Skip to main content

5 things about the Tour de France 8th stage

By WTOP Staff

JAMEY KEATEN
Associated Press

GERARDMER, France (AP) — Finally, one for France.

Blel Kadri became the first Frenchman to win a Tour de France stage this year on Saturday, joining a bold early attack on the pack with four other riders, and outpacing that breakaway bunch to the uphill finish of a rainy 161-kilometer (100-mile) ride from Tomblaine to Gerardmer La Mauselaine ski resort.

The victory was doubly impressive because he beat out the race’s two biggest title contenders, two-time Tour champion Alberto Contador and overall race leader Vincenzo Nibali, who were second and third, respectively, more than 2 minutes back.

Here are five things to know about the eighth stage:

___

TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE: Kadri’s victory came with an added benefit: He wrested from compatriot Cyril Lemoine the polka-dot jersey for the Tour’s best climber. “The team’s priority was to win a stage. It’s done,” Kadri said. “The polka-dot jersey is just the cherry on the cake.” He may well remember that cherry tomorrow when he wears the white jersey with red dots. The AG2R rider attacked in the Col de la Croix des Moinats and reached in first place the summit of the stage’s three climbs to earn the maximum number of points awarded in the best climber contest. Kadri won the Roma Maxima last year in Italy.

A POSSIBLE KINGMAKER: Often in the shadow of the better-known Alps and Pyrenees, the Vosges mountains on the border with Germany — only France’s fifth-highest range — nevertheless have gotten high billing in the race. This Tour has 25 total mountain passes among the top three categories of difficulty. Eleven are in the Vosges, five in the Alps, and eight in the Pyrenees. The riders scaled two of those — the Grosse Pierre (Big Rock) and Croix des Moinats — on Saturday. “The breaking point is there,” BMC team manager Yvon Ledanois said. “Bodies are worn out. There has been a permanent tension since the start of the Tour. That’s the reason why many riders will struggle in the Vosges.” The next stages in the Vosges will be more difficult with the possibility to see contenders isolated from their teammates. Riders will face seven climbs on Monday, including four category 1 ascents.

GENERATIONAL DIVIDE? Swiss veteran Fabian Cancellara says he is not having much fun on this Tour marred by crashes, and one reason is the behavior of youngsters. “It’s just somehow a mess and disrespectful,” the 33-year-old Trek Factory Racing rider said before Saturday’s stage start in Tomblaine. “When I was a young rider, I had to close my mouth and pedal. Now, everyone thinks he’s a hero.” Cancellara turned pro in 2001. A time-trial specialist, he has won eight Tour stages, and retained his Tour of Flanders title in April. “From the first day until now, we saw a few things, where younger guys were involved and complained,” Cancellara said. “And in the end, it was their (own) mistake.” He declined to identify any rider by name.

SOLEMN WAR MEMORIES: The Tour has been giving a nod to those who died in the First World War, which began 100 years ago, by riding along the battlefields and fronts of northern and eastern France where millions died. But fighting during World War II also happened in this region and across the Rhine River in Germany, and the pack rolled by the Epinal American Cemetery on Saturday. The 49-acre cemetery sitting on a plateau above the Moselle River, in the town of Dinoze, houses the graves of 5,255 U.S. service members from 1944 and 1945, according to the cemetery website, which is run by American Battle Monuments Commission.

TALANSKY TUMBLES AGAIN: Andrew Talansky’s hopes for a top-five finish took a blow with a second crash in as many days on Saturday. The American skidded off the wet road in the final ascent to slip to 16th in the standings, 4:22 behind Nibali. After the stage, Talansky tweeted that at his Garmin-Sharp team, “… we never give. This race is 3 weeks long, plenty of racing still to be done and plenty of time to achieve our goals.” Talansky also fell off in the mass sprint of Friday’s stage but did not lose time according to the Tour rules because his crash happened in the last three kilometers of a flat finish.

___

Eds: Trung Latieule in Paris contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote