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Michael Matthews wins 3rd Vuelta stage, takes lead

By WTOP Staff

ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA, Spain (AP) — Michael Matthews of Australia sprinted to victory on a hot and sunny third stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Monday to take the overall lead of the three-week grand tour.

Matthews passed Daniel Martin at the finish line to claim the hilly 197.8-kilometer (122.9-mile) ride from Cadiz to Arcos de la Frontera in 5 hours, 12 minutes, 14 seconds. Joaquim Rodriguez crossed third.

Matthews’ win gave him the red leader’s jersey from Alejandro Valverde.

Matthews’ Orica GreenEdge team took charge of the peloton during a long stretch to reel in a small breakaway before setting up the stage winner.

“It makes the win so much sweeter to be able to win when your whole team has absolutely smashed themselves for you,” Matthews said. “The heat was the main factor today and then the climb in the final was very hard but I had the team to put me in the perfect position and from there it was up to me to deliver for them.”

Matthews opened a four-second led over Giro d’Italia winner Nairo Quintana. Valverde fell to third in the general classification, 11 seconds behind Matthews.

Two-time winner Alberto Contador trails by 23 seconds, while Chris Froome is 31 seconds back followed by Rodriguez another seven seconds behind.

The stage, which saw temperatures rise to near 40 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit), started with the cyclists riding off the Spanish aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I docked in Cadiz.

Valverde and two other Movistar teammates crashed with less than 20 kilometers to go when Jonathan Castroviejo fell while trying to grab a bag of water bottles from a team worker.

Valverde took a blow to the back but all three got back on their bikes and finished in the group.

“I started the climb well behind and because of that, I’m happy with the time I lost,” Valverde said. “It’s nothing. My back hurts a bit after the crash, but I hope it’s not serious and I can recover well.”

Tuesday’s fourth stage is a 164.7-kilometer (102.3-mile) ride from Mairena del Alcor to Cordoba featuring one category-two climb.

The race ends in Santiago de Compostela on Sept. 14.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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