LE LIORAN, France -- Vincenzo Nibalis struggles in the first hard climb of the Tour de France have settled the leadership debate within the Astana team.The 2014 Tour champion was dropped by the top Tour contenders in the punishing category-2 ascent of the Pas de Peyrol in Wednesdays first mountain stage, crossing the finish line at Le Lioran ski resort eight minutes and 38 seconds behind his younger Astana teammate Fabio Aru.After winning the Giro earlier this season, the Sicilian rider made the pledge that he would ride the Tour in support of Aru to focus instead on the Olympic Games road race next month. The plan was that Aru would return the favor by working for him in Rio, where both cyclists traveled in January to check out the course.But given Nibalis proud temper and stunning comeback on the penultimate stage of the Giro, there was speculation that he would play his personal card at cyclings showpiece event.Its now obvious that Nibali is not fresh enough to compete for the overall win.With three very difficult stages in the Pyrenees looming this weekend, Nibali dropped to 50th overall, 14.06 minutes behind new race leader Greg Van Avermaet.I wanted to stay near the front with Fabio, but I didnt have the legs and I wasnt having a good day so I really let it all go, Nibali said at his team bus after the 216-kilometer stage on the middle mountain roads of Massif Central.After the Giro, I took 15 days off. Its not easy to race here after the Giro. Weve all said many times that Fabio is racing for the Tour, so were here in support of him. Today it would have been nice to be alongside Fabio, but it wasnt my day. Im fine with this, I dont have any regret.Astana manager Alexandre Vinokourov said Nibali suffered from the heat and was not surprised by his riders failure to deliver.We knew he would not be a contender, Vinokourov said. Today was difficult for everybody, a real mountain stage even if the climbs were not so long. And everyone saw that Aru was there.A climbing specialist who won the Spanish Vuelta last year, Aru is widely regarded as a future great of his sport. At 25, he has also finished twice on the Giro podium and is attempting to win the Tour on his race debut. Only 11 cyclists have achieved the feat, including Eddy Merckx, Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil and Felice Gimondi.Aru, who was mentored by Nibali earlier in his career, was at ease throughout the days five climbs and crossed the line in the same time as favorites Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana, keeping his chances alive.Although he is not sure he will recover his form before the Pyrenees, Nibali repeated that he would try his best to help Aru. He is in great shape and we all want to ride a good race for him. Maillot Dedryck Boyata . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Maillot Axel Witsel .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. http://www.maillotbelgiqueexterieur.com/maillot-thibaut-courtois.html . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Maillot De Foot Belgique Pas Cher . PETERSBURG, Fla. Maillot Vincent Kompany . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. DALLAS -- When the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars meet Thursday night at American Airlines Center, both teams hope to have important contributors back on the ice.Colorado, which beat the visiting Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Tuesday, is starting a three-game road trip. The Avalanche (7-8-0) might see the return of forward Matt Duchene, who leads the team with six goals and 11 points.Duchene missed the past two games with concussion symptoms.Meanwhile, the Stars (6-6-5) could get back center Cody Eakin, who has yet to play this season due to a knee injury he sustained during preseason.Duchene said after practice Wednesday, I feel good right now. Well see what (Wednesday) brings. I feel better every day. Today I felt like I could be myself out there.Avalanche coach Jared Bednar shares Duchenes optimism that the veteran could be back in the mix against Colorados Central Division rivals.As long as he feels good ... then he should be a player for us, Bednar said.Two Colorado players who scored in the win against the Kings, captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Patrick Wiercioch, missed practice Wednesday, absences which Bednar termed as maintenance days.I think they both got dinged up just a little bit (Tuesday) night, Bednar said. I think theyre going to be fine, but were just going to keep them off the ice (Wednesday).One decision Bednar already made about Thursday is that Semyon Varlamov, who stopped 32 of 33 shots against the Kings, will start between the pipes.Hes played three really strong games here for us, Bednar said. We like what (Varlamov) has done lately, so were going to go with him again.Dallas started its three-game homestand with a 2-1 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, the Stars ninth consecutive OT defeat.Stars coach Lindy Ruff didnt like the energy level he saw from his team against the Devils, so he made both Wednesdays praactice and Thursdays morning skate optional.ddddddddddddThis is a physical grind, its a mental grind, Ruff said Wednesday. We had a team that lacked energy (Tuesday) night. Im going to try to switch things up maybe from game to game. I think it mentally freshens up our personnel.One player who was on the ice at the Stars practice facility in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday was Eakin. He was a key faceoff man who centered Dallas top line for a good part of last season.Feeling pretty good, getting back to where I want to be, Eakin said after practice Wednesday.Ruff makes no secret of his love for Eakins game and what he brings to the ice for Dallas, qualities the Stars missed so far this season.Well, he is our guy that typically goes head to head with the other teams top player, Ruff said of Eakin. Hes probably our best down-low centerman. He brings some speed down the middle, which is important for our game.At some point this week, Dallas also figures to get back veteran forward Patrick Sharp, who missed the past 13 games due to a concussion he sustained Oct. 20 against the Kings.However, instead of seeing Sharp back on the ice against Colorado, it sounds like a more realistic scenario that his return would be Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, according to Ruff.No matter whether Duchene returns for the Avalanche or Eakin is back on the ice for the Stars, the man behind the Dallas bench knows what sort of game is in store for both teams on Thursday evening.Well, I expect a desperate team, Ruff said of the Avalanche. Its a team that got off to a real good start, struggled a little bit, and now they seem to be going a little bit better. Theyve got good speed up front. I want to see our energy up. I want to see our puck possession up. 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