham is soccer nation. That was clear summer's World Cup, they're League. with the tacky displays at FriBut that's not a fair compari- not international lightweights here. His arrival is a shortcut son. anymore. day's news conference and on the road to respectability. "I think soccer in America Soccer's time in America Americans were about no, that's not a reference to is coming. Beckham's arrival as into soccer as they were Posh and her outfit. has a lot of potential, just maybe something is missing to take cricket when the NASL began brings it that much closer. The Galaxy trotted out LA. it to another level" he said in 1967. Sure, there were some Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is currently starring in the after his introduction Friday. I Nancy Armour is a national semipro leagues and a few fans. But there was sports columnist for The city's most popular soap opera "And I'm hoping I'm going to no base, no real history of the after splitting with his wife and be part of that." Associated Press. Write to The naysayers love to point game. The United States hadn't her at narmourap.org announcing his affair with a I DeFrancis earns U5L honor; Cougars to play at Ogden: The United Soccer Leagues named BYU forward Zack DeFrancis Player of the Week for the 12th week of the PDL seasoa DeFrancis scored three goals and had an assist in two games that helped BYU earn a spot in the playoffs. Today, DeFrancis and the BYU men's soccer team will face the Ogden Outlaws in Ogden for the fourth and final time this seasoa Game time is 7 p.m. at Ogden High School big-nam- I Woodbury, Larkin named to U.S. select team: BYU soccer standouts Erika Woodbury and Katie Larkin were recently chosen to compete on the U.S. National Select Women's Team by the United States Adult Soccer Associatioa "It was a really big honor to be selected to the team," Woodbury said die-ha- : Utah County's Real Estate Leaders SAVE TURN TO THE TORNOWS COMMUWY W BUyiNG OR SELLING HOMES, CONDOS, is Nawft; . INVESTMENT PROPERTIES IX.ftiliCnBtjjtvij 4 Years in a row! nfLY A HOMES Bf MAIN STARTING FTWM THE LOW CALL TODAY FOR EXCLUSIVE INCENTIVES i $300,000' Kin. McKINLEY P, Lpt 801.755.93331.3 GOLDBERG 801.556.4648 r 'Jr Col Today! 1 HARRIS HEARING CENTER 330 W. Center St. Provo 373-682- 7 W1 i. TORINO W TORNOWS ft ASSOCIATES, INC If! n |