Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) will throw off a mound this weekend and will need to face hi | Forum

As defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome readies for his bid to win a third title, he knows that while everyone will be looking at his form on the bike, many are interested to see how he will be received by the crowd he races by every day for the next three weeks. Tyreek Hill Jersey .If Froome didnt know it before Team Skys press conference on Thursday at the team hotel in Omaha Beach in Normandy, he was reminded of it and the incidents of last years race when urine was thrown in his face by some in the Tour crowd; he and his teammates were also booed, with one -- Richie Porte, now with BMC Racing -- being punched.Since Froome won his first of two Tours in 2013 -- the second being last year -- the Briton has faced constant questioning and speculation over his training and eventual performance.Over and over, Froome has replied to those who have asked in a bid to convince them of the legitimacy of his wins. Many have believed him, but his critics voice seemingly grew louder -- to the point where reaction intensified to the vile and extreme levels of last years race.So what reception does Froome expect from the Tour crowd this year after the race gets under way with the 188km first stage from Mont Saint Michel to Utah Beach on Saturday?Hopefully the same way we were received a couple of weeks ago back in the [Criterium du] Dauphiné [a race in France that he won] because there was a great atmosphere there, Froome replied softly and with a smile.The biggest race for us is the Tour de France.Its the biggest race of our calendar. We love being here and we love racing in France.Growing concern: Security and mechanical dopingFroome was equally reserved when asked of a greater fear than hecklers; that being concerns for safety throughout the Tour entourage due to terrorism.Security on the Tour been bolstered in response to the Paris terrorist attacks last November, with the addition of 23,000 extra police and gendarmes. And the elite special force, the GIGB (Groupe dintervention de la Gendarmerie nationale) that includes a counter-terrorism branch, has been appointed by the Interior Ministry to Tour duty for the first time.Asked if he had noticed the heightened security since arriving in Normandy for the Tour, Froome replied simply: We havent seen any additional personnel here or anything like that. Our focus is on the race. What you mentioned there is something happening behind the scenes. We didnt come here thinking about it our focus is on our race.Nevertheless, as doping and the new fears of terrorism that need being addressed, the increasingly international Tour de France and cycling more widely are likely to survive.Sure, sponsors have come and gone, but others have emerged; likewise teams.Similarly, champions have been lauded, then made pariahs for their cheating, only for new stars to emerge and take their place. That said, we must recognize that some riders will still always succumb to temptation despite the moves to address doping that have led many to believe cycling is now cleaner if not clean.Performance-enhancing drugs are not the only temptationMechanical doping, whereby motors are hidden in the bikes of riders, has been the subject of reports for several years, but the rumour was shown to be very real in April when a motor was found in the back-up bike of Belgian under-23 cyclo-cross rider Femke Van den Driessche at the world championships. She retired, but was been banned six years.The world governing body of cycling that banned Van den Driessche, the Union Cycliste Internationale, has since implemented regular bikes controls at myriad races, and officials says it has resources to carry out 4000 tests at the Tour de France. As part of a crackdown, high-powered thermal cameras using atomic research technology will also be used.The technology, created by the French research body into atomic energy -- the CEA -- detects heat produced by a small hidden motor, even when the motor is turned off.The cameras can be fitted by the road to monitor bikes as they pass, or on motorbikes or officials cars that overtake, riders. The UCI will also continue using its magnetic wave scanning system at Tour stage starts and finishes that uses a tablet and detects a motor, magnet or battery in a frame, or components; the system has been used since the start of the year.This problem is worse than doping, the French Secretary of State for Sports Thierry Braillard told the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday.The very future of cycling is hanging in the balance.So determined is Braillard to tackle mechanical doping that he plans to submit a law to parliament later this year that deems it as sporting fraud and punishable by law.Mark Cavendish: The Tour has just got harderIn the meantime, for those riders in the Tour, there is more than enough to consider ahead of the 2016 Tour that has been dubbed as having the hardest route in many years.Froome says his campaign to win a third Tour will be the toughest challenge of his career.Asked how the Tour had evolved, and its impact on him, he said: Since I have come in to the race realistically looking to fight for overall victory [it] has become much more of a climbers dominated race .... I just feel as if this year more than any other the level of competition is that much higher. I have got more rivals and the level of my rivals is that much stronger.Concurring with Froome, but from the other end of the field -- unless in a bunch sprint -- is fellow Briton Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) who