Chris Froome survived a string of attacks on the 11th stage of the Tour de France yesterday on a day Joaquim Rodriguez claimed his second mountaintop victory of the race.

History was made in Clare yesterday when, for the first time in the 38-year history of the Junior Tour, a rider successfully retained the title.

Jack Maddux of the US-based Hot Tubes Team won yesterday’s fourth stage of the International Junior Tour of Ireland as defending champion Eddie Dunbar survived another day of relentless attacks.