SAINTE-MARIE-DU-MONT, France -- Minutes after pulling on the yellow jersey for the first time in his award-filled career, Mark Cavendish walked over to the Utah Beach Peace Monument and placed a white rose to commemorate the Allied landings in Normandy that took place there more than 70 years ago.It was a memorable moment that crowned a day full of emotions for the British cyclist, who won a sprint at the end of the crash-affected opening stage of the Tour de France and took the overall lead on Saturday.It was Cavendishs 27th stage win in the French classic -- third on the all-time list behind Eddy Merckx (34) and Bernard Hinault (28) -- but he had never won the opening leg, which is often a time trial.Cavendish has already worn the leaders jerseys at the Giro dItalia and the Spanish Vuelta.Its going be a special day tomorrow to ride a stage in yellow, Cavendish said. There was no better place to achieve this than Utah Beach where soldiers died for us.Its an incredible opportunity to remember and respect not just those that fought and died on D-Day but fought and died across all the wars and brought freedom to the Western world, he added.After the stage, Cavendish joined a specially invited group of American, Canadian, French, Belgian and German riders for a ceremony at the Peace Monument.German rival Marcel Kittel and Slovakian Peter Sagan finished second and third, respectively, in the 188-kilometer (117-mile) picturesque stage, which began at Mont-Saint-Michel, a World Heritage Benedictine abbey perched on a rock off the Normandy coast.Two years ago, Cavendish was the overwhelming favorite to win the opening stage and take yellow when the Tour opened on his home roads in England. But he crashed during the sprint, separated his right shoulder, and had to withdraw from the race.Once dominant, Cavendish has also struggled to keep up with rivals like Kittel and Andre Greipel in recent years. The 31-year-old joined South African team Dimension Data for this season after shoulder surgery in September.Ever since 2008 its been the end of me. I guess thats just how it is -- something to talk about, Cavendish said. I would stay home if I didnt think I could win.Cavendish was behind Sagan and Kittel entering the final 150 meters, but Kittel went around Sagan on the left and Cavendish slipped by on the right and easily surged in front.Pushed by a strong tail wind of up to 70 kph (43 mph), the leaders required slightly more than four hours to reach the finish.Two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador crashed midway through the stage and several riders were involved in an ugly high-speed crash on the final straight.Contador hit a traffic curb while coming around a right turn. The Spaniard came away with some serious abrasions and had his jersey ripped on his back and right shoulder, but he was quickly helped back to the peloton by his Tinkoff teammates.Im bruised all down along my right side from my ankle up but at least I dont have to go home, Contador said. Hopefully I can get through the coming days and recover before the mountains.Defending champion Chris Froome and the other overall favorites finished safely in the main pack.In the overall standings, Cavendish leads Kittel by four seconds with Sagan six seconds behind, courtesy of time bonuses.Cavendish has won virtually everything there is to win for a sprinter in cycling, including gold medals at both the road world championships and the track worlds.Cav, as he is known, will be aiming to tick off one final box when he aims for gold on the track at the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics.The opening-day route also passed through Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where American paratrooper John Steele dangled from a clock tower after his parachute got caught during the invasion, and survived. The town is now home to the Airborne Museum.The stage included two mild Category 4 climbs in the opening 40 kilometers (25 miles), but was otherwise a mostly flat and rolling route along the English Channel coast.The Tour remains in Normandy for Stage 2 on Sunday, a slightly more challenging 183-kilometer (114-mile) leg from Saint-Lo to Cherbourg-En-Cotentin---AP Sports Writer Samuel Petrequin contributed to this report.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Blank-Jersey/ . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Antonio-Adan-Jersey/ . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Filipe-Luis-Jersey/ . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Stefan-Savic-Jersey/ . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Saul-Niguez-Jersey/ . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. CHICAGO -- If you want to end a drought, come to the Windy City.After 111 years, Ireland secured their first win over the All Blacks at Soldier Field, a wonderful place that has spent the past couple days celebrating the Cubs first World Series triumph in 108 years.This was the best test match seen this year. As the skyscrapers of Chicago loomed large over the historic ground, Ireland and New Zealand played an epic with the cheer greeting Henshaws 76th-minute score to hand this city yet another moment of sporting history -- a 40-29 Irish triumph.When Ireland first played the All Blacks in 1905, it was at the old Lansdowne Road in Dublin. This was an altogether different occasion, as the heroic men in green played under the beating Chicago sun to create their own slice of history.From one to 15, they were immense. Jonathan Sexton was masterful at fly-half, while Rob Kearney repaid Joe Schmidts faith to put in the most assured performances at fullback. Then there was the relentless effort from Henshaw in defence. Thats before anyone mentions Conor Murray, who was outstanding and the best player on the pitch.Then there was the pack, headed by the brilliant Jamie Heaslip, with the green machine keeping the All Blacks pack at bay. Before the match, Ireland formed a No. 8 formation to face the Haka in honour of the late, great Anthony Foley. The pack emulated his warrior spirit by putting in tackle after tackle and ensuring that anything wearing black was to have the hardest of tasks to break them down.All week, Ireland talked about the opportunities on offer at Soldier Field -- the opportunity to experience Chicago, the opportunity to have another crack at beating the All Blacks and the opportunity to make history. They ticked all three off the list with a performance focused on intelligent rugby and unwavering focus. They did not put a foot wrong in the first half and moved the All Blacks from left to right.Then came the black wave in the second 40. That relentless, punishing, blink-and-you-miss--it attack in which the flattest of passes are thrown and defenders are left spinning on the spot.ddddddddddddThe introduction of TJ Perenara was the moment when the game swung in the All Blacks favour. Aaron Smith looked out-of-sorts at scrum-half, and that pace with which they played throughout the Rugby Championship was strangely lacking. But Perenaras introduction after 45 minutes signalled the shift up in gear.Ireland did their best to hold on to the lead, with Conor Murrays penalty after 59 minutes giving them a bit more of a buffer, and around the 73rd minute mark, the All Blacks machine was in top gear and Ireland looked like they were on the back foot.But then came the turnover, the kick forward by Simon Zebo and the 5-metre scrum with four minutes left. The wonderful Murray managed to get the ball to Henshaw, and history was made.It was the focus that was so impressive. The record 62,300 crowd watched enthralled, but Ireland never looked rattled. The All Blacks went for them in the fourth quarter of the game, but Ireland always managed to have a foothold. It was Schmidts rugby ethos personified -- one of intelligent rugby and sticking to processes.Chicago will be in for another night of celebration after a week when it has gone into overdrive for the Cubs. The Irish flags flew at Soldier Field, those in green bounced up and down, and for the second time in a week, folks pinched themselves and remembered loved ones who missed out on the opportunity to see history made, and smiles broke out from ear to ear while tears flowed.On Friday, Chicagos river was turned blue in honour of the Cubs, and who knows, they might bring out the green dye used on St. Patricks Day.Tonight Chicago will be painted green with the partying going on long into the night. The Windy City is officially the new capital of sporting theatre and the place where sporting dreams come true. 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