Cycling

Wallays wins 18th stage — Jelle Wallays won the Spanish Vuelta’s 18th stage Thursday, while Simon Yates held on to the overall lead ahead of two decisive days in the Pyrenees. Wallays edged out Sven Erik Bystrom and world champion Peter Sagan to win the 116-mile leg from Ejea de los Caballeros to Lleida in just under four hours. Yates leads former Vuelta winner Alejandro Valverde by 25 seconds, with Enric Mas third at 1:22. Bend’s Ian Boswell, riding for Katusha Alpecin, finished 146th. Friday’s 154-kilometer stage starting in Lleida is flat with an uphill finish, followed by Saturday’s short and demanding ride over six categorized climbs. The Grand Tour finishes Sunday in Madrid.

Sports betting

Stars Group launches online sports betting — One of the largest online gambling companies in the world launched mobile sports betting in New Jersey Thursday, the latest to do so in the rapidly expanding market. Affiliated with Resorts casino, The Stars Group owns brands including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, and PokerStars Live. New Jersey’s sports betting market is growing rapidly. Since it began in June, gamblers have plunked down more than $152 million on sporting events.

Football

Seahawks to sign Kendricks — The Seattle Seahawks are expected to sign linebacker Mychal Kendricks to a one-year contract despite his recent guilty plea on insider trading charges. A person with knowledge of the deal said Thursday Kendricks’ agreement is expected to be finalized in time for him to join the Seahawks for their Week 2 game at Chicago. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the signing. Kendricks signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in June after winning a Super Bowl title last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Kendricks pleaded guilty last week to insider trading charges. His sentencing is not expected to take place until January. Kendricks used tips from an acquaintance to make about $1.2 million in illegal profits on four major trading deals, federal prosecutors said. The Browns released him from the team on Aug. 29, after the charges were filed.