Verstappen wins in France after Leclerc crashes out

FRANCE - -Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix on Sunday and took a huge stride towards a second Formula One title after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc made a costly mistake and crashed out while leading.
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton finished second for Mercedes in his 300th grand prix, with team mate George Russell third to secure their first podium double of the campaign.
The victory on a hot afternoon at Le Castellet was Verstappen's seventh in 12 races this season and 27th of his career.
It also left him a hefty 63 points -- more than two race wins -- clear of closest rival Leclerc at the top with 10 rounds remaining.
"I think we had really good pace from the start, I was putting pressure on Charles," said the Dutch 24-year-old, who also won at the southern Circuit Paul Ricard last year.
"Following around here, with this heat, the tyres are overheating a lot so I could never really go for a move - only once."
Leclerc had led away from pole position, with Verstappen needing six laps before he could get close enough to attempt a move.
While he pulled closer on the straights, Leclerc had an advantage through the corners and managed to remain just out of reach with the race shaping up as another private battle between the two.
The Ferrari then appeared to be pulling away and out of range, but with some concern about tyre wear, as Verstappen made his first pitstop on lap 16 and Leclerc stayed out. And then it all changed on lap 18.
The Ferrari driver screamed in rage and frustration over the radio after his car spun mid-corner and plunged into the tyre barrier at Le Beausset.
The Monegasque, unhurt, blamed himself for the unforced error.
Leclerc had led Verstappen by 46 points early in the season but this time his own hand helped push the pendulum further against him.
"I've been saying I think I'm performing at my highest level in my career but if I keep doing those mistakes then it's pointless to perform at a very high level," he told Sky Sports television. "I'm losing too many points."

Caught Out
The safety car was deployed briefly but from then on Verstappen was able to do his race and look after the tyres without much trouble.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez lost out to both Mercedes drivers, Hamilton roaring past at the start and Russell catching him out three laps from the end as a virtual safety car period ended.
The Mexican complained over the radio that Russell had exceeded track limits, while the Mercedes driver felt Perez owed him the place.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff made a radio intervention, urging Russell to stay calm and assuring the driver he could "hunt him down".
Carlos Sainz was fifth for Ferrari after starting at the back due to engine penalties and storming through the field to secure a bonus point for fastest lap. He was also voted Driver of the Day.
Sainz would have finished higher, having got himself up to third, but the Spaniard pitted a second time with 10 laps remaining in a strategy decision questioned by some.
He also served a five-second penalty for an unsafe release from an earlier stop.
Fernando Alonso was sixth for Renault-owned Alpine, who moved ahead of McLaren and into fourth place in the constructors' standings.
McLaren's Lando Norris was seventh and Alpine's Esteban Ocon eighth after overtaking McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo, who finished ninth.
Canadian Lance Stroll took the final point in 10th for Aston Martin after fighting team mate Sebastian Vettel to the last corner.

Germany see off Austria to reach Euro semi-finals

LONDON- - Germany had to work hard to beat Austria 2-0 on Thursday and reach the semi-finals of the Women's European Championship, continuing their quest for a record-extending ninth title.
Lina Magull's first-half strike and a late goal from Alexandra Popp secured the win for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's team and a place in the last four against France or the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Germany, who sailed through the group stages, found it tough going at the Brentford Community Stadium against an Austria side who hit the woodwork three times.
Austria, who reached the last four at the 2017 Euros, started strongly and came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute when Marina Georgieva rose to meet a corner but her header hit the outside of the post.
Germany took the lead in the 26th minute after a poor kick out by goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger was headed up to Klara Buhl who surged to the byline and cut it back for Popp who stepped over the ball, leaving it for Magull to sidefoot in.
Austria fought back in the second half, forward Barbara Dunst hitting the bar with an audacious long-range shot. Sarah Puntigam also hit the post after her initial shot was blocked.
Germany soaked up the pressure and could have made the result safe in the 82nd minute but Buhl somehow missed a tap-in in front of an open goal.
She was not left to rue that miss as in the 90th minute Popp pressed keeper Zinsberger into hitting the ball against her and it ended up in the back of the net.
It was Popp's fourth goal of the tournament, putting her second in the scoring charts behind England's Beth Mead (five). She also became the first player to score in four successive matches at a single edition of the Euros, the first the 31-year-old has played in having missed the previous two through injury.
France and the Netherlands meet in their quarter-final on Saturday.

 

Vingegaard shadows Pogacar to stay in control of Tour de France

FOIX, France- - Tadej Pogacar went on the offensive as promised but was never in a position to unsettle Tour de France overall leader Jonas Vingegaard in the first of three key mountain stages on Tuesday.

Pogacar takes Tour stage 17 as Vingegaard stays in control

 PEYRAGUDES, France- - Tadej Pogacar claimed victory in the 17th stage of the Tour de France but it was Jonas Vingegaard who came a step closer to the title as he finished on the defending champion's wheel to retain the overall leader's yellow jersey on Wednesday.
Pogacar's late acceleration at the top of the final climb, a 8-km effort at 7.8%, earned him his third win in this year's Tour and gave him a 10-second time bonus.

Belgium into Women's Euro quarters as Italy crash out

 MANCHESTER, England-- Belgium knocked Italy out of the Women's Euro 2022 and reached the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time thanks to a 1-0 win over the Azzurri on Monday.

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