CHAMROUSSE, France -- If Vincenzo Nibali was looking happier Friday after the Tour de France rode into the Alps, heres why: His top rival fell out of contention, he gained nearly a minute on his next-biggest challenger and oh, he won Stage 13 to boot. On a sunbaked and melting Alpine road, the 29-year-old Italian, cemented his control of cyclings greatest race with a solo-finish victory that was an afterthought to gaining time on other title contenders. Team Skys Richie Porte, who began the day in second, saw his title hopes all but vanish after he lost about 9 minutes to Nibali on the last climb along the grueling 197.5-kilometre (122-mile) trek from Saint-Etienne to Chamrousse ski station. Ever cautious, calm and understated after his stage win, Nibali noted that three big Alpine climbs still await Saturday and other punishing ascents are on tap in the Pyrenees next week. "For the coming days, I only know that I have to remain quiet," he said. But in the winners circle, where he collected the yellow jersey for the 11th time this year, Nibali perhaps let slip a bit more happy emotion -- knowing that a first Tour victory for an Italian since Marco Pantani in 1998 just got a little closer. "I expect more attacks tomorrow in another very hard stage and next week," Nibali said. "My advantage over Porte is good now. Hes the rider I feared the most in the closing time trial." If Nibalis mountain dominance keeps up -- on Monday, he won the only other high-mountain stage so far -- the 54-kilometre (33-mile) time-trial in Stage 20 from Bergerac to Perigueux is the only real challenge left in his way. The unexpected has gone Nibalis way. He surprised himself by winning an up-and-down Stage 2 stage in the hills and dales of Yorkshire and capturing his first Tour yellow jersey. He mastered cobblestone treachery in Stage 5, when 2012 Tour champ Chris Froome crashed out. And then, two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador went out five stages later after a fast downhill crash fractured his tibia. In a sport where many dominant riders in past years later turned out to be drugs cheats, Nibali confronted the issue of doping a day earlier, saying he expected questions about it. "This theme belongs to the past," he said, crediting recent efforts like enhanced testing and the biological passport to clean it up. This 101st Tour could become the third straight in which the winner locked up victory from before the halfway point. Last year, Froome was in yellow from the eighth stage onward. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins had the shirt for good after Stage 7. Nibali took it in Stage 2, lost it in Stage 9, and regained it a day later. Hes hoping to take it home after a largely ceremonial ride on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on July 27. A comeback by a rival would be exceptional by recent standards. After the 13th stage last year, Froome had three other riders within minutes. In 2012, Wiggins had only two. After Fridays ride, no one is within three minutes of Nibali. The first of two days in the snow-capped Alps lived up to its billing as the daunting final climb of 18 kilometres (12 miles) with an average 7.3 per cent gradient shook up the overall standings. The ride was hot: black tar on the recently resurfaced road to Chamrousse melted. Big crowds lined the route, including fans dressed as superheroes and one as a scantily clad Borat -- the Sacha Baron Cohen film character. As riders embarked on the final climb, the pack was mostly together and Valverdes Movistar team was pushing the pace. But when it hit the steepest part, Porte struggled and dropped off the back and Nibali briefly turned his head to look. Valverde attacked a short while later, but Nibali and the others reeled him in. Nibali said he felt "better and better" as he climbed, despite the heat of more than 30 degrees Celsius (86 F). When the Italian saw "Richie Porte in trouble," he turned his attention to gaining time on Valverde, he said. After two riders raced ahead, the Italian leader struck -- jumping out of his saddle, and pedaling while standing in the upright riding position known in French as "la danseuse" or the dancer. He overtook them, and went on to win. Portes troubles also meant others climbed in the standings: Frances Romain Bardet moved up to third, countryman Thibaut Pinot was fourth, and American Tejay van Garderen fifth. Nibali appeared to be taking a risk that his effort to distance his rivals could come back to haunt him. By his own admission a day earlier, he said that he feared the second Alpine day more. Saturdays 177-kilometre (110-mile) stage takes riders over three tough climbs from Grenoble to Risoul -- including the Izoard pass that is one of the hardest under cyclings ranking system. Some of his rivals seem to be accepting that Nibali may win. "Vincenzo is the strongest rider in the race, but after him, there is a place to take," Bardet said, referring to the final podium. Nibali "played it well", said FDJ.FR team manager Marc Madiot. "Now he can say Ive got all the cards, I can do what I want, when I want and if you try to slap me, I give two slaps in return." Cheap Sabres Jerseys .com) - Intrastate rivals collide Saturday as the Texas State Bobcats hit the road to take on the eighth-ranked Texas Longhorns in a non-conference battle at Frank Erwin Center. Buffalo Sabres Pro Shop . 