Michael Matthews won stage three of the Giro d’Italia which saw Italian rider Domenico Pozzovivo suffer a frightening crash to bring back memories of the accident which killed Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt in the 2011 edition.

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.

Matt Brammeier yesterday became the first Irish rider to win three national road race titles in-a-row when he soloed clear of a three man breakaway in the final 2km to retain his shamrock jersey of Irish champion in Clonmel.

Matthew Brammeier’s appeal to be included for selection in the three-man Ireland Olympic road race team has been unsuccessful.

NICOLAS ROCHE has admitted to being “extremely motivated” to win the national senior cycling championship crown in Emyvale, Monaghan tomorrow as it would mean him wearing a distinctive Irish jersey for this year’s Tour de France, which gets under way next Saturday.

Astana rider Paolo Tiralongo edged Spaniard Alberto Contador to win the 19th stage of the Giro d’Italia today.

Following his showing at just his second Tour de France, Irish rider Nicolas Roche has extended his contract with Ag2r-La Mondiale until the end of 2012.

Nicholas Roche will carry Irish hopes at this year's Tour de France which starts this Saturday with an 8.9 kilometre prologue around Rotterdam.

The Sean Kelly/ An Post Professional Cycling team endured a most difficult day in the Dwars door Vlaanderen classic today in Belgium, with just one rider of the eight starters finishing the race.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche has finished runner-up in the 14th stage of the Tour de France, 16 seconds behind Katusha’s Sergei Ivanov, with Hayden Roulston in third.

A VISIBLY emotional Heinrich Haussler had the “perfect” day after a stunning Stage 13 ride saw him earn his first Tour de France victory.

Heinrich Haussler’s daredevil descending saw the Cervelo TestTeam rider earn his first Tour de France victory today in the 200km ride from Vittel to Colmar.

MARK CAVENDISH hailed his team-mates after regaining the green jersey with victory in stage 11 of the Tour de France yesterday – his fourth triumph in 2009.

Nicolas Roche, son of 1987 champion Stephen, will today become the first Irishman to compete in the Tour de France since Mark Scanlon took part in the world-famous race five years ago.

DENIS MENCHOV won the 11th stage of the Tour de France by pipping Levi Leipheimer and Floyd Landis in a thrilling sprint finish.

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.

France united in sorrow and wounded pride today after its team lost the World Cup final to Italy, with fans thronging Paris’ Champs-Elysees and spilling into streets nationwide in a collective post-match consolation party.

MARK SCANLON is expected to lead by example at the World Road Cycling Championships which start in Madrid today.

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.

Philip Deignan, one of Ireland's young cycling talents, moved up to 20th overall in the Tour of Britain this evening, after a bunch finish in the 379.3km stage two ride from Leeds to Sheffield.

TOM BOONEN of Belgium took the sixth stage honours yesterday in another day of thrills and spills on the Tour de France.

Tom Boonen of Belgium took the sixth stage honours today in another day of thrills and spills on the Tour de France.

LANCE ARMSTRONG seized control of the yellow jersey for the first time during his pursuit of a record sixth Tour de France title yesterday, thanks to a display of unmatched power and discipline in the team time-trial from his US Postal outfit.

IRELAND’S Mark Scanlon played a critical role in helping AG2R team-mate Jean-Patrick Nazon win yesterday’s third stage of the Tour de France from Waterloo in Belgium to Wasquehal in France.

Frenchman Jean-Patrick Nazon produced a superb sprint finish to claim the third stage of the Tour de France today.

Double Olympian David McCann all but sealed victory in the 2004 FBD Milk Rás this afternoon as the Belfast amateur’s solo breakaway at 107km saw him claim the seventh and penultimate stage, 149km from Carrick-on-Suir to Tullow.

MARK SCANLON is already back in France bracing himself for a new season and a new phase in his cycling career.

ERIK ZABEL bounced back from the disappointment of Monday's defeat on home soil to claim the Tour de France yellow jersey today.

Erik Zabel bounced back from the disappointment of yesterday’s defeat on home soil to claim the Tour de France yellow jersey today.

Tour de France classifications.

OSCAR FREIRE surprised himself and the Saarbrucken crowd gathered to cheer an Erik Zabel win by denying the German rider a victory on home soil yesterday.

Lance Armstrong became only the fifth man to win three consecutive Tour de France titles in a party atmosphere in Paris today.

Erik Dekker won stage eight of the Tour de France but Australian Stuart O’Grady was also celebrating as he retook the leader’s yellow jersey.

German Erik Zabel won a sprint finish to claim the first stage of the Tour de France between St-Omer and Boulogne-sur-Mer.