Dan Martin’s hopes of a podium finish at the Tour de France were thrown off course yesterday when crosswinds decimated the field and he was one of the big losers on the 165-kilometre stage 16 from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans sur Isere.

All of Team Sky’s drivers will take safety refresher courses this winter as part of their response to an embarrassing incident that saw the team bus almost run a cyclist off the road in Wales.