Belgian cyclist Michael Goolaerts, who died aged 23 after suffering cardiac arrest during Paris-Roubaix, is a “great loss to cycling”, says former team-mate James Shaw.

Four-time world time trial champion Tony Martin has called the decision not to suspend Team Sky leader Chris Froome immediately for his adverse drugs test a "scandal".

British cyclist Chris Froome has admitted his adverse test for asthma drug salbutamol is "damaging" but is hopeful he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

Former Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winner Stephen Roche believes it would be "humanly impossible" for Chris Froome to win all three grand tour races in one year.

Chris Froome retained his advantage on stage 19 of La Vuelta as Belgian Thomas De Gendt won a sprint finish out of the breakaway to keep Spaniards waiting for a stage victory in their home race.

Chris Froome survived a mechanical and a crash to keep hold of his red jersey but his lead at La Vuelta was cut to 59 seconds.

Tomasz Marczynski took the honours on stage six of La Vuelta as overall leader Chris Froome saw nearest challenger Tejay van Garderen slip down the standings.

An Post Rás stage winner Eoin Morton has been handed the onerous task of leading the Irish national team into battle in this year’s contest which starts in Dublin on Sunday.

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.

Nicolas Roche will roll down the start-ramp in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands this afternoon as one of the two Irish riders in this year’s Giro d’Italia.

Nicolas Roche was the toast of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday when he won the 18th stage of the race in a two-up sprint against home favourite Haimar Zubeldia (Trek Factory Racing).

Nicolas Roche starts the 15th Grand Tour of his career today when he lines up as part of a formidable-looking Team Sky squad for the opening stage of the Vuelta a Espana in the southern port town of Puerto Banus.

Nicolas Roche has been named in Team Sky’s nine-man roster for the Vuelta a Espana, which starts on Saturday in the Andalucian town of Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol.

CYCLING: Chris Froome may opt out of the 2015 Tour de France and target a Giro d’Italia-Vuelta a Espana double instead.

Irish cycling legend Sean Kelly has paid tribute to Dan Martin for the manner in which he bounced back from a dreadful run of luck this year to win one of cycling’s biggest one-day races.

Germany’s John Degenkolb claimed his third sprint victory of the Vuelta a Espana by winning stage 12 in Logrono yesterday as Ireland’s Dan Martin survived a rather stress-free day and remains 11th overall.

Bradley Wiggins is disappointed to miss the Vuelta a Espana — but sees a silver lining in the chance to defend his Tour of Britain title.

Stephen Roche admits cycling could have saved itself years of turmoil had it taken Paul Kimmage’s revelations in his book Rough Ride more seriously when it was published in 1990.

Vincenzo Nibali completed victory in the 101st Tour de France in Paris yesterday as Marcel Kittel won the final stage on the Champs-Elysees-

Ireland’s Dan Martin says he’ll be taking the Giro d’Italia "one day at a time" as he seeks to become the first Irishman to finish on a podium at a Grand Tour for over a quarter of a century.

Irish cycling legend Sean Kelly believes the Grand Tour potential of Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin is still unclear ahead of the Giro d’Italia, which starts in Belfast on Friday week.

Ireland’s Dan Martin expects Sunday’s Road World Championships road race in Florence to come down to the survival of the fittest.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche notched a career-best Grand Tour finish securing fifth place overall at the end of the Vuelta a Espana in Madrid yesterday.

Dan Martin has withdrawn from the Vuelta a Espana following a crash on Friday’s seventh stage.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche took the biggest win of his career yesterday when he won a thrilling stage two of the Vuelta A Espana from Pontevedra to Alto Do Monte Da Groba.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche won a four-man sprint at the end of the second stage of the Vuelta a Espana from Pontevedra to Baiona.

Dan Martin’s father, Neil believes his son’s Tour de France stage nine win on Sunday was written in the stars — and had everything to do with what he called ‘the curious case of number nine’.

Dan Martin followed in his uncle’s footsteps yesterday as he became the first Irish winner of a Tour de France stage since Stephen Roche in 1992.

Dan Martin ended Ireland’s 21-year wait for a stage win at the Tour de France yesterday when he blasted to a stunning win in Bagnères-de-Bigorre following the most gruelling day of this year’s race so far.

Former British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton believes Bradley Wiggins has reached a crossroads in his career.

Dan Martin could have chosen a different road.

ALBERTO CONTADOR protested his innocence and insisted he can hold his head high in the wake of yesterday’s announcement that he tested positive for a banned substance en route to winning this year’s Tour de France.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd took the honours on the sixth stage of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday after pipping a whole host of riders in a massed sprint finish in Murcia.

Igor Anton won the fourth stage of the Vuelta a Espana today with Philippe Gilbert finishing fifth to keep hold of the leader’s red jersey.

Philippe Gilbert claimed victory on the third stage of the Vuelta a Espana today and in the process inherited the leader’s red jersey off Mark Cavendish.

Cycling fan Fernando Alonso returns to four wheels this weekend in a buoyant mood as he targets a third Formula One world title.

LANCE ARMSTRONG vowed last night to swap his designer suit for racing lycra and get on his bike in a global campaign to raise awareness of cancer treatment and prevention.

Carlos Sastre revealed his delight at finally getting his hands on the prestigious Tour de France title after clinching overall victory following the last-stage ceremonial trek into Paris.