The Sportsletter - Tour de Vingegaard 🚴‍♂️

BY JEFF YODER

JULY 25, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

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NFL training camps have officially begun, but we've got a unique summer blend of sports to recap first. From the Tour de France to track and field championships and more, the weekend review has a little bit of everything.

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CYCLING

Vingegaard Wins Tour de France

Photo: Michael Steele / Getty Images

Jonas Vingegaard Dethrones 2-Time Defending Champion Tadej Pogacar in 2022 Tour de France

The three-week ride of a lifetime concluded Sunday in Paris as riders completed the 21st and final stage of the Tour de France. When it was all said and done, 25-year-old Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard won his first Tour de France in just his second attempt. He beat out Slovenian legend and reigning two-time champion Tadej Pogacar by nearly three minutes. Jasper Philipsen won the final stage, pulling away from the pack late at Champs-Elyses. Meanwhile, Vingegaard’s Jumbo-Visma teammate, Wout Van Aert, finished the Tour with the green jersey (points leader).

A Rivalry of Riders: While Pogacar (23 years old) has been the undisputed Tour de France king after winning the last two years, Vingegaard’s arrival as the new champ should set the stage for an annual rivalry between the two.

“It’s just incredible. It’s the biggest cycling race of the year, the biggest one you can win and now I’ve won it. No one can take this away from me.” — Jonas Vingegaard

Watch: Tour de France Stage 21 Highlights

Tour de France (Final Standings)

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): 79H, 33M, 20S

2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates): 79H, 36M, 3S

3. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers): 79H, 40M, 42S

Points Leader: Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma): 480 Points

Climb Leader: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): 72 Points)

Full Final Standings

Additional Storylines

NY Times: Jonas Vingegaard Wins Tour de France, Completing His Sudden Ascent to Top

The Guardian: Jonas Vingegaard Takes Tour de France Glory & Tadej Pogacar’s Aura of Invincibility

MLB

The Soto Sweepstakes

Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

Where Will Juan Soto Land After Nationals Star Declines Contract Extension

It’s been 10 days since Juan Soto rejected the Nationals’ $440 million contract extension, and that means one of the biggest stars in the game is on the trade block with a week before the deadline. Teams in win-now mode could swing a deal for the 23-year-old. He has two years left before hitting free agency, and the Nationals (32-65) are wasting his talent. A cash-rich team could nab Soto and quickly give him the deal he desires for the long haul, or a contender could take advantage of the two-year rental. Here are the top teams listed as potential destinations for the two-time All-Star.

Top Destinations for Juan Soto

1. Padres

2. Dodgers

3. Yankees

4. Cardinals

5. Mets

Read: What’s Next for Juan Soto? Potential Landing Spots

MLB Quick-Hitters

Dodgers Win 8th Straight: The Dodgers completed a weekend sweep against the division rival Giants to extend their win streak to eight games. L.A. is now 64-30 atop the National League.

Blue Jays Reach 6 in a Row: Toronto trounced the Red Sox in a weekend series to push their win streak to six straight games as they leapt Boston and Tampa Bay in the AL East.

Goldschmidt Goes Off: The biggest bat of the weekend belonged to Paul Goldschmidt (2 HRs, 3 RBIs) in the Cardinals’ loss to the Reds (6-3).

TRACK

Top Of The Worlds

Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images

Sydney McLaughlin & USA Break Records at World Championships

The penultimate day of the world track and field championships brought a few surprises to the finale in Eugene, Oregon. The U.S. women’s 4x100-meter team pulled a stunning upset against the Jamaican team. Moments later, the U.S. men’s 4x100-meter team took an upset and settled for silver behind Canada. At the end of the day, Sydney McLaughlin etched her name on another record-breaking performance.

McLaughlin’s Hurdle Record: For the fourth time in just over a year, Sydney McLaughlin broke the 400-meter hurdles world record, this time by clocking a 50.68-second run and shattering her old record of 51.14. At 22 years old, McLaughlin became the second-youngest athlete ever to own an Olympic golf, world title and world record in a single event.

U.S. Breaks Medals Record

The United States secured 33 total medals by the end of worlds to break the record set by East Germany in 1987 (31). Thirteen of those 33 medals were gold, making this year’s haul just one shy of the most golds for the United States (14) on three separate occasions (2005, 2007 & 2019).

Additional Storylines

NBC Sports: Athing Mu Wins 800m Thriller as U.S. Wins Most Track Worlds Medals Ever

Yahoo! Sports: 2 World Records Fall, U.S. Wins 3 More Golds on Final Night

USA Today: U.S. Star Sydney McLaughlin Smashes Own World Record in 400m Hurdles

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚽️ EUR: France Join Final Four in Women’s EUROs

An extra-time penalty-kick winner by Eve Perisset (102’) gave France a 1-0 win against Netherlands and a ticket to the final four of the UEFA women’s EURO championship on Saturday. They’ll join England, Germany and Sweden in the semifinals.

⛳️ PGA: Finau Wins 3M Open

Tony Finau (-17) won his first tournament of the season Sunday in Minnesota at the 3M Open, holding off Sungjae Im (-14) and Emilian Grillo (-14) by three strokes. It was Finau’s third career PGA Tour victory.

🏀 WNBA: Charles Joins 7K Points Club

Tina Charles dropped 27 points on Sunday in the Storm’s 82-72 win over the Dream and became the fourth player in WNBA history with 7,000 points. She joined Diana Taurasi, Tina Thompson and Tamika Catchings.

🏎️ F1: Verstappen Wins French Grand Prix

Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 domination continued on Sunday at the French Grand Prix as he cruised to victory when Charles Leclerc crashed out. Lewis Hamilton finished second. Verstappen now holds a 63-point edge on Leclerc in the standings.

THE STORYLINES

⚾️ The 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame Class

The Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 features seven members that tie together more than 150 years of baseball history in a celebration of diversity at the game's highest level. It’s Big Papi and six others in 2022. (USA Today)

🤼‍♂️ WWE Without Vince McMahon

McMahon, who bought his father’s wrestling business in the '80s and turned it into a global juggernaut, announced his retirement on Friday in a tweet that sent shockwaves through the industry. (FOX Sports)

🏈 The Saddest Quarterback Competitions

NFL preseason is about to begin, and some positional battles will certainly deserve our attention. Some won’t. The Ringer goes through the saddest quarterback competitions heading into training camp. (The Ringer)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Texans Rookie WR John Metchie III to Miss 2022 Season With Leukemia (USA Today)
• Paul Goldschmidt & Nolan Arenado to Miss Toronto Series Over Vaccination Rules (Yahoo! Sports)
• Former Cubs & Braves OF Dwight Smith Dies at Age 58 (CBS Sports)
• Bills OT Rodger Saffold to Miss Training Camp After Car Crash (ESPN)
• 5-Star Power Forward GG Jackson Commits to South Carolina (SI)

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