Irish pair Ronan McLaughlin (An Post Sean Kelly) and Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport) endured difficult days yesterday on the sixth stage of the Tour of Britain while McLaughlin’s team-mate Sam Bennett was forced to pull out with a knee injury.

Spanish rider Joaquin Rodriguez triumphed in Assisi at the climax to stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia as he moved into the pink jersey position.