CHRIS MURPHY IN EPERNAY: Geraint Thomas slipped behind Ineos team-mate Egan Bernal in the Tour de France pecking order on stage three after losing five seconds in Epernay.

CHRIS MURPHY IN NANCY: Elia Viviani won stage four of the Tour de France in a sprint finish in Nancy as Deceuninck-Quick Step team-mate Julian Alaphilippe retained the yellow jersey.

Geraint Thomas breathed a sigh of relief at the finish of stage eight of the Tour de France after he survived a team pile-up at the bottom of a fast downhill section on the approach to Saint-Etienne.

Valentin Anouilh, 21, spent six months training for the stunt which saw him soar over the heads of the elite riders as they sprinted through a valley near Saint Flour, Auvergne.

Tour de France organisers are looking to launch a women's equivalent of the most prestigious race in men's cycling, they said on Friday.

MATT LAWTON IN PAU: The sight of Julian Alaphilippe rising out of his saddle and powering up the steep ramp that came at the end of this individual time trial is sure to trouble Geraint Thomas .

Thibaut Pinot's dream of becoming the first French winner of the Tour de France for 34 years is over after the Groupama-FDJ rider was forced to abandon early on stage 19 to Tignes.

The 34-year-old suffered multiple broken bones after he collided with a wall during this year's event, but is ahead in his recovery and is targeting next year's race as a potential return date.

The Tour de France and French Open have come under doubt after ministers stated they would only be held if fans can attend. Events in France gathering 5,000 people have been banned until September

The extra cash injection and prospect of thousands of new jobs comes as the firm is set to announce Jaguar and Land Rover production in booming China.

The new British-built 150mph Jaguar XF Sportbrake is set to be one of the stars of next week’s Geneva Motor Show when it is officially unveiled – as well as making shopping trips rather more fun.

Sultry pop star Lana del Rey took the wraps off Jaguar's flashy new F-Type sports car, pictured right, as a string of new British vehicles stole the Paris Motor Show from under the noses of the French this week.

James Bond star Daniel Craig performed a top secret mission right under the noses of the world's media at this week's royal global premier of the latest 007 movie, Skyfall, which goes on general release today.

Start queuing for the Dacia Sandero - it’s Britain’s cheapest car at less than £6,000. Renault bought the Romanian car-maker in 1999 as its ‘budget’ brand and the UK market is the final piece of the jigsaw.

With a longer range, lots of extra space and a heavier steer, the Nissan LEAF might be small but it drives like one of the big boys - and that's no bad thing.

Ray Massey test out the sexy new Jaguar F-type sports car, which has a top speed of 186mph and will accelerate to 60mph in just 4.2 seconds.

This is not so much a van as a luxurious business-class aircraft cabin on wheels. I had to ferry three adults, two growing teenagers, and luggage.

Most of the hi-tech kit needed for the car to drive itself — from self-parking to collision avoidance — is already hard-wired into the new version.

The X Factor boss might have been holding court in Los Angeles but for motoring editor Ray Massey, nothing could upstage the Jaguar F-type.

Mary Barra, an engineer and mother of two teenagers, became the most powerful woman in the motor industry this week.

The 200 mph California T is set to roar into Britain from September after its world debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show, whilst the Jaguar F-Type sports coupe was launched this week.

A few weeks ago Ray branded the Government's electric car policy being in a mess. His Whitehall sources tell him it rattled cages at the Department for Transport.

Wimbledon top seed Novak Djokovic was in car mode this week to help Peugeot take the wraps off it new 508 model

Priced from £32,395 to £42,995, the baby 'Disco' goes on sale in January alongside the existing full-size sevenseater Discovery.

The XE, on sale next spring from £27,000, is Britain's challenger to Germany's big-selling BMW 3-series and is arguably the most important family car in the firm's history.

Land Rover Discovery Sport has also received 1,200 orders in three weeks. Chief executive Dr Ralf Speth said the cars are 'at the very heart of Britain's manufacturing renaissance'.

Mazda promises great performance, economy, safety and driving fun when the supermini reaches Britain early next year, priced from around £13,000.

Suzuki's new global city car offers very low CO2 emissions of 99g/km, 'class leading luggage capacity' of 254 litres and its AGS system also allows a low-speed 'creep' facility

Expect prices from around £25,500 to about £43,000 for the pumped-up CLA45 AMG, which will accelerate from rest to 62mph in 4.7 seconds, thanks to its 360 bhp, 2-litre turbo engine.

It's Mercedes-Benz's its answer to rival BMW's X6 sports utility vehicle. It will be launched at the Detroit Motor Show next month. The new GLE Coupe is to get sporty styling and improved suspension.

The new prototype is a two-door 'crossover' aimed at young families but the final version will be a four-door petrol-electric hatchback crossover. It includes a permanent integrated child seat.

In a stunt worthy of the latest Bond film Spectre — for which the firm is supplying many of the cars — the XF (pictured) was revealed in a dramatic stunt high over the Royal Dock in Canary Wharf.

As British Jaguars delivered guests to the annual WTA pre-Wimbledon Party, the Russian tennis star squeezed in a sneaky drive of the Porsche Boxter Spyder.

Jaguar's elegant new products are leaping ahead to rival German companies such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The elegant new sports saloon XF is the latest to hit the road

Growing families may be contemplating a bigger car as the summer holidays give way to 'back to school' - and work. Korean car company Kia is preparing to unveil its new fourth generation Sportage.

Jaguar has unveiled its first sports utility 'crossover' vehicle, the F-PACE. The five-door five-seater is designed for families who need child seats in the back. It goes on sale next year, priced from £35,000.

Jaguar Land Rover left its German rivals shaken and stirred with a star-studded James Bond car launch and a jaw-dropping stunt at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

French giant, Renault, will release new model to Brits in autumn although it will go on sale on the continent in the summer. Renault bosses say it's aimed at those with an adventurous spirit.

Amazing to think that Toyota is celebrating its 50th anniversary of sales in Britain.

Sure, there’s good work in evidence but it’s all so derivative, so Audi, so VW, so keep it safe, so keep it in the family. Its crisp sharp lines doing nothing more than echoing those of the Audi A3 and VW Polo.

Though now retired from professional cycling, the six-times gold medal winner has learned to drive a Nissan Juke on two wheels in just two days, rather than the two months experts say is normal.

While the outfit was otherwise typically Erika - highlighting the 46-year-old's long slender legs - the  train leant it a touch of class, as she posed up a storm in Las Vegas .

She's earned nearly 4million Instagram followers by showing off her unreal figure. So the DJ wasn't afraid to put on a sexy display in a very daring catsuit at the Billboard Music Awards.

She's newly single. But Jenna Dewan looked beyond confident as she danced her way down the red carpet at the Billboard Awards on Sunday in Las Vegas.

 Janet Jackson's icon status is official - after it was confirmed at the Billboard Awards.

She;s spent an incredible four decades in the spotlight.

Her new song Dinero will drop its music video on Thursday. And Jennifer Lopez delivered a sizzling rendition of the number at Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

The two pop and R&B supergroups hit the stage to close out the 2018 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

None of the British royal family were safe when the Australian-born comedian hit the stage.

Pauly D made heads turn as he arrived at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night in pineapple-themed attire alongside The Ritas, as they promoted the brand's new margarita.