Clemens Fankhauser became just the seventh rider in Rás history to win the race more than once yesterday, the Austria Tirol man riding into sun-baked Skerries adorned in the yellow jersey he claimed last Tuesday in Dingle.

Eddie Dunbar avoided disaster to stay in contention for the yellow jersey at the An Post Rás yesterday, the young Corkman battling to limit his losses to just 14 seconds after a late mechanical threatened to derail his chances.

The horrific leg injury sustained by Spanish road cyclist Francesco Ventoso has forced the sport’s governing body, the UCI, to suspend the use of a new type of braking mechanism in the pro peloton.

Christopher McGlinchey took the biggest road win of his career yesterday on the opening stage of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan.

Ryan Mullen is the big favourite to land back-to-back U23 time-trial titles tonight as this year’s national championships get underway in Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

Lukas Postlberger was yesterday crowned the winner of An Post Rás following a week that saw him deal with crashes, crosswinds, and even the theft of his bike the night before the final stage.

Irish domestic amateur Damien Shaw came within a whisker of landing a stage win at the An Post Rás yesterday, emerging just metres short following a thrilling 160km of racing from Ballina to Ballinamore.

The An Post-Chain Reaction team made it three wins in four days at the Rás yesterday on another wretched day that saw Ireland’s Martyn Irvine drop out of the overall contention.

The An Post Chain Reaction celebrated their second stage win in as many days at the Rás yesterday on a savage day that saw the field split to pieces.

Just 24 hours after An Post Rás yellow jersey wearer Francesca Reda was thrown off the race for receiving an illegal tow, his teammate Matteo Malucelli of Team IDEA 2010 ASD claimed stage 3 into Bearna yesterday.

Italian rider Francesca Reda is the first race leader of this year’s An Post Rás after a thrilling opening stage from Dunboyne to Carlow yesterday which saw the peloton lose over 10 minutes and Ian Richardson of UCD take the county rider prize.

Former international rower turned bike rider, Cathal Moynihan won yesterday’s opening stage of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan for the biggest win of his career and the first leaders’ yellow jersey of this year’s race.

BBC1 @ 10.20pm: Graham Norton continues his award-winning talk show, with guests Ricky Gervais, Ronnie Corbett and Juliette Binoche, plus music and chat from Irish pop star Imelda May.

The victim of a tiger kidnapping told co-workers that his worst nightmare had come true and that his family were being held hostage, a trial has heard.

The victim of a 'tiger' kidnapping told co-workers that his worst nightmare had come true and that his family were being held hostage, a trial has heard today.

Deliberations in the trial of five men accused of involvement in a €2.28m "tiger kidnapping" robbery will not begin until next week because several jurors have tickets for tonight's U2 concert.

A young man has revealed similarities between two men caught on shop CCTV and raiders who kidnapped him and his family in a €2.28m Securicor robbery.

NICHOLAS WALKER (Australia Cinelli-DownUnder) was the surprise stage winner and Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) took the race-leader’s yellow jersey, but it was young Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) who turned in the performance of the day to finish sixth in the uphill sprint when the FBD Insurance Rás arrived in Killorglin last evening.

A retired Securicor supervisor has revealed that someone who knew the company’s ATM runs could work out the amount of money in a van by studying the "trip sheet".

The Securicor driver in a "tiger kidnapping" four years ago has confirmed there had been a rumour in his company that someone was followed home before the €2.28m robbery.

Respected British actor Ian Richardson died in his sleep early this morning. He was 72.

Notts County midfielder Ian Richardson has been confirmed as the Magpies player-manager until the end of the season.

Joseph-Desire Job struck late to spare sluggish Middlesbrough from FA Cup embarrassment against brave Notts County at Meadow Lane.

Wycombe will soon begin the search for a new manager after former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams today quit his post for “personal reasons”.

Manchester City and Jon Macken went on a scoring spree, winning 7-1 against League One Barnsley in the Carling Cup second round tonight.

Nottingham Forest booked their place in the second round of the Carling Cup on the night the club’s English top-flight record of 42 matches unbeaten was broken by Arsenal.

Middlesbrough 2 Notts County 0

A late Alex Rae equaliser denied Third Division Kidderminster the chance to cause the shock of the FA Cup third round against Barclaycard Premiership strugglers Wolves.

The Daleks have been voted Britain’s most evil TV villains.