PHILIP DEIGNAN has ended Ireland’s long wait for a top 10 finish at a grand tour by finishing ninth overall in the Tour of Spain which ended with a 110km trek from Rivas to Madrid yesterday.

Philip Deignan has ended Ireland’s long wait for a top 10 finish at a Grand Tour by posting a ninth place overall in this year’s Tour of Spain which finished with a 110-kilometre trek from Rivas to Madrid today.

Mark Cavendish hailed the teamwork of Columbia-HTC after he claimed a second consecutive Tour de France stage win yesterday.