Sam Bennett’s Tour de France came to an end on the 17th stage of the race yesterday when he was forced to abandon.

Chris Froome and Alberto Contador both had near misses on the descent into Gap but the Briton retained his overall lead on stage 16 of the 100th Tour de France.

Alberto Contador was crowned winner of the Vuelta a Murcia today in only his second race back since being cleared by the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation of doping charges.

NICKI SORENSEN broke clear late on from a long-time breakaway group of seven riders to win Stage 12 of the Tour de France as sprint king Mark Cavendish spent a well-deserved day in the peloton.