Cycling

Degenkolb sprints for 17; Contador the lead bull

A CORUNA, Spain – John Degenkolb of Germany sprinted to win the Spanish Vuelta’s 17th stage Wednesday, while Alberto Contador kept the leader’s red jersey with four days to go.

Degenkolb edged fellow sprinting experts Fabian Cancellara and Michael Matthews to claim the flat 118.5-mile ride from Ortigueira to A Coruna.

It was the fourth stage win at this Vuelta for the Giant-Shimano rider.

Contador finished with his nearest challengers, protecting his comfortable lead over Chris Froome and Alejandro Valverde. Contador leads Valverde by 1 minute, 36 seconds, with Froome a further three seconds behind.

Thursday’s stage is a 97.5-mile ride from A Estrada to the second-category Monte Castrove summit.

Riders will have another flat course Friday before Saturday’s final mountain stage. The 21-stage race will end Sunday with an individual time trial in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

NBA

Billups to Yahoo! Sports, ‘It’s just time’ to retire

DETROIT – Chauncey Billups told Yahoo! Sports he is retiring after 17 NBA seasons.

The 2004 NBA Finals MVP said his desire remains strong, but he can’t ignore the fact that he’s had a hard time staying healthy. The 37-year-old Billups only has played 61 games over the last three seasons.

Billups told Yahoo! on Tuesday: “It’s just time. I’m happy, excited. The game was very, very good to me.”

Billups played this last season for the Detroit Pistons after returning to the team he led to the 2004 title. He was the third pick in the 1997 draft by the Boston Celtics. He also played for his native Denver, the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota, New York and Toronto.

NHL

After 18 NHL seasons, Koivu calls it quits

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Saku Koivu retired Wednesday after an 18-year NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks and the Montreal Canadiens.

The four-time Finnish Olympic medalist and cancer survivor announced his decision through the NHL players’ association. The Ducks decided they wouldn’t attempt to re-sign Koivu earlier in the summer.

The 39-year-old Koivu spent his first 13 NHL seasons with Montreal, becoming the first European-born captain in the Original Six franchise’s history in 1999. He signed with the Ducks in 2009, playing five seasons on the West Coast before joining longtime friend Teemu Selanne in retirement.

Koivu had 255 goals and 577 assists in 1,124 career NHL games.

Associated Press