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 followed in his uncle’s footsteps yesterday as he became the first Irish winner of a Tour de France stage since Stephen Roche in 1992.

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.