Team Astana have unveiled their new line-up for 2012, headed up by former Vuelta a Espana champion Alexandre Vinokourov and 2010 Dauphine Libere winner Janez Brajkovic.

NICOLAS ROCHE moved upone place to 13th overall in this year’s Tour de France after he produced another superb ride on yesterday’s 208 kilometre ninth stage from Issoire to Saint-Flour.

Team Sky’s Juan Antonio Flecha and Vacansoleil’s Johnny Hoogerland were today wiped out by a television vehicle as an incident-packed Tour de France suffered further casualties in the Massif Central.

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.

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.

ALBERTO CONTADOR edged closer to Lance Armstrong’s record number of victories yesterday as the American’s Tour de France career came to an end.

The latest bout in the battle for the Tour de France leader’s yellow jersey ended in a stalemate in the Pyrenees today.

Controversial Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov won the 13th stage of the Tour de France today.

NICHOLAS ROCHE continues to ride exceptionally well as leader of his Ag2R Mondiale team in the Tour de France, finishing in 20th place yesterday on stage 12, just 31 seconds behind stage winner Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha).

French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot wants cycling to crack down harder on doping cheats after this year’s tainted Tour de France.

Alexandre Vinokourov’s cycling career is in tatters after he was fired by the Astana team.

CYCLING may have a new star in Alberto Contador but the Spaniard’s heroics in this year’s Tour de France took a back seat yesterday as the sport’s doping problem continued to dominate.

SPAIN’S Alberto Contador last night insisted he was determined to enjoy the “extraordinary” feat of winning the Tour de France despite the doping scandals which have once again plunged the sport of cycling into controversy.

FORMER Tour de France winner Stephen Roche believes a new generation of cyclists will herald an end to the era of doping scandals in the sport.

The organisers of the Tour de France have criticised cycling’s world governing body over doping controls, describing the UCI as “incompetent”.

ITALY’S Daniele Bennati won stage 17 of the Tour de France yesterday in a race from Pau to Castelsarrasin overshadowed by drug scandals.

Italy`s Daniele Bennati won stage 17 of the Tour de France today in a race from Pau to Castelsarrasin which was overshadowed by drug scandals.

The 17th stage of the 2007 Tour de France started today with nobody wearing the yellow jersey.

IT WAS not exactly the revolution which the Tour de France requires.

Ask Mark Cavendish what sort of punishment is appropriate to cycling’s drugs cheats and he has no doubts – “prison”, says the young Manxman.

Yellow jersey holder Michael Rasmussen brought a thrilling end to a controversial day in the Tour de France by winning stage 16 from Orthez to Col d’Aubisque.

With yet another top cyclist expelled from the Tour De France for failing a drugs test bookie Paddy Power has announced a refund on all bets on Alexandre Vinokourov and his Astana team.

Alexandre Vinokourov has protested his innocence over claims he received a blood transfusion, although he will not attempt to regain his place in the Tour de France.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has expressed his disappointment over the latest scandal to affect the tour, after Team Astana withdrew following Alexandre Vinokourov’s positive test for a banned blood transfusion.

Team Astana have withdrawn from the Tour de France after Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion.

KAZAKHSTAN’S Alexandre Vinokourov won the 15th stage of the Tour de France between Foix and Loudenvielle-Le Louron yesterday.

Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinokourov today won the 15th stage of the Tour de France between Foix and Loudenvielle-Le Louron.

SPAIN‘S Alberto Contador won the 14th stage of the Tour de France yesterday, pipping Denmark’s Michael Rasmussen who retains the leader’s yellow jersey.

Spain‘s Alberto Contador won the 14th stage of the Tour de France today, pipping Denmark’s Michael Rasmussen who retains the leader’s yellow jersey.

Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov fought his way back into the Tour de France top 10 with an impressive ride to win today’s 13th stage, a time-trial in Albi.

SOUTH AFRICA’S Robbie Hunter won stage 11 of the Tour de France from Marseille to Montpellier.

COLOMBIAN Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez has won stage nine of the Tour de France from Val d’Isere to Briancon.

Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez has won stage nine of the Tour de France from Val d'Isere to Briancon.

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN is hoping his time-trial failings will not prevent him from winning the Tour de France at the fourth time of asking.

Filippo Pozzato won the fifth stage of the Tour de France on a photo finish today, while favourite Alexandre Vinokourov lost significant time after crashing.

THE final mountain stage of the 2005 Tour de France passed comfortably yesterday for Lance Armstrong who, barring injury or mishap, will accept his seventh consecutive title in Paris on Sunday.

SIX-TIME winner Lance Armstrong lost the Tour de France yellow jersey after another dramatic day of climbing which handed Germany’s Jens Voigt the race lead for only the second time in his career.

Stage seven of the Tour de France gets underway later today, with the riders facing a 229km trek from Luneville to Karlsruhe.

ITALY’S Lorenzo Bernucci avoided a mass pile-up in the final kilometre to win stage six of the Tour de France.

Scott Dougal

Lance Armstrong laid an iron grip on the yellow jersey today after victory in the team time-trial delivered a substantial lead in the 2005 Tour de France.

Ireland's Ciaran Power came 13th in the men's raod race in Athens today.