is about to race his 10th Tour.Asked how the Tour had changed, Cavendish said: It has just got harder, not harder as in like ... it is kinda taken out of context. If it is a hard profile, it doesnt necessarily make it a hard day.Flat stages can be the hardest stages in a Tour de France, especially with the mental stress. In 2008 there were 18 climbs [categorised two, one and above] in the whole Tour. Last year there were 18 in the last week. Every year it has gone up more.Cavendish said there were also more stages in the Tour to suit riders who may not be pure climbers but who are good on hillier days -- of which there are also more.And in the sprints stages that remain, Cavendish said overall contenders are increasingly getting in the fray to avoid crashes mid-field, even though it heightens congestion up front.Obviously the sprint opportunities are less ... pure bunch sprints, he said. It makes more people win, which is good for the sport, but it definitely changes our approach to the Tour.You dont go with a nine-man lead-out team to a Tour de France any more, unless you are happy with just a couple of stage wins. There are also more GC [general classification] contenders than there ever was, with teams built behind them. That makes it very difficult in sprints ... [when] you have GC guys and sprinters in a final, especially in a first day.Suffice to say, no matter how the Tour faces change -- no matter the means -- there is one constant: that being, the race remains one of sports toughest challenges of mind and body. Len Dawson Jersey . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Tony Gonzalez Youth Jersey .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. http:///...mpson-chiefs-jersey/ . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ross Detwiler knows it will take more than one strong outing for people to take him seriously again as a starting pitcher.Eight scoreless innings in his Oakland Athletics debut is certainly a good place to start, and far more than what manager Bob Melvin hoped for from his new left-hander.Detwiler and John Axford combined on a seven-hitter and Oakland beat Baltimore 1-0 on Wednesday night to knock the Orioles out of first place in the AL East.Our reports had more fastballs than anything else but he mixed it up really good today, Melvin said. Some curveballs, some sliders, some changeups. It was way more than we expected.Called up from the minors earlier in the day, Detwiler (1-0) allowed six hits over a career-high eight innings and struck out two while leading the As to their third consecutive one-run win over the Orioles.It was Detwilers first win as a starting pitcher since he was with Washington and beat the Chicago Cubs on May 10, 2013.Not bad for a pitcher who has spent most of the past two-plus seasons as a reliever. Detwiler was also nearly out of baseball after being designated for assignment by Cleveland in July before the As acquired him in a trade.Its a good start but its just one good start, Detwiler said. Its a good step in the right direction. I walked in last night ... and I felt like I had been here for a long time. I was welcomed with open arms and that helps a lot.Axford retired three batters for his second save.Chris Davis had two hits for Baltimore.The Orioles entered the day percentage points ahead of Toronto but fell a game behind the Blue Jays, who beat Tampa Bay 7-0 earlier Wednesday.Its the time of year we cant find a break, Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado said. Were all struggling right now. Real teams will come out of it. We know were better than this.Marcus Semien and Yonder Alonso hit consecutive doubles in tthe third inning for the games only run. Larry Johnson Chiefs Jersey. The As had lost eight of nine and were swept in three games by the Chicago Cubs before stunning the Orioles.Baltimore starter Yovani Gallardo (4-4 ) allowed one run in six innings with six strikeouts and two walks.NAILED AT THE PLATEDetwiler gave up a single and a double to the first two hitters he faced and threw two wild pitches in the first inning but escaped without allowing a run. Adam Jones was thrown out sliding into home by Oakland second baseman Max Muncy in the inning. Jones tried to score on J.J. Hardys double over the head of right fielder Danny Valencia and was initially ruled safe by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild. The As challenged and the call was overturned when replays showed Jones front leg above the plate when he was tagged out.I think the slide helped us out some, that (Jones) was above the plate, Melvin said. You dont think at that time thats going to be a key play in the game but it ended up being one.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: T.J. McFarland (left knee inflammation) pitched three scoreless innings for the Gulf Coast Orioles. McFarland is scheduled to pitch next for Single-A Frederick on Monday.Athletics: Former closer Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) will throw off a mound this weekend and will need to face hitters at least twice before beginning a rehab assignment. ... Left-handed reliever Patrick Schuster was designated for assignment.UP NEXTOrioles: RHP Chris Tillman (14-4) faces the As in a mid-day game at the Coliseum. Tillman will try to become the first Baltimore pitcher with at least 15 wins since Bud Norris and Wei-Yin Chen in 2014.Athletics: RHP Andrew Triggs (0-0) will come out of the bullpen to make his second career start in the series finale. Wholeslae Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Cheap College Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap Baseball Jerseys ' ' '