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.

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.

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.

Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi has died at the age of 37 after being hit by a van while training.

Dan Martin claimed one of the best stage-race results of his career yesterday, taking third in Paris-Nice after a thrilling final day.

Chris Froome clawed back a late attack led by Alberto Contador to retain second place in the overall standings after stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday.

Dan Martin gave the performance of his career on stage nine of the Tour de France yesterday on a incredible day where he climbed to third overall.

Alberto Contador has abandoned the Tour de France.

Dan Martin took his best result of the Tour de France so far and moved into the top 10 yesterday on a day where Belgian Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) took the race leader’s yellow jersey from the shoulders of overnight leader Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).

The Tour de France gets underway tomorrow in the Normandy commune of Mont Sant Michel and among the 189 riders taking part are two Irishmen, Sam Bennett and Dan Martin.

Nicolas Roche will roll down the start-ramp in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands this afternoon as one of the two Irish riders in this year’s Giro d’Italia.

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Vincenzo Nibali punched the air to celebrate his first win of the race this year, Chris Froome then launched a tirade at the stage winner for the manner in which he won and Nairo Quintana almost collapsed in a heap from exertion after breathing fresh life into the Tour de France.

Romain Bardet claimed his first ever stage win on yesterday’s 18th stage of the Tour de France as Chris Froome maintained his commanding advantage to move a step closer to a second title in Paris on Sunday.

Nicolas Roche put up a brave fight in a bid to claim stage glory on yesterday’s 17th stage of the Tour de France but it was German Simon Geschke (Giant Alpecin) who emerged victorious with a brilliant solo victory.

Chris Froome survived a string of attacks on the 11th stage of the Tour de France yesterday on a day Joaquim Rodriguez claimed his second mountaintop victory of the race.

Team Sky’s riders and management have staunchly defended the performance of Nicolas Roche following Sunday’s near miss at a stage win on the ninth day of the Tour de France.

World champions BMC won the Stage 9 team time-trial at the Tour de France yesterday, beating Team Sky by a single second as Chris Froome retained custody of the race leader’s yellow jersey.

Dan Martin’s luck was out again yesterday at the Tour de France as he crashed and conceded too much time on his main rivals to still be considered a contender for the General Classification.

Dan Martin put in an excellent performance on stage three of the Tour de France yesterday, giving the clearest indication yet that he’s ready to contend for stage honours and contest the General Classification in the race.

Tour de France

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo)

Nicolas Roche has been named in Team Sky’s nine-man squad for the Tour de France, which starts in Utrecht in the Netherlands on Saturday.

The An Post Chain Reaction celebrated their second stage win in as many days at the Rás yesterday on a savage day that saw the field split to pieces.

A late puncture proved costly for Team Sky’s Richie Porte as Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF) won stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday.

Italian Davide Formolo was rewarded for going it alone with victory on stage four of the Giro d’Italia.

Irish rider Sam Bennett moved a step closer to realising his dream of riding the Tour de France in July when his team were yesterday granted a wildcard invitation to the world’s biggest bike race.

Andy Schleck, the 2010 Tour de France champion, has announced his retirement from cycling at the age of 29.

Team Sky has announced the signing of Irishman Nicolas Roche as one of five new names for 2015.

Ireland’s Dan Martin finished a career best in a Grand Tour yesterday when he finished seventh overall at the Vuelta A Espana.

Cycling Ireland last night named a strong team for the UCI World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain in two weeks’ time.

Ireland’s Dan Martin went desperately close to snatching a stage win on the 13th stage of the Vuelta A Espana as victory went to Spaniard Daniel Navarro, who was rewarded for a daring late attack.

Germany’s John Degenkolb claimed his third sprint victory of the Vuelta a Espana by winning stage 12 in Logrono yesterday as Ireland’s Dan Martin survived a rather stress-free day and remains 11th overall.

CYCLING: Dan Martin put in a very gutsy display on stage 11 of the Vuelta A Espana yesterday, finishing eighth on the stage, eight seconds behind stage winner Fabio Aru (Astana) and moving up to 11th overall.

Giant-Shimano’s John Degenkolb won his second straight stage of the Vuelta a Espana ahead of a frustrated Nacer Bouhanni in Rondo yesterday while some smart thinking saw Chris Froome pull back a couple of seconds in the general classification battle.

Michael Matthews pipped Dan Martin in a sprint finish to win the third stage of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday and claim the leader’s jersey.

Vincenzo Nibali completed victory in the 101st Tour de France in Paris yesterday as Marcel Kittel won the final stage on the Champs-Elysees-

Vincenzo Nibali looks to have secured his first Tour de France title today after completing the penultimate stage of the race.