All British eyes will be on Team Sky’s Chris Froome at the Tour de France, but a Birmingham-born Irishman is capable of upsetting the odds, according to one former winner.

Irish cyclist Nicolas Roche has moved up to sixth place in the Vuelta a Espana after finishing in the main group today today.

Pierrick Fedrigo claimed France's fourth win of the Tour de France on stage 15 to Pau today as the peloton opted for a day of respite.

Giro d'Italia champion Ryder Hesjedal abandoned the Tour de France ahead of stage seven today.

Dan Martin’s Garmin-Sharp team have endured more than most in the opening week of the Tour de France but matters worsened yesterday when their team manager Jonathan Vaughters was taken to task before the stage start in Rouen about reports in a Dutch newspaper that some of his riders had received six-month bans after confessing to doping.