National Sports

SAINT-MICHEL-DE-MAURIENNE, France — With the Alps spread like giant teeth in front of him and rivals speeding away, seeking to steal the precious yellow jersey off his shoulders, Julian Alaphilippe switched off the part of the brain that stops normal

With the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo a year away, here are eight Canadian athletes to keep an eye on: ANDRE DE GRASSE, Track — The 24-year-old from Markham, Ont.

Med school is on hold for Sean Duke as the veteran back comes out of retirement, looking to help Canada three-peat in rugby sevens at the Pan American Games.

GWANGJU, Korea, Republic Of — The Canadian women's 4x200-metre freestyle relay team captured a bronze medal on Thursday at the world aquatics championships. Kayla Sanchez of Scarborough, Ont., Taylor Ruck of Kelowna, B.C.

NEW YORK — Soccer star Megan Rapinoe has scored again, this time with a book deal. Penguin Press announced Thursday that Rapinoe's book, currently untitled, will be published in Fall 2020.

The Philadelphia Eagles have hired Canada's Catherine Raiche as their football operations co-ordinator.

Dom Domic has been on Canadian surfing's long road to sporting prominence from the beginning. The Calgary native was first exposed to the sport on family vacations to California and Hawaii as a youngster.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Impact have acquired Finland international midfielder Lassi Lappalainen, with options to extend his loan through the 2020 MLS season. Montreal's loan agreement with Italian club Bologna FC 1909 is guaranteed until Dec.

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Cameron Payne. Financial terms were not disclosed. The six-foot-three, 190-pound Payne averaged 6.3 points, 2.7 assists and 17.

Some two months ahead of the Rugby World Cup, Irish-born back Peter Nelson will likely figure for Canada for the first time Saturday at the Pacific Nations Cup.