Leading Off

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COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY SIMON BRUTY Backhand ComplimentVenus Williams earns high stretch marks for this effort duringher semifinal match at Wimbledon against Kim Clijsters. Williamswon the match despite a painful abdominal strain but lost in thefinals to her sister Serena (page 46).

COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANCK FIFE/AFP Over-the-Hill Gang The peloton experiences a little elevation change betweenMontgeron and Meaux during stage 1 of the Tour de France onSunday. There was a nasty pileup near the end of this leginvolving 35 riders, including defending champion LanceArmstrong, who was not seriously injured and used a teammate'sbike to finish the race.

COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY JOAQUIN SIOPACK/AP Whoabegone Matt Piche of Detroit Lakes, Mich., and his horse take a turn forthe worse during the bareback riding competition at the NationalProfessional Rodeo Association Championship in Sauk Rapids,Minn., on Sunday.