On a day that will go down in Tour de France history for the sheer pandemonium that ensued, two-time winner Chris Froome clung to the yellow jersey.

Dan Martin made a brave but ultimately futile bid for a second ever Tour de France stage win yesterday, the Irishman finishing runner-up to Rafal Majka (Tinkoff Saxo) on a gruelling day in the Pyrenees.

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.

Chris Froome enjoyed an unexpected bonus with victory in yesterday’s individual time trial to Chorges strengthening his lead in the 100th Tour de France.

Chris Froome saw his Tour de France dreams flash before his eyes in a near-miss on the descent into Gap yesterday.

Chris Froome and Alberto Contador both had near misses on the descent into Gap but the Briton retained his overall lead on stage 16 of the 100th Tour de France.

Chris Froome conquered the most feared climb in Tour de France history to strengthen his grip on the yellow jersey.

Chris Froome put his name in Tour de France history today with victory on the famed Mont Ventoux.

There was the familiar sight of an Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider timing his burst to perfection and winning a sprint finish but instead of Mark Cavendish it was his room-mate Matteo Trentin who took the honours on stage 14 of the Tour de France in Lyon today.

An incredible day of tactical racing has set the tone for the weekend

Mark Cavendish answered his critics with victory on stage 13 of the Tour de France to Saint-Amand-Montrond but Chris Froome saw more than a minute of his lead over Alberto Contador blown away by the crosswinds.

Ireland’s Dan Martin and Nicolas Roche survived another nerve-shredder at the Tour de France yesterday, the duo crossing the line in the same time as stage winner Marcel Kittel after avoiding a nasty pile-up with two kilometres to go.

Dan Martin ended Ireland’s 21-year wait for a stage win at the Tour de France yesterday when he blasted to a stunning win in Bagnères-de-Bigorre following the most gruelling day of this year’s race so far.

Ireland’s Dan Martin has won stage nine of the Tour de France in Bagneres-de-Bigorre.

Nicolas Roche remains in seventh place overall after stage six of the Vuelta Espana today.

IRELAND’S Nicolas Roche moved up one place to 21st on the overall classification at the Tour de France yesterday after he finished 14th on a testing 179 kilometre stage from Gap to Pinerolo in Italy.

Edvald Boasson Hagen today won his and Team Sky’s second stage of the 2011 Tour de France with a solo triumph in Italy.

Mark Cavendish today completed the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, a day after being involved in a mass pile up.