MARK CAVENDISH claimed a British record ninth Tour de France stage victory yesterday on a day when Ireland’s Nicolas Roche continued to impress.

RINALDO NOCENTINI claimed the yellow jersey on a day race favourite Alberto Contador flexed his muscles in the Tour de France’s first mountain stage.

MARK CAVENDISH continued to enhance his reputation as cycling’s new sprint king with a fourth stage win in the 2008 Tour de France yesterday.

AUSTRALIAN Robbie McEwen stole through to claim a sprint finish win on the fourth stage of the Tour de France in Saint-Quentin yesterday as world champion Tom Boonen held on to the yellow jersey.

NORWEGIAN Thor Hushovd reclaimed the yellow jersey after Australian Robbie McEwen outsprinted world champion Tom Boonen to win the second stage of the Tour de France yesterday.