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ANDORRA LA VELLA, Andorra -- Chris Froome has the yellow jersey, Mark Cavendish has won three sprint stages, and Adam Yates sits second in the overall standings. It has been a very successful start to the Tour de France for British cyclists.Its definitely not a fluke, Froome said on Monday as the peloton enjoyed its first rest day, following nine stages which saw Froomes Team Sky stamping its authority on the race.With Froomes victory at Bagneres-de-Luchon and Steve Cummings solo breakaway to the Lac de Payolle, its not exaggerating to say that British riders have taken over the Tour this summer. They have won five out of nine stages so far, and can reasonably hope for a second 1-2 in the space of four years on the Champs-Elysees.No other nation has won more than one stage this year.You look at how far British cycling has come during the last few years, said Froome, who was runner-up to countryman Bradley Wiggins in 2012 then won the race in 2013 and 2015. Its not just by chance. There has been a plan, there have been structures, riders of talent.Competing in only his second Tour, the 23-year-old Yates is leading the next generation of British cyclists. Yates holds the white jersey for best young rider and is just 16 seconds behind Froome overall. After winning the Tour of Turkey in 2014, and the San Sebastian single-day classic last year, he is already being tipped as a future winner of a major Tour.Yates joined the Orica squad with that goal in mind, but said he would focus on stage wins this year while also trying to keep up with Froome and Nairo Quintana.The strategy has been working well so far, and hes seven seconds ahead of Quintana, the Colombian climber who is in fourth place.Irish rider Dan Martin is third overall, 19 seconds behind Froome.They already have shown themselves as contenders, Froome said of Yates and Martin. If they can do what theyve done in the first half, then theyll be on the podium come Paris. But three weeks is a long time. It is a difference between riding a week-long race and a Grand Tour. But so far, theyve shown no weaknesses in that respect.The other big satisfaction of the week for British cycling has been Cavendish. At 31, the Manx Missile has rediscovered his instinct and burst of speed courtesy of the hard track training he put himself through as part of his preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he will be competing in the omnium.With 29 stage wins under his belt, Cavendish is second on the all-time list of Tour stage winners, five behind Eddy Merckxs record of 34, and one ahead of Bernard Hinault.Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said the main reason behind Britains dominance dates to nearly 20 years ago, when the National Lottery started to invest millions of pounds into British sport federations.Britain has invested heavily in lower ranks, Brailsford said. It does not happen overnight.Here are some other things learned during the first week of the Tour:---NO RIVALS FOR SKYThere is just one team controlling the race this year, and its Froomes Team Sky.Riders from the British outfit protected Froome in the early flat stages, kept him safe from crashes at the front of the pack, then set the pace in the Pyrenees.The fast tempo they impose in every big ascent prevents Froomes main rivals from attacking, and eventually makes them crack. Among the pre-race favorites, BMCs Tejay van Garderen has already lost 1:01 to Froome, and Astanas Fabio Aru trails by 1:23.If they want to just sit on our wheel and wait until the end and try and catch us, if thats the way they want to try and win the Tour de France, thats fine by me Brailsford said. But if nobody else is going to try and take control then we will.CONSERVATIVE QUINTANASeen as the main threat to Froomes ambition to secure a third Tour win, Nairo Quintana has been fairly discreet.Twice runner-up to Froome, the diminutive climber was expected to attack in the Pyrenees. After being caught off guard by Froomes downhill attack, he took an extremely conservative approach in the climb to Arcalis, sat on Froomes back wheel and did not try anything that could have destabilized the Tour champion.In 2013 and 2015, Quintana managed to gain time on Froome in the closing stages of the Tour. His Movistar team insists there is still a long way to go before the race reaches Paris and that Quintana will have plenty of opportunities to challenge Froome, especially at Mont Ventoux or in the Alps.BARDET IN THE MIXWith Thibault Pinot out of contention, the French hopes of producing a first home Tour winner in 31 years hang on Romain Bardets shoulders.There has been no French champion since Bernard Hinaults fifth victory in 1985.Sixth overall, 44 seconds behind Froome, Bardet had never enjoyed such a good start. And he is not impressed by Sky.It boosts my confidence, Bardet said. Sky is a very powerful team, but I expected them to be stronger (Sunday), Froome was a bit left on his own in the finale. Everything is possible.---AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf contributed to this story. Cheap Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys China . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. 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It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. RIO DE JANEIRO -- An entire nation rose to its feet on Day 8 of the 2012 Olympic Games in London as Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford and Jessica Ennis-Hill all won gold on what became known as Super Saturday. Now, it celebrates Wonderful Wednesday.It is still early days at the 2016 version of the quadrennial showpiece and, while some of the better-known British athletes have already slipped up, the team showed off its depth on Day 5 as its rising stars set Team GB on course to surpass the medal totals of the last two Games.Just days ago you could have asked ordinary sports fans which athletes they knew from diving and canoeing and Tom Daley would have likely been the only name coming back. Now, add Chris Mears, Jack Laugher and Joe Clarke. On Wednesday, they etched their names in Team GB folklore and became the new headliners.At the same stage in Beijing in 2008, Britain had seven medals. In London it was nine. And you dont need a historian to remind you the team has already beaten the gold medal return of one -- courtesy of Matthew Pinsent and Steve Redgrave in the coxless pairs -- from the debacle in Atlanta 20 years ago.Those waking up on Thursday morning in Britain will see Team GB are in a tie for 5th overall in the Rio medal table, and 9th when colours are factored in: three gold, three silver, six bronze.Athletes and spectators alike would have been forgiven for thinking the Games were back in Britain, as Wonderful Wednesday started wet and windy and rarely changed. Fans at outdoor venues may have had to show a bit of the famous British stiff upper lip, but it was all worthwhile as shooting, diving, canoeing, gymnastics and cycling all came to the fore.Its not hard to argue that rowing would also have joined the medal rush, in the mens quadruple sculls, if the poor weather hadnt postponed the action at Rios Lagoa neighbourhood for another day.Tour de France winner Chris Froome got the medal count going with bronze in the time trial and, while he would have fancied his chances of gold, he was happy with the same podium finish that he achieved in London.From the Pontal roads to shooting in Deodoro, where Steven Scott beat compatriot Tim Kneale to take the bronze in the double trap. After, the friends ended their temporary rivalry to hug in celebration and consolation.Justt 17 minutes later, at 3.dddddddddddd6 p.m. local time, Clarke battled his way to gold in the mens K1 canoeing. By 4.40 p.m. Sally Conway had taken bronze in the womens 70kg judo having narrowly missed out on a place in the gold medal match. Then came Britains biggest triumph with Laugher and Mears winning Britains first ever diving gold in the 3m synchronized springboard.As they sat assessing their triumph, news of success elsewhere reached them. The team is really strong out in Rio and the medals are fantastic, Laugher said. To be able to add to that is a dream come true.In the diving camp we have added to the medals Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow got [in the 10m synchronised diving on Monday] and there are a lot of good vibes in there. Its our most successful Olympics ever [in diving] and we have more individual events to come. There are hopefully more medals as well.Just 90 minutes later, Max Whitlock won Britains first individual mens all-around gymnastics medal since 1908; the one and only Games in which Great Britain topped the medal table.That Team GB have won more medals today makes it even better, Whitlock said. We are very strong, were such a big team, and hopefully we can go back to the village and everyone be proud of our achievements.It was a memorable day, one on which the team came alive.Credit must go to the sports and the individual athletes, British Olympic Association chief executive Bill Sweeney said. It was a pleasure to watch their performances and we are incredibly proud. We wont get carried away, but today has been a nice day for British sport.Thursday could bring more success with the start of track cycling, the sport in which Britain won seven golds, a silver and a bronze last time out. Other medal hopes include Katherine Grainger and Vicky Thornley in rowings double sculls, David Florence in the C2 canoeing, and Natalie Powell in the womens 78kg judo.There is womens individual all-around gymnastics, too, and gold potential in rugby sevens. Beyond that there is more reason for optimism with Andy Murray, canoe sprints and track and field holding high hopes.Now, whos up for Thantastic Thursday? Well work on the name... ' ' '