Dan Martin has narrowly missed out on victory in stage five of the Tour de France.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche closed on Chris Froome yesterday, moving joint second in the general classification of the Vuelta a Espana.

An Irish-registered professional cycling team will compete in a Grand Tour this year for the first time ever after Aqua Blue Sport secured a wild card entry to the Vuelta a Espana.

Ireland’s Dan Martin moved up to third overall at the Vuelta A Espana yesterday after finishing in second place on another punishing day in the saddle.

Nicolas Roche remains third overall at the Vuelta a Espana following day three of the race from Mijas to Malaga yesterday. 

Ireland’s Dan Martin went desperately close to snatching a stage win on the 13th stage of the Vuelta A Espana as victory went to Spaniard Daniel Navarro, who was rewarded for a daring late attack.

Vincenzo Nibali has vowed to "honour the yellow jersey" by going all out for stage victory in today’s time trial on the penultimate day of the Tour de France.

Defending champion Chris Froome was hoping to avoid any lingering after effects of his fourth stage crash as Marcel Kittel claimed a hat-trick of Tour de France wins in Lille on Tuesday.

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali launched a late attack to win stage two of the Tour de France in Sheffield today and claim the race leader's yellow jersey.

Mark Cavendish’s bid for the yellow jersey ended in a heap as the Manxman tumbled to the tarmac in a dramatic conclusion to the opening stage of the 101st Tour de France in Harrogate.

Ireland’s Dan Martin retained the race lead on yesterday’s fifth stage of the Volta A Catalunya, finishing ninth on the run from Rialp to Lleida and extending his lead over his closest challenger to 14 seconds.

Pierrick Fedrigo claimed France's fourth win of the Tour de France on stage 15 to Pau today as the peloton opted for a day of respite.

Tour de France leader Bradley Wiggins was struck by a flare before again addressing the subject of doping in cycling by saying: “I want to prove I’m doing this off bread and water and hard work.”

Irish cycling legend Stephen Roche predicts Alpine fireworks over the coming days as Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France lead is set to come under attack — and anticipates the race leader’s Team Sky colleague and fellow Briton Chris Froome could be the major beneficiary.

Ireland’s two riders in the Tour de France, Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Dan Martin (Garmin-SHARP) enjoyed a solid weekend with Roche moving inside the top 10 overall while Martin displayed some good form on Saturday’s leg-breaking climb to the finish at La Planche des Belles Filles to finish 17th.

Bradley Wiggins took possession of the Tour de France race leader's yellow jersey after a dominant performance from Team Sky today, capped by a stage seven success for fellow Briton Chris Froome.

Dan Martin’s Garmin-Sharp team have endured more than most in the opening week of the Tour de France but matters worsened yesterday when their team manager Jonathan Vaughters was taken to task before the stage start in Rouen about reports in a Dutch newspaper that some of his riders had received six-month bans after confessing to doping.

IRELAND’S Nicolas Roche moved up one place to 21st on the overall classification at the Tour de France yesterday after he finished 14th on a testing 179 kilometre stage from Gap to Pinerolo in Italy.

NICOLAS ROCHE finished safely in the main bunch of yesterday’s 156-kilometre 13th stage of the Tour de France from Pau to Lourdes but he slipped back one place to 11th on the overall general classification after Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert crossed the line in ninth place to usurp him of a top 10 placing.

Rui Costa won today’s eighth stage of the Tour de France as Thor Hushovd retained the yellow jersey as the race entered the Massif Central.

The latest bout in the battle for the Tour de France leader’s yellow jersey ended in a stalemate in the Pyrenees today.

Lance Armstrong was among the riders dropped as the Tour de France peloton entered the Pyrenees today.

Sylvain Chavanel reclaimed the race leader’s yellow jersey with victory on stage seven of the Tour de France today.

A dog disrupted David Millar’s progress from Rotterdam to Brussels as the Tour de France hit the road today.

RINALDO NOCENTINI claimed the yellow jersey on a day race favourite Alberto Contador flexed his muscles in the Tour de France’s first mountain stage.

SYLVAIN CHAVANEL bade farewell to Cofidis by delivering a second Tour de France stage win for the French team in the 163-kilometre flat stage from Roanne to Montlucon yesterday.

Sylvain Chavanel bade farewell to Cofidis by delivering a second Tour de France stage win for the French team in the 163-kilometre flat stage from Roanne to Montlucon.

Oscar Freire held off a stern challenge from sprint legend Erik Zabel and Leonardo Duque to win the 14th stage of the Tour de France from Nimes to Digne-les-Bains today.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd won stage two of the Tour de France with a fantastic sprint finish in the final 300 metres between Auray and Saint Brieuc today.

The organisers of the Tour de France have criticised cycling’s world governing body over doping controls, describing the UCI as “incompetent”.

ITALY’S Daniele Bennati won stage 17 of the Tour de France yesterday in a race from Pau to Castelsarrasin overshadowed by drug scandals.

Italy`s Daniele Bennati won stage 17 of the Tour de France today in a race from Pau to Castelsarrasin which was overshadowed by drug scandals.

The 17th stage of the 2007 Tour de France started today with nobody wearing the yellow jersey.

IT WAS not exactly the revolution which the Tour de France requires.

Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov fought his way back into the Tour de France top 10 with an impressive ride to win today’s 13th stage, a time-trial in Albi.

Filippo Pozzato won the fifth stage of the Tour de France on a photo finish today, while favourite Alexandre Vinokourov lost significant time after crashing.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd edged a tight finish to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France on the 193km route between Villers-Cotterets and Joigny.

OVERALL leader Fabian Cancellara claimed a dramatic victory in the 236.5km third stage of the Tour de France between Waregem and Compiegne.

Team CSC’s Jens Voigt won stage 13 of the Tour de France on Saturday after a sprint finish with Oscar Pereiro coming into Montelimar.

CYRIL DESSEL claimed the overall lead in the Tour de France after finishing second to Juan Miguel Mercado on stage 10 between Cambo-les-Bains and Pau.

OSCAR FREIRE claimed victory on stage nine of the Tour de France, winning a sprint finish by the narrowest of margins ahead of Robbie McEwen and Erik Zabel.

John Roberts

JAN ULLRICH believes six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong's decision to quit after this year's race in July has set up a classic confrontation.

Cycling Ireland are hoping for something special from their U23 squad - Nicolas Roche, Philip Deignan, Tim Cassidy, Paudie O’Brien and Andrew McQuaid - today as they tackle the World Road Race Championships in Verona Italy.

CYCLIST David Millar received a two-year ban from the sport yesterday after admitting to doping offences.

DISGRACED British cyclist David Millar has admitted using EPO in the build-up to his victory in the World Championships last year. He won the world title in the time-trial with a near-faultless display in Hamilton, Canada.

Disgraced British cyclist David Millar has admitted using EPO in the build-up to his victory in the World Championships last year.

David Moncoutie provided yet another reason for French cheer in the Tour de France with victory on stage 11 today.