CHRIS MURPHY IN BRUSSELS: Geraint Thomas and his Ineos team-mates were beaten in a tense finish to Saturday's second stage of the Tour de France, a 27.6-kilometre time trial.

Geraint Thomas survived the first day of racing through the climbs of the 2019 Tour de France but then suggested that team-mate Egan Bernal is favourite for the first summit finish on stage six.

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.

Geraint Thomas and Team Ineos had every reason to be satisfied as they reached the first rest day of the Tour de France in an enviable position. He is in second place in the general classification.

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 .

Thomas has blamed a 'minor fuelling issue' on his seventh-placed finish during the Pyrenean stages over the weekend, which saw him twice left behind by his rivals.

The defending champion came off on a right-hander with around 130km of the 177km stage, which started and finished in Nimes, remaining. He was though soon able to rejoin the race.

Forecasters also predicted new temperatures highs in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, where the mercury is set to reach 104F (40C) for the first time on Thursday.

MATT LAWTON IN VALLOIRE: To some extent it felt like normal service had been resumed here in the Alps, the sight of five Team Ineos riders leading the yellow jersey group up the final climb.

MATT LAWTON IN VAL THORENS: The 22-year-old Colombian held on to the yellow jersey in stage 20, and is set to be crowned the youngest Tour winner in 110 years.

MATT LAWTON IN PARIS: Wiggins and Thomas believe Team Ineos will continue to dominate the Tour de France with a young Colombian cyclist who could turn out to be the greatest in history.

There was a touching farewell at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, London, to a much-loved and well-respected motor industry boss who really has put his own money where his mouth is.

The luxury 4x4, which BMW dubs a sports activity vehicle, broke cover this week. It goes on sale here in November, writes RAY MASSEY.

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

Nifty, nimble and willing 1.6-litre 156 bhp petrol engine linked to a smooth six-speed manual gearbox, which helped propel the car from rest to 62 mph in just 8.2 seconds.

As Maserati marks its 100th year, you can expect to see the luxury car sponsoring exclusive events and opening new showrooms across the UK.

The new model will be 17 per cent more economical than its predecessor. The Fabia is expected to go on sale in the UK early next year and will cost between £10, 000 and £16, 000.

The event marks Parliament allowing motorists to drive without a man waving a red flag ahead in 1896. Hollywood drove a two-seater 1904 De Dion-Bouton

Including the new BMW 6 Series Convertible, Coupe and Gran Coupe. The cabriolet will go from rest to 62 mph in just 5.5 seconds. All petrol models will have a sports tuned exhaust system.

Amid all the fashion models and cars at the Paris motor show, Kia's sports utility vehicle turned heads. The seven-seater promises improved ride, handling and crash safety, writes RAY MASSEY

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.

Ray Massey drove the fully stocked four-wheel-drive 2-litre TFSI, which was adept at whipping around the Cotswolds in style. The range starts at £31,995 and the Audi can cost as much as £50,000

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.

They're two of the world's biggest powerhouse vocalists. And Christina Aguilera, 37, and Demi Lovato, 25, sure didn't disappoint when they took to the stage at the 2018 Billboard Awards

Death is unavoidable – but the way we are laid to rest is still largely in our control. We examine the key decisions you need to make on a funeral.

Funeral costs have increased by 3.4% over the past year, but the price of a direct cremation - meaning without a funeral service - fell by 5% to £1,626.

The cost of funerals is soaring - rising more than £200 over the past year to an average of more than £4,400 this month. But a decent send-off can still be arranged for less than half of this price.

Moves such as cutting higher rate tax relief are often depicted as hitting the wealthy older generation, but that's disingenuous.

No frills cremations cost around £1,600 on average, and ashes are returned to a family afterwards, allowing them to organise a personal memorial at a time of their choosing.

Chelsea war veteran Colin Thackery, 90, told on GMB we have to be 'disciplined' and 'do what we're told' to beat coronavirus - but admitted he finds it 'highly amusing' that people are stockpiling toilet roll.

The FA are finalising details of a major cost-cutting operation which will see all their head coaches, led by Gareth Southgate and Phil Neville, accept a significant reduction in their wages later this week.

President Trump made himself the star of the 'lockdown rebellion' by tweeting 'LIBERATE Minnesota' and then adding Michigan and Virginia to the list.

Gilead Sciences said Thursday in an earnings report that it is ramping up production of its antiviral remdesivir, and could make 'several million' 10-day treatment courses of the drug for 2021.

England defender Kieran Trippier is facing a lengthy ban and a fine after being charged by the Football Association with breaching betting rules.

CHARLIE SKILLEN - THE NUMBERS GAME: The dawning of Louis van Gaal's new era, while exciting and relieving for the Old Trafford faithful, may not be the best news for some of the players.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Hector Herrera is on the radar of West Ham United as the Mexican is due to leave the Rojiblancos once the transfer window reopens.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: He has strong interest in him from abroad following his successful spell at Zulte Waregem but the forward has told Sportsmail that he is open to returning to the UK.

Herrera's five-year spell at Old Trafford came to an end when he joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer after his contract with the Red Devils had expired.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: JP Fitzgerald took two years off after being fired as Rory McIlroy's caddie in the summer of 2017.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: The walk from the 18th to the Riviera clubhouse involves negotiating a formidable incline for a man in good health, let alone one just back from heart surgery.

Having previously seemed indecisive about kissing another male housemate, Sam was challenged by Chanelle McLeary to kiss Kieran Lee in front of the group.

In the raunchy scene, which is set to air on Friday night, Kieran pulled down his jeans to reveal his manhood. The former Ex On The Beach contestant removed his belt.

The two housemates were given the boot during Thursday's episode - just one day before the end of the series in a brutal back door eviction.

On Sunday Chanelle Hayes took to Instagram in a desperate plea to her followers, after breaking out in a mystery rash to her face.

Extensive searches have so far failed to uncover the bodies of Allan Cook, 59 and Anthony Vanharen, 42 who were both reported missing off separate waterways in the past fortnight.

Fred McQueen, of South Shields, was in South Tyneside Hospital, Tyne and Wear for weeks after first contracting a chest infection and later testing positive for Covid-19.

Former President Barack Obama (seen left with then-President-elect Donald Trump at the White House in 2017) on Friday blasted the decision to drop the case against ex-NSA Michael Flynn (right).

Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton, 38, made a video call to residents of an East Sussex care home on Wednesday. They giggled as the WWII veterans shared their VE Day memories.

The mother of two looked incredible in a plunging emerald green gown that hugged the dancer's body at the Pepsi & Monami Entertainment event. Missy had earlier won the Video Vanguard award.