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AX 3 DOMAINES, France -- Chris Froome used the first tough mountain stage to take command of the Tour de France on Saturday, leaving two-time champion Alberto Contador and other challengers in his wake on a grueling climb in the Pyrenees to seize the leaders yellow jersey with a dominant win on the eighth stage. Froome entered the Tour as the favourite after finishing second last year behind countryman and Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins, who isnt defending his title because of an injury. And after Froomes performance on Saturday, the race looks like its his to lose. "I must be among the happiest men in the world today," Froome said. "Theres a long way to go until Paris. There are two weeks left but we want to keep the yellow jersey." Froome leads Contador by nearly two minutes, with former champions Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans much further back, ahead of another tough mountain stage on Sunday. "More than anything today weve got a bit of a psychological advantage over the others," Froome said. "Its quite hard to think about this, standing in yellow today. This is incredible. Weve worked for months to be in this position." In the overall standings, Froome is 51 seconds ahead of teammate Richie Porte and leads third-place Alejandro Valverde by 1:25. Meanwhile, Contador is 1:51 behind in seventh spot; Schleck is 4:00 back in 21st and Evans is 4:36 adrift in 23rd. Victorias Ryder Hesjedal finished the stage in 39th and is 35th overall. David Veilleux of Cap-Rouge, Que., and Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., are 138th and 179th, respectively. This is the 100th edition of the Tour -- and the first since Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven straight titles (1999-2005) for doping. Froomes ride on Saturday resembled Armstrong at his best, when the American used to punish his opponents early in the race to take control. Froome was asked after the stage to vouch that he is riding clean. "One hundred per cent," he responed. "Its normal that people ask questions in cycling," he said. "I certainly know the results Im getting, theyre not going to be stripped ... I think the sport (has) changed. If you look at it logically the sport is in a better place now than it has been." The 28-year-old Froome attacked early into the days second big climb up to Ax 3 Domaines and only Porte, who finished the stage 51 seconds behind in second, was anywhere near him. "The team was absolutely perfect today," Porte said. "Im absolutely finished but it was an incredible day." Contador grimly held on as long as he could, and was dropped by Froome long after 2010 champion Schleck and the 2011 champion Evans had already been left behind. "I tried to find my rhythm because it was a bit too fast for me," Schleck said. "Its only the first day of the mountains and its not over yet." Froome took the yellow jersey from South African cyclist Daryl Impey, his former training partner, who crawled over the line 7:50 behind in 35th spot. Contador finished the stage 1:45 behind Froome, Schleck trailed by 3:34 and the 36-year-old Evans was 4:13 adrift. "I wasnt expecting that much for today," Froome said. "The time gaps were so big, thats quite something. Were in a really good position." Given that Froome may attack again in Sundays second tortuous Pyrenean climbs -- featuring four straight category 1 ascents -- he could be well on the way to victory by Mondays rest day. "I think were well poised," Froome said. "Were going to have to fight for it but Im confident in the team we have." Saturdays 195-kilometre (121-mile) trek started from Castres and stayed flat for a long time before reaching spiking upwards. The Col de Pailheres came first -- a ferociously tough ascent for about nine miles at a gradient of eight per cent -- and then a shorter but even steeper ride to the finish at the ski resort of Ax 3 Domaines. Colombian rider Nairo Quintana broke away to launch a brutal attack up Pailheres, and only Frenchman Pierre Roland initially followed him, but Porte helped Froome steadily gain ground on them. Schleck, Evans and then Rolland were dropped with about 6 kilometres (4 miles) left to go up to Ax 3 Domaines as Contador desperately tried to stay on Portes wheel. Porte had tired Contador to the point that the Spaniard was even struggling to keep up with teammate Roman Kreuziger, so Froome decided it was time to finish him off. "I am little bit surprised," Froome said. "Maybe he (Contador) didnt have his best day today." Froome climbed with such blistering acceleration it almost looked like he was riding a time trial, blowing past Quintana and then Porte. "It may look easy on TV but it wasnt," Froome said. Still, he had time to ease up in the saddle, raise his arms and soak up victory in the blazing sun.Fake White Sox Jerseys . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Chicago White Sox Shirts . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/ . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. 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Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad.Standing 7-feet tall and weighing 280 pounds, Andre Drummond is one of the most physically imposing big men in the NBA.Put him in a gym with 400 Special Olympics athletes, and the Detroit Pistons All-Star center turns into a little kid again.Drummond, 23, was named as the newest Special Olympics ambassador on Thursday, and he celebrated his new role by hosting a pep rally and basketball clinic in Detroit.Its a feeling you dont forget. Its a genuine look and genuine excitement, Drummond said with a chuckle in a telephone interview. They dont see me as just a basketball player, they see me for who I am and the amount of time and effort I put into being a supporter of the movement.Drummond was first introduced to Special Olympics as a rookie when he attended an NBA Cares event. From that moment on, he was determined to be as involved as he could in promoting the cause and working with the athletes all over the world.Just seeing how much they love the game and the excitement they had just drew me to them, Drummond said. Year after year I continued to do it, and I tried to be more involved, and now its kind of like that next level beeing an international ambassador.dddddddddddd.Drummond joins other high-profile ambassadors such as Michael Phelps, Damian Lillard, Yao Ming and WNBA star Elena Delle Donne.Andre has experienced firsthand how sports can build fitness, confidence and skills among Special Olympics athletes and how playing unified and being unified can break down barriers and help build respect and inclusion in every neighboring school and community across the nation, Special Olympics CEO Mary Davis said.Unified programs work to pair students with and without intellectual disabilities for education and sports.As much as Drummond enjoys playing basketball with those he met on Thursday, he said the real experience comes in the conversations and interactions away from the court.Anybody can shoot and throw the ball around, he said. But when you get the time to really speak to them and hear their stories and see the kinds of personalities they have, its something you cant really describe. You have to be there for the moment. ' ' '