Nicolas Roche came within 10 metres of winning the fourth stage of the Vuelta A Espana yesterday but was foiled by a fast-finishing trio which denied him a place on the podium.

Irish duo Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin were two of the strongest riders on yesterday’s second stage of the Vuelta A Espana, finishing third andfourth respectively.

Ulster 26 Leicester 7: European Champions Cup Pool 3: Darren Cave helped clip the Tigers’ claws in an attritional Champions Cup clash at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday when Ulster had their bonus point on the board by the 50th minute before a brickwall defence proved almost impenetrable.

President Hugo Chavez has threatened to nationalise the Venezuelan subsidiaries of Spanish banks Banco Santander – Abbey Bank owner – and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, if Spain’s king does not apologise for telling Chavez to “shut up”.