an -- 10 kilometres at 7.5 per cent gradient. Froome, meanwhile, tuck

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Batted balls. Wounded ducks. Interceptions. Passes into the turf. The Oakland Raiders opened their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday with a passing offence that looks far from a finished product. From presumed starter Matt Flynn to the only returning quarterback Terrelle Pryor to rookie Tyler Wilson, none of the quarterbacks fighting to replace Carson Palmer as the starter in Oakland are standing apart from the competition. With more than six weeks until training camp and nearly three months until the season opener, none of the competitors or coach Dennis Allen seemed overly concerned at this point. "Each and every day were going to want to come out and complete every pass and throw 10 touchdowns," Flynn said. "But realistically right now everyone is still learning, everyone is learning each other, everyone is learning a new playbook. Things are coming. Things are formulating. But we have a long time until game one." Flynn said he has seen lots of progress in how receivers are learning to adjust routes against certain coverage, the communication between the quarterbacks and offensive linemen about protection schemes and the ability to get in and out of the huddle more quickly. Allen said the biggest issue so far through three weeks of OTAs and now the start of minicamp has been establishing consistency, especially in a passing offence working with its third co-ordinator in as many years with Greg Olson now in charge. "I dont allow that to frustrate me," Allen said. "I understand where were at in the season. I understand that weve got a lot of new pieces, a lot of new guys working together and I dont concern myself with that. I know weve got a lot of work to do, but the way our guys are working, were going to get where we need to be." For most of the veterans in Oakland, they are learning a third offensive system in as many years after spending last year with Greg Knapp and the previous two with Hue Jackson calling plays. There were few passes completed downfield by any quarterback during team drills Tuesday. Two of those came on fluttering passes down the sideline by Flynn that Marcel Reece and Denarius Moore managed to catch after leaping over defenders. Much more common were passes that were batted down at the line by defenders, others that went into open space after miscommunications between quarterback and receiver and others that were off-target or into coverage. Pryor said he had four balls tipped at the line and Flynn had two in what he called a "nerve-racking" experience. But he said that is bound to happen when linemen arent in pads and are unable to get down low and whats most important at this time of year is making the correct decision. "It kind of makes you mad but, at the end of the day ... as long as the ball is going to the right spot, its good," Pryor said. "In terms of our movement, getting in and out of the huddle, for all of us, we did a great job with protection calls, getting the guys going. But blocked balls, it was a factor today." Pryor started the season finale a year ago when Palmer was hurt and went 13 for 28 for 150 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 24-21 loss to the Chargers. He also ran for 49 yards and a score and looked more than capable running the offence. But even though Palmer is gone, Pryor is not expected to be the starter after the Raiders traded for Flynn in the off-season. But a year ago at this time, Flynn was the presumed starter in Seattle after being acquired by the Seahawks in the off-season but ended up being beaten out for the job by rookie Russell Wilson. "Its still a long time before even the first preseason game," Pryor said. "So, that talk is nonsense. It doesnt matter right now, as long as were helping each other, and were getting better and building team chemistry. Thats the main thing, working with each other. Right now, not knowing who the starting quarterback is going to be and whos getting talked about, thats the thing thats not very important right now, to me." The third quarterback in the mix is Wilson, a fourth-round pick out of Arkansas who might have the strongest arm in the group. But Wilson is still adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NFL game. "Theres a lot being thrown at us," he said. "Obviously, the defence is doing some things, and the offence is trying to put a lot on the table and see what sticks. Its a process for all of us going through it, and its good. I think we made plays on both sides of the ball today. On the offence, sometimes it wasnt pretty, but we got through it, we made plays."Air Max 97 Mens Clearance . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Nike Air Max 97 Just Do It Black . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. http://www.outletairmax97.com/mens-nike-air-max-97-plus-black-shock-orange-ah8144-002.html . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Air Max 97 Clearance . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Air Max 97 Have a Nike Day .