BRITAIN’S David Millar came agonisingly close to a third Tour de France stage victory of his career as Norway’s Thor Hushovd won a sprint finish to win Stage Six yesterday.

Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara got the better of Tour de France favourite Alberto Contador to triumph in the 15.5km time-trial first stage in the blistering Monaco sun today.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche lies in a very impressive 18th place after just completing the 15.5km Tour de France prologue in Nice.

Franco Pellizotti emerged triumphant from a gruelling final climb to claim the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia today.

Lance Armstrong admits he is taking a big risk by returning to cycling to go for an eighth Tour de France win but saw nothing to put him off in this year's race.

Carlos Sastre revealed his delight at finally getting his hands on the prestigious Tour de France title after clinching overall victory following the last-stage ceremonial trek into Paris.

Carlos Sastre safely negotiated the final stage of the Tour de France to claim the title in Paris today.

Carlos Sastre moved to within touching distance of the Tour de France title after retaining the yellow jersey on the penultimate stage following Saturday’s time trial between Cerilly and St Amand-Montrond.

SYLVAIN CHAVANEL bade farewell to Cofidis by delivering a second Tour de France stage win for the French team in the 163-kilometre flat stage from Roanne to Montlucon yesterday.

Sylvain Chavanel bade farewell to Cofidis by delivering a second Tour de France stage win for the French team in the 163-kilometre flat stage from Roanne to Montlucon.

MARCUS BURGHARDT — best remembered for being knocked off his bike by a dog in last year’s event — profited from a transitional day in the Tour de France to escape to victory on the 18th stage from Bourg d’Oisans to St Etienne.

Marcus Burghardt profited from a transitional day in the Tour de France to escape to victory on the 18th stage from Bourg d’Oisans to St Etienne.

FRANK SCHLECK surrendered the yellow jersey to team-mate Carlos Sastre as the Spaniard kicked away to a convincing victory on Alpe d’Huez in the 17th stage of the Tour de France.

CYRIL DESSEL’S masterly descent of the Col de la Bonette-Restefond clinched the prestigious 16th stage of the Tour de France from Cuneo to Jausiers as Frank Schleck retained the yellow jersey.

TOUR de France leader Frank Schleck has vowed to continue to use the strength and experience of his CSC team to tighten his grip on the yellow jersey.

LEONARDO PIEPOLI continued Saunier Duval’s domination of the mountains in the Tour de France as the Hautacam summit played havoc with the yellow jersey on stage 10.

FLOYD LANDIS was yesterday confirmed as Tour de France champion after the traditional final stage finish on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Oscar Parreiro leads heading into the second last day of this year's Tour De France.

FLOYD LANDIS staged a remarkable recovery to put himself back in Tour de France contention with a dramatic solo win in Morzine.

Floyd Landis staged a remarkable recovery to put himself back in Tour de France contention with a dramatic solo win in Morzine.

OSCAR Pereiro reclaimed the race leader’s yellow jersey on stage 16 of the Tour de France after American rider Floyd Landis fell apart under a succession of attacks from his rivals for overall victory.

Dane Michael Rasmussen claimed today's 16th stage of the Tour De France – the toughest of the race so far - and with it, the King of the Mountains jersey.

FLOYD LANDIS reclaimed the yellow jersey in the Tour de France with fourth place in stage 15, L’Alpe d’Huez.

Floyd Landis reclaimed the yellow jersey in the Tour de France with fourth place in stage 15, L’Alpe d’Huez.

DENIS MENCHOV won the 11th stage of the Tour de France by pipping Levi Leipheimer and Floyd Landis in a thrilling sprint finish.

Frenchman Jean-Patrick Nazon produced a superb sprint finish to claim the third stage of the Tour de France today.

AMERICAN cyclist Tyler Hamilton yesterday produced the biggest successful solo breakaway of the centenary Tour de France to post a win in the 16th stage that will go down as one of the most courageous in the 100-year history of the race.

Jan Ullrich of Germany made further inroads into the overall leadership of Lance Armstrong in a centenary Tour de France which is shaping up to be one of the closest in history.

THE last time Michael Boogerd won a stage in the Tour de France, it was the last day Lance Armstrong would ride in the Tour before being diagnosed with cancer.