The Coolnasillagh Road. Up until this year, this two-mile-long mountain pass was used only by stray sheep and the people who lived along its steep slopes.

NICOLAS ROCHE finished 19th in yesterday’s 18th stage of the Tour de France after a dramatic day in the Alps which saw Thomas Voeckler cling to the yellow jersey for an 11th consecutive day while Alberto Contador saw his hopes of a fourth title all but disappear.

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.

Bmi, formerly British Midland Airways, will start flights between Heathrow and the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh this autumn, it was announced today.