Ireland’s Sam Bennett came within a whisker of making it back-to-back stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana as Nicolas Roche retained the race leader’s red jersey.

Sam Bennett will make his debut in the Vuelta a Espana today when the three-week race rolls down the start ramp in the seaside city of Torrevieja, south of Alicante.

RUSSIA: He’s flown with cranes, petted a polar bear, and tranquilised a tiger. Now Vladimir Putin is ready to face the Downward Dog.