LEADING OFF

PHOTO

Photograph by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

GRIEVE LA FRANCE The Tour de France, more than a quarter century starved for a homegrown champion, watched one of its own, Thomas Voeckler, wear the yellow jersey for 10 stages. But it all went downhill in the final stages, where Australia's Cadel Evans (right) attacked and launched a comeback that would make him the first Aussie-born Tour winner (page 28).

PHOTO

Photograph by Heinz Kluetmeier

FOUR ARM SHIMMER Upon further reflection, China's Ji Liping (center) needed only two arms to carry her to the final of the women's 100-meter breaststroke at this week's World Swimming Championships in Shanghai (page 31). Ji took third in the semis, behind runner-up Leisel Jones of Australia (left) and the U.S.'s Rebecca Soni.

PHOTO

Photograph by Fred Vuich

A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING Second baseman Neil Walker couldn't get to this ground ball in Sunday's Pirates-Cardinals game in Pittsburgh, but the Bucs would come back for a 4--3 walk-off victory to reclaim first place in the NL Central. It was the latest the Pirates had sat on top of a division since 1992, coincidentally the last year the franchise finished with a winning record (page 64).