Join us » Craig Kimbrel were obtained in a trad

CHERASCO, Italy -- Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in the 13th and longest stage of the Giro dItalia on Friday, and favourite Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead to boost his chances of a first victory in his home countrys biggest cycling race. Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and defending champion Ryder Hesjedal withdrew from the race before the stage began. Wigginss team cited a "worsening chest infection." Hesjedal is more than 32 minutes behind and his team says he pulled out because of a "deteriorating physical condition." Cavendish won in a time of 6 hours, 9 minutes, 55 seconds to claim a second straight stage victory and the fourth in this years Giro. The Briton was, as always, quick to praise his Omega Pharma team. "Im so tired, I dont know how Im going to recover from this before the mountains," Cavendish said. "Its a common misconception that sprinters are lazy. But the amount of effort it takes to do that, especially when youre on the limit, it really damages you for a few days. "I had to go from 350 metres after that hard day. Im on my knees but all I could do was go. I had to go and not look back after what the guys had done all day. I actually didnt want to go for the sprint today but the guys stayed with me on the climbs. You saw the work they did: the guys ride and ride until their legs wont go anymore, and Im so proud of that." Giacomo Nizzolo was second, with Luka Mezgec third in the 254-kilometre (158-mile) leg from Busseto to Cherasco. Nibali, who finished third and second in his two previous Giro dItalia races, maintained his 41-second lead over Cadel Evans. The mountain stages are coming at the weekend, which is the Australians preferred terrain. After heavy rain throughout the race, the weather improved Friday with the sun shining for most of the trek. There was an early break by seven riders and they built a lead of nearly 14 minutes after 87 kilometres (54 miles). The peloton, powered by Cavendishs Omega Pharma team, started to reel in the break about halfway through the leg and reduced the gap to little more than a minute at the base of the only classified climb, a category-3 ascent. Lars Bak, Nicola Boem and Pablo Lastras -- who had been part of the original break -- opened up a lead of 24 seconds at the top of the Tre Cuni, and although the gap increased slightly, they were eventually caught. Lastras was part of the nine-group escape inside the final 12 kilometres. Giampaolo Caruso attacked off the front with 5 kilometres (3 miles) to go but was reeled in. Cavendish began his sprint 700 metres from the line, holding off Nizzolo and Mezgec for his 101st career victory. Saturdays stage will feature riders climbing Sestriere and Bardonecchia across a 168-kilometre (104-mile) route from Cervere. The race ends May 26 in Brescia. Stitched Jerseys . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Authentic Jerseys . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. China Jerseys . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. NFL Jerseys . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. The Toronto Blue Jays?acquired outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. and cash from the San Diego Padres?for minor league pitcher Hansel Rodriguez.Upton is making $15.45 million this season and $16.45 million next season, the final year of a five-year deal he signed with the Atlanta Braves before the 2013 season. The Padres will pay all but $5 million of what is owed to Upton, according to MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.Upton, 31, is in the midst of a bounce-back season after playing in only 87 games last season. A 12-year veteran, he is batting .256 with 16 home runs, 45 RBIs and a team-leading 20 stolen bases. Upton figures to provide outfield depth and versatility to the Blue Jays, who trail the first-place Baltimore Orioles by three games in the American League East.Upton couldnt join Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins for an early afternoon news conference, because he was at the nearest border crossing, in Buffalo, New York, being cleared to re-enter Canada.When he arrived with the Padres on Sunday night, Upton was treated as a visitor. As a member of the Blue Jays, he requires a work visa to enter Canada.What attracted us to him was several things, Atkins said. The defense at all three positions, speed, baserunning, base-stealer, power, versatility and depth.Padres general manager A.J. Preller said the deal had been in the works for a few weeks.Hes played well, Preller said. Hes really played both sides of the ball. He has a chance to be a 30-30 guy. Hes hit some big home runs in some big spots and has played tremendous defense for us in left field.ddddddddddddpton and closere with Atlanta on the eve of Opening Day 2015. Upton missed a good deal of last season with a foot injury.?The Orioles also reportedly had expressed an interest in trading for Upton.Upton took to Twitter on Tuesday to thank the Padres and their fans and to say he is excited to be joining the Blue Jays.The Blue Jays currently have All-Star Michael Saunders in left field and slugger Jose Bautista in right field, meaning Upton probably will have to compete with center fielder Kevin Pillar for playing time in Toronto. The Blue Jays also could play Edwin Encarnacion more regularly at first base, opening up more at-bats at designated hitter for Saunders, Bautista and Upton.Upton is the fourth prominent player traded away this season by the rebuilding Padres, who also have parted with James Shields, Drew Pomeranz and Fernando Rodney.Rodriguez, a right-hander, is 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA in six starts for Rookie League Bluefield.In a second deal Tuesday night, the Blue Jays acquired Joaquin Benoit from the Seattle Mariners for fellow right-hander Drew Storen and cash in a swap of struggling relievers.Information from The Associated Press and ESPNs Jerry Crasnick contributed to this report. ' ' '