Less than a week after the Tour de France began, world champion Tadej Pogacar secured a second stage win at the top of a challenging climb and and reclaimed the yellow jersey on Friday.

The 197-kilometer (122-mile) Stage 7 between Saint-Malo and Mûr-de-Bretagne did not feature a major difficulty until the finishing loop, including the iconic Mur-de-Bretagne ascent. Called the “Alpe d’Huez of Brittany” by the cycling-crazed Bretons because of its steep gradient, the climb was tackled twice and the finish line was set up at the top.

Pogacar and his teammates from UAE Team Emirates-XRG were in total control in the stage finale, which was contested by a small group of riders including two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard — Pogacar’s main rival — and Remco Evenepoel.

Pogacar launched the sprint some 200 meters from the finish and Vingegaard jumped on his wheel but was unable to overtake his rival. Pogacar had time to raise his right arm in triumph as he crossed. Behind Vingegaard was Oscar Onley.

Pogacar is the overwhelming favorite to win a fourth Tour title. He has been in supreme form since the start of the season and has been the best rider since the start of the Tour last weekend.

His latest win marked his 19th Tour stage victory overall. This week, the defending champion claimed the 100th professional victory of his stellar career in the fourth stage.

Pogacar was also impressive during the first time trial of the race and is expected to dominate even more when the Tour reaches the mountains.

Overall, Pogacar has a 54-second lead over Evenepoel, with Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin in third place, 1:11 off the pace.

BASEBALL

The Oakland Ballers clinched a berth in the Pioneer League playoffs Thursday night with a 6-5 victory over the Rocky Mountain Vibes at Raimondi Park.

Lou Helmig’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning snapped a 5-5 tie and helped lift the Ballers (34-11) to their ninth win in 10 games and the first-half title.

Oakland got home runs from Christian Almanza and Nick Leehey and two perfect innings -- with four strikeouts -- from reliever and winner Carson Lambert.

GOLF

Chris Gotterup tied the course record with a 9-under 61 and wound up with a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Scottish Open.

Gotterup rolled in three long putts and was long as ever off the tee, seizing on a spectacular day of sunshine and very little wind in the morning at The Renaissance Club.

Harry Hall (64) was two shots behind, and Ludvig Aberg (65) led a group that was three shots back.

Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, had a pair of three-putts and at one point after watching a putt bounce off line he extended his arm with his thumb up in mock celebration. It wasn’t all that bad. He still shot 68 and was six shots behind Gotterup, who was at 11-under 129.

BOXING

Professional boxer Gervonta “Tank” Davis was arrested early Friday morning in South Florida on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

Davis, 30, was picked up shortly after midnight near the popular Lincoln Road area of Miami Beach, officials said.

The charge was connected to an incident that occurred last month in Doral, a residential city in western Miami-Dade, Miami Beach police spokesperson Christopher Bess said. Davis and his vehicle information had been added to a law enforcement database, and a license plate reader set up in Miami Beach flagged his car.

Miami Beach police made the initial stop and then turned Davis over to Doral police, Bess said.

Davis was being held on $10,000 bail. Jail and court records didn’t list an attorney for Davis. His promoter didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Davis, who is from Baltimore, is in the regular conversation for best pound-for-pound boxer. The WBA lightweight champion won his first 30 bouts, 28 by knockout.

TENNIS

Venus Williams accepted a wild-card invitation to play singles at this month’s DC Open, which would be the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s first tournament in more than a year.

Williams, who turned 45 in June, hasn’t competed in an official match since the Miami Open in 2024.