SYLVAIN CHAVANEL bade farewell to Cofidis by delivering a second Tour de France stage win for the French team in the 163-kilometre flat stage from Roanne to Montlucon yesterday.

MARCUS BURGHARDT — best remembered for being knocked off his bike by a dog in last year’s event — profited from a transitional day in the Tour de France to escape to victory on the 18th stage from Bourg d’Oisans to St Etienne.

Oscar Freire held off a stern challenge from sprint legend Erik Zabel and Leonardo Duque to win the 14th stage of the Tour de France from Nimes to Digne-les-Bains today.

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.

MARK CAVENDISH lifted some of the gloom surrounding the Tour de France by becoming the first Briton to secure a hat-trick of stage victories in the Tour de France.

Mark Cavendish lifted some of the gloom surrounding the Tour de France by becoming the first Briton to secure a hat-trick of stage victories in the Tour de France.

Mark Cavendish became the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de France for five years with a brilliant sprint shoot-out on the fifth stage from Cholet to Chateauroux.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd won stage two of the Tour de France with a fantastic sprint finish in the final 300 metres between Auray and Saint Brieuc today.

Spain’s Alejandro Valverde won the opening stage of the 95th Tour de France after a storming finish in the final kilometre.

Italy's Paolo Bettini capped a turbulent week by retaining his rainbow jersey in the elite men's road race at the cycling world championships in Stuttgart, Germany on Sunday.

Belgium’s Tom Boonen won stage six of the Tour de France after Bradley Wiggins marked the 40th anniversary of the death of the great Tom Simpson with a lengthy solo break.

Filippo Pozzato won the fifth stage of the Tour de France on a photo finish today, while favourite Alexandre Vinokourov lost significant time after crashing.

NORWEGIAN Thor Hushovd edged a tight finish to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France on the 193km route between Villers-Cotterets and Joigny.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd edged a tight finish to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France on the 193km route between Villers-Cotterets and Joigny.

THE American dominance of the Tour de France looks set to continue as Floyd Landis remained in pole position to win this year’s title going into the final weekend of action.

The American dominance of the Tour de France looks set to continue as Floyd Landis remained in pole position to win this year’s title going into the final weekend of action.

FLOYD LANDIS reclaimed the yellow jersey in the Tour de France with fourth place in stage 15, L’Alpe d’Huez.

Floyd Landis reclaimed the yellow jersey in the Tour de France with fourth place in stage 15, L’Alpe d’Huez.

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

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

Oscar Freire claimed victory on stage nine of the Tour de France, winning a sprint finish by the narrowest of margins ahead of Robbie McEwen and Erik Zabel.

DAVITAMON LOTTO’S Robbie McEwen made a late charge to take stage six of the Tour de France in Vitre.

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.

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

ALESSANDRO PETACCHI blasted to his second stage victory in three days yesterday, but Jean-Patrick Nazon is sure to be the toast of France as the Tour moves into its fifth day.

Reigning world road cycling champion Oscar Freire has pulled out of the Tour de France, following a crash on Saturday.

GERMAN sprint-meister Erik Zabel put paid to any suggestions his powers are fading as he won stage six of the Tour de France.

German sprint-meister Erik Zabel today put paid to any suggestions his powers are fading as he won stage six of the Tour de France.

ERIK ZABEL bounced back from the disappointment of Monday's defeat on home soil to claim the Tour de France yellow jersey today.

Erik Zabel bounced back from the disappointment of yesterday’s defeat on home soil to claim the Tour de France yellow jersey today.

Tour de France classifications.