Ireland’s Dan Martin stepped up his preparations for the upcoming Vuelta A Espana and next month’s World Championships with a solid result in his main build-up race last night.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche remains third overall at the Vuelta A Espana after finishing safely in the main bunch of yesterday’s 168-kilometre fifth stage from Sober to Lago de Sanabria in the north west of the country.

British cycling fans endured a day of mixed fortunes today as Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins crashed out of the Tour de France before Mark Cavendish enjoyed a stage seven success in Chateauroux.

Letterkenny's Philip Deignan finished a highly-credible ninth in today's Under-23 road race at the World Cycling Championships in Madrid.