Chris Froome clawed back a late attack led by Alberto Contador to retain second place in the overall standings after stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday.

Chris Froome won yesterday’s 11th stage as the Vuelta a Espana resumed following Tuesday’s rest day.

Chris Froome increased his lead at the top of the general classification of the Tour de France to almost two-and-a-half minutes yesterday, with the race increasingly looking like a battle for second place.

Dan Martin has played down talk of being one of the main general classification contenders for this year’s Tour de France, despite sitting third overall, just 19 seconds behind race leader Chris Froome.

Tottenham 2  Qarabag 1 Europa League Group J

Celtic 1 Qarabag 0: Celtic’s Champions League prospect became a whole lot brighter after Dedryck Boyata’s late header gave them a narrow 1-0 win over Qarabag at Parkhead.

Nicolas Roche became just the third Irishman in history to be part of a win at the Tour de France when he helped ensure teammate Chris Froome’s overall victory on yesterday’s final stage of the race into Paris.

Vincenzo Nibali punched the air to celebrate his first win of the race this year, Chris Froome then launched a tirade at the stage winner for the manner in which he won and Nairo Quintana almost collapsed in a heap from exertion after breathing fresh life into the Tour de France.

Romain Bardet claimed his first ever stage win on yesterday’s 18th stage of the Tour de France as Chris Froome maintained his commanding advantage to move a step closer to a second title in Paris on Sunday.

Nicolas Roche put up a brave fight in a bid to claim stage glory on yesterday’s 17th stage of the Tour de France but it was German Simon Geschke (Giant Alpecin) who emerged victorious with a brilliant solo victory.

Chris Froome survived a string of attacks on the 11th stage of the Tour de France yesterday on a day Joaquim Rodriguez claimed his second mountaintop victory of the race.

Chris Froome stamped his class all over the Tour de France yesterday by totally obliterating the field on the first mountain stage of this year’s race.

World champions BMC won the Stage 9 team time-trial at the Tour de France yesterday, beating Team Sky by a single second as Chris Froome retained custody of the race leader’s yellow jersey.

Mobile gaming has become a multibillion-euro industry, with over 33% of time on phone spent playing games.

Giant-Shimano’s John Degenkolb won his second straight stage of the Vuelta a Espana ahead of a frustrated Nacer Bouhanni in Rondo yesterday while some smart thinking saw Chris Froome pull back a couple of seconds in the general classification battle.

Nairo Quintana plans to target the 2015 Tour de France after celebrating victory in the Giro d’Italia yesterday.

Philip Deignan notched his best result since moving to Team Sky last year — and the best result from an Irish perspective at this year’s Giro d’Italia when he notched a brilliant third on yesterday’s 18th stage of the race from Belluno to Panarotta.

Stefano Pirazzi cried tears of joy after winning his first Grand Tour stage in his home race yesterday, but behind him arguments still raged after Tuesday’s controversial Giro d’Italia stage put Nairo Quintana in the pink jersey of race leader.

There was controversy in today's stage of the Giro d’Italia as organisers caused confusion over whether a descent was actually going ahead on the route.

Dan Martin's Giro d'Italia dreams were ended on the opening stage in Belfast as he suffered a serious crash.

It’s about 9.30am on Sunday morning and our 16-seater bus has turned left onto the Via Borgo Palazzo in Bergamo.

Chris Froome is determined to ensure his Tour de France title this year is just the start of a run of dominance in cycling’s greatest race.

Emotions took over for Chris Froome as he rode the final few kilometres of the penultimate stage of the Tour De France stage today.

Chris Froome saw his Tour de France dreams flash before his eyes in a near-miss on the descent into Gap yesterday.

Chris Froome conquered the most feared climb in Tour de France history to strengthen his grip on the yellow jersey.

Chris Froome put his name in Tour de France history today with victory on the famed Mont Ventoux.

Sean Kelly believes Chris Froome’s rivals will be kicking themselves for not having done more to take the yellow jersey off his shoulders during Sunday’s dramatic stage nine of the Tour de France.

Dan Martin ended Ireland’s 21-year wait for a stage win at the Tour de France yesterday when he blasted to a stunning win in Bagnères-de-Bigorre following the most gruelling day of this year’s race so far.

Ireland’s Dan Martin has won stage nine of the Tour de France in Bagneres-de-Bigorre.

Ireland’s Daniel Martin extended his overall lead of the Volta a Catalunya to 14 seconds following the fifth stage.

Government forces stood by and watched as sectarian violence erupted last month in western Burma and then opened fire on Muslim Rohingyas as they tried to save their burning homes, Human Rights Watch said today.

Blue Nights

A special United Nations envoy arrived in Burma today on a five-day mission to evaluate progress on human rights in the military-ruled nation.

LONG odds-on Apt Approach had to dig deep to beat Taradoun in the Lisronagh Beginners Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

LOCH LONG, taking a massive drop in class, gets the nap to land the Bookmakers’ New Car Park Maiden at Ballinrobe tonight.

A NEW York judge has given a woman permission to harvest her dead lover’s sperm so she can still have his baby.

A New York judge has given a woman permission to harvest her dead lover’s sperm so she can still have his baby.

RUBY WALSH continued his phenomenal run of success when recording a superb four-timer at Wexford yesterday, brining his tally for the last seven racing days to an amazing 16 winners.

A MAN who allegedly allowed his 11-year-old niece and 12-year-old nephew to attempt a 15km walk to their mother’s house on a freezing Christmas Day was arrested on a murder warrant in connection with the hypothermia death of the little girl.

MISTER Top Notch stayed in the Kerry National yesterday morning and so, as expected, I’m on Davenport Democrat today.