Far from the madding crowd, deep in the caverns of the birthplace of the once great bastion of altruistic volunteerism that was the GAA, a room full of megalomaniacs congregated.

Geraint Thomas won his first Tour de France title yesterday, concluding his transformation from a support rider into a champion of cycling’s biggest race.

Team Sky's Geraint Thomas extended his lead in the Tour de France as Chris Froome slipped out of second place on 17th stage won by Nairo Quintana.

Geraint Thomas will wear the yellow jersey after winning stage 11 of the Tour de France in La Rosiere to take the overall lead.

Greg Van Avermaet extended his lead in the yellow jersey with a superb ride as Julian Alaphilippe won stage 10 of the Tour de France.

“I really hope my wife hasn’t gone into labour!”

Dan Martin has narrowly missed out on victory in stage five of the Tour de France.

"While this decision is obviously a big deal for me and the team, it's also an important moment for cycling," said Froome.

Martin continued his impressive form in France.

Sam Bennett has narrowly missed out on a third stage victory in this year's Giro d'Italia.

Chris Froome's Team Sky squad for the Giro d'Italia has been named as the Briton seeks a third successive Grand Tour win.

Bradley Wiggins' former coach Shane Sutton has urged the five-time Olympic champion and former Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman to explain their use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) for banned medication.

Floyd Landis has called for Bradley Wiggins to be stripped of his 2012 Tour de France title in the wake of allegations made in a parliamentary report.

Bradley Wiggins has described a parliamentary report that has heavily criticised him and the cycling team he used to lead as “sad”.

Bradley Wiggins has again strongly denied doping and branded the allegations as "malicious".

Bradley Wiggins has described a British parliamentary report that has heavily criticised him and the cycling team he used to lead as "sad".

The report also accused world athletics boss Seb Coe of misleading parliament in his answers on what he knew about his sport's problems.

Chris Froome insists he has “done nothing wrong” and has defended his decision to return to racing at the Ruta del Sol.

The prevalence of doping in sport has been once again to the fore in recent weeks, writes Jack Anderson.

Four-time world time trial champion Tony Martin has called the decision not to suspend Team Sky leader Chris Froome immediately for his adverse drugs test a "scandal".

British cyclist Chris Froome has admitted his adverse test for asthma drug salbutamol is "damaging" but is hopeful he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

Former Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winner Stephen Roche believes it would be "humanly impossible" for Chris Froome to win all three grand tour races in one year.

Chris Froome retained his advantage on stage 19 of La Vuelta as Belgian Thomas De Gendt won a sprint finish out of the breakaway to keep Spaniards waiting for a stage victory in their home race.

Chris Froome survived a mechanical and a crash to keep hold of his red jersey but his lead at La Vuelta was cut to 59 seconds.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche closed on Chris Froome yesterday, moving joint second in the general classification of the Vuelta a Espana.

Chris Froome savoured his fourth Tour de France title as Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen won stage 21 of the race in Paris.

Chris Froome is set to win his fourth Tour de France title after increasing his lead in Saturday's penultimate time trial in Marseille.

Dan Martin is on course for his highest overall finish in six attempts at the Tour de France as he’s currently sixth on General Classification, three places higher than he ended up last year.

Dan Martin is closing in on Ireland’s best overall result at the Tour de France since his uncle Stephen Roche won the race 30 years ago — but he will not emulate him by claiming the yellow jersey.

Dan Martin jumped back up to sixth overall but conceded precious time to race leader Chris Froome in yesterday’s 17th stage of the Tour de France, the Irishman now trailing by 2:37 with four stages remaining.

Dan Martin’s hopes of a podium finish at the Tour de France were thrown off course yesterday when crosswinds decimated the field and he was one of the big losers on the 165-kilometre stage 16 from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans sur Isere.

An Irish journalist has said he felt “more amused than threatened” after Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford yesterday attempted to block the reporter from the team’s media event over unfavourable coverage of his evasive attitude to the press.

Chris Froome surrendered the yellow jersey to Fabio Aru as Romain Bardet won stage 12 of the Tour de France in Peyragudes.

Chris Froome dodged crashes in the pack to retain his overall lead in the Tour de France before the race heads back to the mountains today.

Marcel Kittel yesterday claimed a fourth stage victory in this year’s Tour de France with a thoroughly convincing performance in Bergerac.

Marcel Kittel has won a fourth stage of this year's Tour de France.

After one of the most bizarre Tour de France stages in recent years, overnight leader Chris Froome emerged from a day of chaos with the yellow jersey he claimed last Wednesday.

Marcel Kittel won stage six of the Tour de France in Troyes as Chris Froome stayed safe in the yellow jersey.

Dan Martin rocketed up the General Classification at the Tour de France yesterday and is now fourth overall just 25 seconds down on the man who assumed the race leader’s yellow jersey, Chris Froome.

Dan Martin narrowly missed out on victory in stage 3 of the Tour de France this afternoon.

Welshman Geraint Thomas wears the yellow jersey into stage three of the Tour de France today after a chaotic opening two stages over the weekend.

Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas were grateful to emerge with little more than bumps and bruises from a crash as Marcel Kittel won stage two of the Tour de France in Liege.

Ireland’s Dan Martin is one of just two Irish riders who will roll out of the German city of Dusseldorf this afternoon for the 104th edition of the Tour de France.