Marcus Burghardt 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.

FRANK SCHLECK wrestled the yellow jersey from the grip of Cadel Evans as the race favourite suffered badly on the summit finish to Prato Nevoso in the Tour de France.

Frank Schleck wrestled the yellow jersey from the grip of Cadel Evans as the race favourite suffered badly on the summit finish to Prato Nevoso in the Tour de France.

KURT ASLE ARVESEN emerged from a group of a dozen escapees to win the 11th stage of the Tour de France from Lannemezan to Foix.

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

RAUL GONZALEZ’S ice-cold precision on the soccer field is no fluke.

Floyd Landis should know if his appeal against disqualification from the 2006 Tour de France and a two-year ban has been successful by early next year.

Spain’s Oscar Pereiro admitted to mixed feelings after being named as winner of the 2006 Tour de France.

FLOYD LANDIS has vowed to clear his name after the disgraced American was sacked by his Phonak team following confirmation he had tested positive for excessive levels of testosterone during this year’s Tour de France.

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis sacked by Phonak team after B sample confirmed positive drugs test.

THE result of Tour de France winner Floyd Landis’ back-up doping test will be announced Saturday.

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has denied cheating after his Phonak team confirmed he has tested positive for excess levels of testosterone during this year’s event.

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has denied cheating after his Phonak team confirmed he has tested positive for excess levels of testosterone during this year’s event.

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has failed a test for testosterone, a Phonak team spokesperson has confirmed.

FLOYD LANDIS hailed the patience and persistence that his parents instilled in him in his youth as he swept to victory in the Tour de France to become the first winner in the post-Lance Armstrong era.

FLOYD LANDIS was yesterday confirmed as Tour de France champion after the traditional final stage finish on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Floyd Landis of the Phonak Hearing Systems team was confirmed as the Tour de France champion after the final stage finished on the Champs Elysées today.

American Floyd Landis had claimed the leader’s yellow jersey after the penultimate stage of the Tour de France – a 55km time trial from Le Creusot to Montceau-les-Mines.

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 staged a remarkable recovery to put himself back in Tour de France contention with a dramatic solo win in Morzine.

Floyd Landis staged a remarkable recovery to put himself back in Tour de France contention with a dramatic solo win in Morzine.

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.

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.

FRENCHMAN Pierrick Fedrigo held his nerve to out-sprint Salvatore Commesso and seal a thrilling win in stage 14 of the Tour de France as Oscar Pereiro retained the yellow jersey.

Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo held his nerve to out-sprint Salvatore Commesso and seal a thrilling win in stage 14 of the Tour de France today as Oscar Pereiro retained the yellow jersey.

Team CSC’s Jens Voigt won stage 13 of the Tour de France on Saturday after a sprint finish with Oscar Pereiro coming into Montelimar.

ITALIAN Giuseppe Guerini produced an exceptional display of tactical riding to claim victory on the 153km 19th stage of the Tour de France.

Italian Giuseppe Guerini produced an exceptional display of tactical riding to claim victory on the 153km 19th stage of the Tour de France but Lance Armstrong maintained control of the overall lead.

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.

THE final mountain stage of the 2005 Tour de France passed comfortably yesterday for Lance Armstrong who, barring injury or mishap, will accept his seventh consecutive title in Paris on Sunday.

Oscar Pereiro of Phonak won stage 16 of the Tour de France today, taking the line in a four-man sprint.

A gruelling stage 15 saw George Hincapie become first team-mate of Lance Armstrong to win a stage at this year’s Tour de France as the six-time champion retained the yellow jersey against the challenge of Ivan Basso.

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