French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot wants cycling to crack down harder on doping cheats after this year’s tainted Tour de France.

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.

FORMER Tour de France winner Stephen Roche believes a new generation of cyclists will herald an end to the era of doping scandals in the sport.

FRANCE’S Sandy Casar won the 18th stage of the Tour de France between Cahors and Angouleme in a sprint finish yesterday.

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN has vowed not give up on his cycling career despite being withdrawn from the Tour de France and sacked by his team, Rabobank.

Italy`s Daniele Bennati won stage 17 of the Tour de France today in a race from Pau to Castelsarrasin which was overshadowed by drug scandals.

The 17th stage of the 2007 Tour de France started today with nobody wearing the yellow jersey.

Michael Rasmussen’s Rabobank team have confirmed they have withdrawn the Tour de France leader from this year’s race and sacked him “on the spot” for apparently “lying about his whereabouts”.

IT WAS not exactly the revolution which the Tour de France requires.

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.

Alexandre Vinokourov has protested his innocence over claims he received a blood transfusion, although he will not attempt to regain his place in the Tour de France.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has expressed his disappointment over the latest scandal to affect the tour, after Team Astana withdrew following Alexandre Vinokourov’s positive test for a banned blood transfusion.

ALESSANDRO PETACCHI was yesterday cleared of doping charges by the Italian Cycling Federation.

Team Astana have withdrawn from the Tour de France after Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion.

Michael Rasmussen today expressed his regret that yet another Tour de France has been tarnished by a doping scandal.

Alessandro Petacchi was today cleared of doping charges by the Italian Cycling Federation.

KAZAKHSTAN’S Alexandre Vinokourov won the 15th stage of the Tour de France between Foix and Loudenvielle-Le Louron yesterday.

Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinokourov today won the 15th stage of the Tour de France between Foix and Loudenvielle-Le Louron.

SPAIN‘S Alberto Contador won the 14th stage of the Tour de France yesterday, pipping Denmark’s Michael Rasmussen who retains the leader’s yellow jersey.

Spain‘s Alberto Contador won the 14th stage of the Tour de France today, pipping Denmark’s Michael Rasmussen who retains the leader’s yellow jersey.

Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov fought his way back into the Tour de France top 10 with an impressive ride to win today’s 13th stage, a time-trial in Albi.

TOM BOONEN produced a stunning late sprint to claim a photo-finish win in the 178-kilometre Tour de France stage 12 dash from Montpellier to Castres yesterday.

Quickstep’s Tom Boonen produced a stunning late sprint to claim a photo-finish win in today’s 178-kilometre Tour de France stage 12 from Montpellier to Castres.

SOUTH AFRICA’S Robbie Hunter won stage 11 of the Tour de France from Marseille to Montpellier.

FRENCHMAN Cedric Vasseur claimed the host nation’s first victory on this year’s Tour de France by securing glory on stage 10 from Tallard to Marseille.

COLOMBIAN Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez has won stage nine of the Tour de France from Val d’Isere to Briancon.

Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez has won stage nine of the Tour de France from Val d'Isere to Briancon.

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN is hoping his time-trial failings will not prevent him from winning the Tour de France at the fourth time of asking.

DENMARK’S Michael Rasmussen won the eighth stage of the Tour de France by a comfortable margin and claimed the yellow jersey in the process.

Denmark’s Michael Rasmussen won the eighth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday by a comfortable margin and claimed the yellow jersey in the process.

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.

UKRAINIAN Yaroslav Popovych won stage 12 of the Tour de France from Luchon to Carcassonne yesterday as the country celebrated Bastille Day.

SPANIARD Marcos Serrano claimed victory on the 189km 18th stage of the Tour de France between Albi and Mende yesterday after holding off a strong challenge from Cedric Vasseur and Axel Merckx.

JAN ULLRICH has all but given up on his challenge to Lance Armstrong on this year’s Tour de France and admitted he is fighting Michael Rasmussen for a place on the podium.

WITH the Alps now behind him, Lance Armstrong remains in command of the Tour de France after yesterday’s 11th stage honours went to Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan.

SIX-TIME winner Lance Armstrong lost the Tour de France yellow jersey after another dramatic day of climbing which handed Germany’s Jens Voigt the race lead for only the second time in his career.

The Tour de France has a new overall leader after German rider Jens Voigt took the yellow jersey from Lance Armstrong on a mountainous ninth stage.

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

Lance Armstrong landed what could prove a decisive blow on his biggest rivals today with a performance devastating to two of the men who hope to deny him a record sixth Tour de France victory.