The winners of the two other Grand Tours to be held this season are among the high-profile absentees at an open Vuelta a España starting in Malaga tomorrow.

, winner of the Giro d’Italia, nor his fellow Team Sky Briton Geraint Thomas, winner of the Tour de France

on his second place behind Froome last year, although the fact that he was forced out of the Tour de France

that he only recently recovered from the broken collarbone that enforced withdrawal from the Tour de France

Britain and France enjoyed success on the third day of the World Para Athletics European Championships

women’s F41 shot put title with a distance of 7.19m.Alexandre Dipoko-Ewane continued a strong day for France

Hosts Kazakhstan thrashed Argentina to reach the semi-finals of the men's tournament at the World University Futsal Championships in Almaty.

after they beat Canada 3-1.The result saw Russia progress from Group A behind Ukraine.Portugal and France

A judge has ruled that Lance Armstrong's former manager Johan Bruyneel must repay $1.2 million (£930,000/€1 million) to the Federal Government after the doping scheme at the US Postal cycling team.

allegations he was doping when representing the team.Armstrong was stripped of all seven of his Tour de France

France secured their place in the semi-finals of the women's tournament at the World University Futsal

B with a comfortable 3-0 win against their Kazakh opponents at the Almaty Arena.The result ensured France

Nigeria has narrowly escaped a FIFA ban after the country's troubled football federation met the conditions of an ultimatum given by world football's governing body.

Nations qualifiers next month.The Nigerian team which competed at the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in France

Russia, Ukraine and Portugal all emerged unbeaten from their groups as the men's World University Futsal Championships continued in Almaty.

The Russian team cruised through in Group A as they eased to an 11-0 success against France at the Halyk

Arena in the Kazakh city.Argentina were 7-0 winners against Slovakia, the result seeing them leapfrog France

move level with their opponents in the standings.Group B is led by Portugal who have two wins, with France

Day two at the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin did not replicate the world records of the opening day, but nevertheless produced no fewer than 11 Championship records at the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Sportpark.

the Championship record party thanks to Hamide Kurt’s victory in the women’s 200m T53 in 31.59 before France

Paralympic champions United States and Iran maintained their unbeaten status at the men's Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Hamburg as both won their first knockout matches having won their respective qualifying groups.

from Britain after a 64-52 win over Canada.And in a Pool B match re-arranged from day one, the US beat France

Spain earned a place in the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup final against Japan tonight with a 1-0 victory over the French hosts, despite having a player sent off after 69 minutes, and conceding a penalty with 15 minutes remaining.

second-half, with the European under-19 champions taking the lead following a throw-in deep in the France

the right found the head of Patri Guijarro, who nodded home for her tournament-leading sixth goal of France

World Cup final with a 2-0 win over England today - their opponents will be Spain, who beat the hosts France

brink of history thanks to firrst-half goals by Riko Ueki and Jun Endo.The third-place match between France

Paralympic champions United States and Iran remain the only unbeaten teams in the men’s Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Hamburg.

after beating Australia 53-34.China joined Germany at the top of Group B by beating the US 63-43 and France

Hosts Kazakhstan celebrated victory and tasted defeat against New Zealand on the second day of the World University Futsal Championships in Almaty.

B match.Teams are hoping to move closer to progressing from the group stage ©FISUPortugal overcame France

Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates has helped launch a new book on Cecil Healy, one of Australia's earliest gold medallists. 

1918 just 74 days before World War One ended.He was shot and killed while leading his troops in France

Devitt’s has visited Healy's grave in France with a special gift from Manly beach.

Hosts Kazakhstan celebrated victory on the opening day of the World University Futsal Championships in Almaty.

and Slovakia taking place prior to the Opening Ceremony.Russia secured a 7-1 victory.Argentina and France

Saudi Arabia successfully defended their International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments World Football Championships title as they beat Argentina 2-0 in the final in Sweden.

and coaching staff poured onto the pitch to celebrate.Saudi Arabia had reached the final by defeating France