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But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute. ATLANTA -- From Washingtons first possession to the decisive play in the final minute, Atlantas defence kept finding ways to get its hands on the ball. One of five rookies to start for the defence made the biggest play of the game. Desmond Trufant deflected Kirk Cousins pass on a potential winning 2-point conversion with 18 seconds remaining, and the Falcons edged the Redskins 27-26 on Sunday. The Falcons (4-10) scored 20 points off seven Washington turnovers. The Redskins (3-11) tied a team record with five lost fumbles. Alfred Morris and Santana Moss each lost two fumbles. "You cant win with turnovers, yet we still had an opportunity to win and that shows you how hard they fought," said Redskins coach Mike Shanahan. "Those guys normally are great with ball security and dont turn it over." Cousins passed for 381 yards and three touchdowns, but had three turnovers in his first start of the season after Shanahan benched Robert Griffin III. Griffin was not in uniform and watched from the sideline. Cousins 3-yard touchdown pass to Moss gave Washington a chance to force overtime by kicking the extra point. Instead, Cousins 2-point pass for Pierre Garcon was deflected by Trufant, who also had an interception. "I was telling myself I had to make some big plays," Trufant said. "I wasnt surprised they went for the win. They had the confidence and we were up for the challenge." Shanahan said his decision to go for 2 was based on the Falcons defensive alignment. He said he would have used his final timeout to send his kicking team on the field if the Falcons didnt have the alignment he wanted for his planned play. "I thought if we had the right defence and the right play, were going to stay with it," Shanahan said. "We thought we did and unfortunately it didnt work out." Shanahan brushed off a question about his job status, saying "Im not going to talk about that." Cousins said he liked the decision to go for 2. "I loved the call to go for 2 there," Cousins said. "I felt like we had them on the ropes. We just didnt do enough to execute, but it starts right here with me." The Falcons recovered an onside kick to seal the win. "It was a game full of dramaa, but Im glad we were able to pull it off," said Atlantas Steven Jackson, who ran for 38 yards and two touchdowns.dddddddddddd Cousins listed his two interceptions, lost fumble and failed 2-point pass as "four plays right there that if they go differently, its probably a much better result." The Falcons started five rookies on defence, including three in the secondary. The Falcons held out safety Thomas DeCoud, who is recovering from a concussion. Rookie safety Zeke Motta made his first start. Rookie offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder also made his first start for Atlanta. Morris had 98 yards rushing on 18 carries, including a 37-yard run. Cousins lost a fumble on the Redskins first possession and set up the Falcons go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter with his first of two interceptions. The Falcons led 24-20 with less than 6 minutes remaining before Trufants interception set up Matt Bryants 51-yard field goal. The teams combined for six turnovers in the first half, including four turnovers by the Redskins. There were lost fumbles on three straight plays in the second quarter. The Redskins had an excellent scoring opportunity at the Atlanta 18 following a 62-yard pass from Cousins to Aldrick Robinson. On first down from the 18, Morris lost the ball without being hit, and Malliciah Goodman recovered for Atlanta. The Falcons gave the ball back when Matt Ryan fumbled when hit by Ryan Kerrigan. On the next play, Cousins passed to Moss, who lost the ball when stripped by Robert McClain. William Moore recovered for Atlanta. Ryan completed 29 of 38 passes for 210 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez had six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. He became the fifth player in NFL history with 15,000 yards receiving. NOTES: The Redskins also lost five fumbles against the Oilers on Oct. 30, 1988. ... Garcon had seven catches for 129 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown. ... Falcons DT Jonathan Babineaux recovered two fumbles. ... Signs spotted in the stands held by Redskins fans: "Free RGIII," "Let em play" and "We still believe in RGIII." ... Falcons LB Sean Weatherspoon left the game with a knee injury. ' ' '