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France -- Left alone and with his teammates far behind, Chris Froome held off repeated attacks to retain the Tour de France lead Sunday as the three-week race left the Pyrenees mountains. Dan Martin of Ireland, a 26-year-old Garmin-Sharp rider, won Stage 9 following a two-man sprint against Denmarks Jakob Fuglsang after they escaped Froome and the other pre-race favourites on the last of five tough climbs along the 168.5-kilometre trek from Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre in southwest France. As the race neared its first rest day Monday, Froome was relieved he was able to quash four attacks by Movistars Nairo Quintana on the last climb -- la Hourquette dAncizan -- despite his Sky teammates lagging behind. They were worn out after a strong team effort to help him win the yellow jersey a day earlier. "That was one of the hardest days Ive ever had on a bike," Froome said. "Im really happy with how I came through today ... Its not easy to follow Quintana in the climbs. Hes a light little Colombian who can fly up hills -- so to cover his attacks definitely wasnt easy." "But yeah, I was quite ready for more attacks, and Im quite glad there werent," he said, adding that it was "quite understandable" that his teammates werent with him after Saturdays effort. The Briton ketp an eye on his top rivals to win the title in Paris on July 21, including Spaniard pair Alberto Contador, of the Saxo Bank team, and Alejandro Valverde -- one of five Movistar riders in the front bunch of about two dozen riders. The Briton was content to let Martin and Fuglsang go ahead, and fight for the stage win. After a brief cat-and-mouse game, Martin wheeled around the Dane before the final bend with about 150 metres to go and held on for his first Tour stage win. Martin is the nephew of 1987 Tour champion Stephen Roche and a cousin of fellow cyclist Nicolas Roche. "I was confident in the final stretch because I know I have some speed," Martin said, adding he was lucky to have Astanas Fuglsang with him to share the work of holding off the favourites. "I knew I had to be ahead in the last two corners and, when I saw that I was, I knew I could win." "Luckily I had the legs to finish the job." They crossed 20 seconds ahead of Froome, two-time Tour winner Contador, and 2011 champion Cadel Evans of Australia, among others. Overall, the top standings didnt change much, except that Sky rider Richie Porte of Australia tumbled from 2nd place overall to 33rd after finishing nearly 18 minutes behind Martin. Froomes closest challenger is Valverde, who is 1:25 behind. Contador is sixth overall and trails by 1:51. Martin is eighth, 2:28 back. Froome captured the yellow jersey Saturday by launching a devastating attack in the final climb to win Stage 8, thanks in large part to a strong escort from Sky -- including Porte, who was second in that stage.dddddddddddd But the fact there were none of his teammates around to help Froome will encourage the other teams that the seemingly unbeatable Sky team may have weaknesses. Tired from their efforts Saturday, the other Sky riders fell back early on and Froome was left to fend for himself. As is required of the yellow jersey holder after each stage, Froome went straight to anti-doping control after the race. This is the first Tour since Lance Armstrongs fall from grace after he was stripped of his seven Tour titles from 1999-2005 for serial doping. Froome vouched after his win Saturday that he was "100 per cent" clean and was asked on French television after Sundays stage if he has ever taken a performance-enhancing product. "No," Froome said. "I trained for many months to arrive here in this form." With temperatures once again well into the 30s C, Froome found himself isolated on the days first category 1 ascent up to Col de Mente, where Evans fell 40 seconds behind the yellow jersey group. Then, a breakaway group featuring Canadas Ryder Hesjedal, Tom Danielson and Pierre Rolland forged ahead. Hesjedal finished the stage 59th to drop into 41st overall. David Veilleux of Cap-Rouge, Que., and Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., are 132nd and 173rd respectively. Froomes chasing group included Contador, flanked by his Saxo-Tinkoff teammates, while Quintana sat behind Froome. Once they got over Col de Mente, Valverde attacked on the descent and chased after the breakaway group, prompting Froome to go after him. The second tough climb was the days longest -- about 13 kilometres up the famed Col de Peyresourde -- and a new breakaway took the initiative. Hesjedal, last years Giro dItalia winner, and climbing specialist Rolland were still there, joined by Romain Bardet of France and Belgian trio Bart De Clercq, Thomas De Gendt and Jan Bakelants. They were about 40 seconds ahead of Froomes group at the top of Peyresourde. Quintanas Movistar teammates drove hard at the front of the 20-man yellow jersey group as they chugged toward the third climb in the blazing sun. Australias Simon Clarke joined the leaders as the seven-man breakaway started to up the tempo and then broke away on his own up the Col de Val Louron-Azet -- a 7.4-kilometre ascent. Clarke was 1:10 ahead of Froomes group before he sped down a sharp descent to La Hourquette dAncizan -- 10 kilometres at 7.5 per cent gradient. Froome, meanwhile, tucked in behind four Movistar riders -- with Quintana riding his wheel -- for the last few kilometres until the last climb, where the breakaway riders were caught. French President Francois Hollande was among the spectators, protected from the heat in Tour director Christian Prudhommes car. Tuesday is a flat stage for sprinters. Froome will be among the favourites to win Wednesdays time trial on Stage 11. ' ' '