Rui Costa won today’s eighth stage of the Tour de France as Thor Hushovd retained the yellow jersey as the race entered the Massif Central.

Controversial Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov won the 13th stage of the Tour de France today.

NICHOLAS ROCHE continues to ride exceptionally well as leader of his Ag2R Mondiale team in the Tour de France, finishing in 20th place yesterday on stage 12, just 31 seconds behind stage winner Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha).

Alexandre Vinokourov’s cycling career is in tatters after he was fired by the Astana team.

CYCLING may have a new star in Alberto Contador but the Spaniard’s heroics in this year’s Tour de France took a back seat yesterday as the sport’s doping problem continued to dominate.

FORMER Tour de France winner Stephen Roche believes a new generation of cyclists will herald an end to the era of doping scandals in the sport.

The organisers of the Tour de France have criticised cycling’s world governing body over doping controls, describing the UCI as “incompetent”.

IT WAS not exactly the revolution which the Tour de France requires.

Ask Mark Cavendish what sort of punishment is appropriate to cycling’s drugs cheats and he has no doubts – “prison”, says the young Manxman.

With yet another top cyclist expelled from the Tour De France for failing a drugs test bookie Paddy Power has announced a refund on all bets on Alexandre Vinokourov and his Astana team.

Alexandre Vinokourov has protested his innocence over claims he received a blood transfusion, although he will not attempt to regain his place in the Tour de France.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has expressed his disappointment over the latest scandal to affect the tour, after Team Astana withdrew following Alexandre Vinokourov’s positive test for a banned blood transfusion.

Team Astana have withdrawn from the Tour de France after Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion.

KAZAKHSTAN’S Alexandre Vinokourov won the 15th stage of the Tour de France between Foix and Loudenvielle-Le Louron yesterday.

Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinokourov today won the 15th stage of the Tour de France between Foix and Loudenvielle-Le Louron.

Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov fought his way back into the Tour de France top 10 with an impressive ride to win today’s 13th stage, a time-trial in Albi.

Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez has won stage nine of the Tour de France from Val d'Isere to Briancon.

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN is hoping his time-trial failings will not prevent him from winning the Tour de France at the fourth time of asking.

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.

LANCE ARMSTRONG’S anointed heir Ivan Basso will launch his bid for the vacant Tour de France throne in Strasbourg next July.

Lance Armstrong has still to win a stage at this year’s Tour de France but Paolo Salvodelli today became the second of his Discovery team-mates to cross the line first with an impressive victory in Revel.

WITH the Alps now behind him, Lance Armstrong remains in command of the Tour de France after yesterday’s 11th stage honours went to Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan.

Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan won Wednesday’s 11th stage of the Tour de France, a 172km ride from Courchevel to Briancon.

ITALY’S Lorenzo Bernucci avoided a mass pile-up in the final kilometre to win stage six of the Tour de France.

Lorenzo Bernucci of Italy was the unexpected victor of a dramatic sixth stage of the Tour de France in Nancy as Alexander Vinokourov threw down the gauntlet to race leader Lance Armstrong.

LANCE ARMSTRONG assured place in cycling history on the Champs Elysses yesterday, winning his fifth consecutive Tour de France and the American promised to return in 12 months time to try and win a sixth.

LANCE ARMSTRONG defiantly shrugged of a crash with a spectator and another close shave to win the 15th stage of the Tour de France to Luz-Ardiden yesterday and extend his race lead.

LANCE ARMSTRONG came within seconds of losing the race leader’s yellow jersey on the 14th stage of the Tour de France yesterday after a gruelling 191.5km of riding between St Girons and Loudonvielle.

Lance Armstrong fought off a brave attack from Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan to retain the leader‘s yellow jersey in what remains one of the closest races ever in the 100-year history of the Tour de France.

Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan was the victor today as the centenary Tour de France provided another day of thrills and spills with Spain‘s much-fancied Joseba Beloki eliminated after injuring himself in a fall close to the finish.

Lance Armstrong became only the fifth man to win three consecutive Tour de France titles in a party atmosphere in Paris today.