The Tour de France's overall favourites fought out a stalemate on the final day in the Pyrenees as Belgium's Jelle Vanendert claimed victory at Plateau de Beille.

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.

HE may have finished over two minutes behind stage winner Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) but Ireland’s Nicolas Roche gave the strongest indication yet that he’s bang in line for a top 10 overall finish at this year’s Tour de France after he produced a superb ride up to the summit of Luz Ardiden in the Pyrénées on the toughest stage of this year’s race yesterday.

Thomas Voeckler successfully defended the race leader's yellow jersey on Bastille Day, but defending champion Alberto Contador lost time to his overall rivals on the first mountain stage of the 2011 Tour de France.

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.

Bradley Wiggins was in confident mood as the Tour de France entered a fifth day of racing today.

DEFENDING Tour de France champion Alberto Contador punched the air in celebration at the end of yesterday’s fourth stage in Brittany — despite being beaten to victory.

Alberto Contador was beaten to victory by Cadel Evans in a dramatic finish to the fourth stage of the Tour de France in Brittany.

Mark Cavendish and his sprint adversaries will likely step to one side today, with the Tour de France fourth stage set to shake up the race for the yellow jersey.

NORWAY’S Thor Hushovd swapped the world champion’s rainbow jersey for the Tour de France race leader’s maillot jaune yesterday after his Garmin-Cervelo squad won the 42.5 kilometre team time-trial around Les Essarts.

Belgium's Philippe Gilbert seized the Tour de France race leader's yellow jersey with victory in Les Herbiers today.

ANDY SCHLECK’S Leopard Trek team say they want to propel the two-time Tour de France runner-up to victory in cycling’s most prestigious bike race on the road, rather than in the courtroom.

Wouter Weylandt’s team led the field through the finish of the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia as riders paid tribute to the Belgian who died yesterday.

The world of cycling was today trying to come to terms with the death of Belgian Wouter Weylandt in a crash on the third stage of the Giro d'Italia.

BELGIAN cyclist Wouter Weylandt has died after crashing on the third stage of the Giro d’Italia yesterday.

Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt has died after crashing on the third stage of the Giro d’Italia today, his Leopard Trek team have confirmed.