There was plenty of excitement in today’s stage of the Tour de France, a 179 kilometre run from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is joined by two former podium finishers in Team RadioShack’s nine-man squad for July’s race.

Mark Cavendish today completed the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, a day after being involved in a mass pile up.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong tonight moved level with Fabian Cancellara at the head of the general classification after helping Astana to a team time-trial success on stage four of the Tour de France.

Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara got the better of Tour de France favourite Alberto Contador to triumph in the 15.5km time-trial first stage in the blistering Monaco sun today.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche lies in a very impressive 18th place after just completing the 15.5km Tour de France prologue in Nice.

Astana have confirmed Lance Armstrong will be part of their nine-man team that will enter year’s Tour de France.

Mark Cavendish emerged from a sprint finish to claim victory on the 11th stage of the Giro D’Italia today.

The future of Lance Armstrong’s Astana team is in doubt as the global recession continues to bite.

LANCE ARMSTRONG has guaranteed worldwide interest in this year’s Tour of Ireland by confirming that he will contest the event which takes place from August 19-23 with stage ends yet to be announced.

LANCE ARMSTRONG may be happy playing a support role to his Astana team leader Levi Leipheimer when the 2009 Amgen Tour Of California gets under way today, but that will not stop him being everyone else’s centre of attention.

SPAIN’S Alberto Contador last night insisted he was determined to enjoy the “extraordinary” feat of winning the Tour de France despite the doping scandals which have once again plunged the sport of cycling into controversy.

Contador won the 2007 Tour de France after Daniele Bennati claimed a sprint victory in the final stage in Paris and following the most traumatic week in the event’s history.

American Levi Leipheimer won stage 19 of the Tour de France today to set up a thrilling finish to the race.

Michael Rasmussen has "broken team rules", a Rabobank spokesman confirmed tonight - amid reports the Tour de France leader has been removed from the race.

Yellow jersey holder Michael Rasmussen brought a thrilling end to a controversial day in the Tour de France by winning stage 16 from Orthez to Col d’Aubisque.

OSCAR Pereiro reclaimed the race leader’s yellow jersey on stage 16 of the Tour de France after American rider Floyd Landis fell apart under a succession of attacks from his rivals for overall victory.

DENIS MENCHOV won the 11th stage of the Tour de France by pipping Levi Leipheimer and Floyd Landis in a thrilling sprint finish.

The absence of a certain Texan for the first time in eight years should create a wide-open Tour de France.

KAZAKH rider Andrey Kashechkin was punched in the face by a spectator as he was tackling the Marie Blanque climb in the Tour de France’s 16th stage from Mourenx to Pau yesterday.

Spain’s Inigo Landaluze survived a gruelling ascent on yesterday’s last stage to claim the Dauphine Libere crown.

Ireland's Ciaran Power came 13th in the men's raod race in Athens today.

Frenchman Jean-Patrick Nazon produced a superb sprint finish to claim the third stage of the Tour de France today.