Two-time Tour de France champ Laurent Fignon dies at 50

CYCLING

TWO-TIME TOUR DE FRANCE CHAMP FIGNON DIES AT 50

Laurent Fignon, the Frenchman who won the Tour de France in 1983 and '84 and lost to Greg LeMond in the race's closest finish, died Tuesday of cancer. He was 50. Fignon said in June 2009 that he had advanced cancer of the digestive system and was undergoing chemotherapy.

Fignon had been a television commentator in France since 2006. He worked through this year's Tour.

Seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, called Fignon a "dear friend" and a "legendary cyclist."

"I will never forget the early '90s when I first turned pro, of course terrified of these 'older guys.' Laurent was always a friendly face with words of advice," Armstrong said in a statement.

In 1989, Fignon lost to LeMond by eight seconds; LeMond took the lead in a late time trial using a helmet and handlebars that Fignon maintained were illegal.

SOCCER

Bradley settles in for another four-year run

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati explained the decision to retain Bob Bradley as the national team coach for four more years a day after Bradley agreed to the deal. "In the end, we came to the conclusion that his experience and record, his work over the last four years, overcame any issues," Gulati said. "I'm not easily satisfied," Bradley said. "We feel good about what we've accomplished the last four years, but that doesn't mean I think it's all perfect."

ITALY: Forward Robinho transferred to AC Milan from England's Manchester City on a four-year contract.

PRO BASKETBALL

Lithuania downs Spain

Lithuania rallied from 18 down in the second half to beat defending champion Spain 76-73 at the world championships in Turkey. Former Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza scored four points in the last 35 seconds to clinch the win. Other scores: Turkey 76, Greece 65; Russia 72, Ivory Coast 66; Puerto Rico 84, China 76; New Zealand 108, Lebanon 76; and France 68, Canada 63.

NUGGETS: The team said it will meet soon with All-Star Carmelo Anthony. The team offered a three-year, $65 million extension through 2014, but if he rejects it, Denver will have to consider trading the forward.

WNBA: Connecticut's Tina Charles was named rookie of the year, months after being named college player of the year.

JURISPRUDENCE: A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of ex-Michigan State star Jay Vincent, who faces charges in a $2 million Internet scam. A judge in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, Mich., set a Sept. 28 hearing for him to change that plea.

ET CETERA

TRACK AND FIELD: World champion Caster Semenya was ninth in an 800-meter run in Rovereto, Italy, in which she seemed at times to be out for a jog. It was her fifth race after an 11-month gender dispute. Former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin was second in the 100 in 10.09 seconds, his best time since returning from a four-year doping ban. Jamaican Johan Blake won.

NHL: The Islanders agreed on a one-year contract with captain Doug Weight for his 20th NHL season. … The Sabres re-signed unrestricted free agent forward Matt Ellis for one year.

HORSES: The Oak Tree thoroughbred meet will move to Del Mar as a permanent home, possibly starting in 2011, the Los Angeles Times reported. Santa Anita has hosted the Oak Tree meet since 1969 and hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2008 and '09.

Times wires