drew savage reports. always going to be all about mark cavendish. 100 miles from the stage start and tour to the end, everyone was expecting a spring finish. thomas 12th overall and still recovering from his crash on monday. for him, and easy day before hitting the hills tomorrow on saturday. —— and saturday. since his win on tuesday, cavendish has worn the green. everybody knew what he was likely to do. it's just at the age of 36, the max missile is more rationally back up to talk speed. nobody could catch him. the celebration just the same as it was in 2008. his 32nd stage win. he's not talking about the record of 34. he's happy to be back here and back on the podium. drew savage, bbc news. what a win today. now, for the usa's nelly korda, it's been an extraordinary week. her first major title on the women's tour on sunday sent her to the top of golf�*s major rankings for the first time. she's played on the tour since she was 14 years old and comes from a family packed with sporting talent. her parents

drew savage has the story. cavendish, the man who never gave up. and the name he hadn't want to hear all we could finally be spoken. eddy merckx is one of cycling's all—time greats. it's 46 years since he won his a0... cavendish it's a6 years since he won his a0... cavendish was up there. the it's 46 years since he won his 40. .. cavendish was up there. the greatest male clist cavendish was up there. the greatest male cyclist of _ cavendish was up there. the greatest male cyclist of all _ cavendish was up there. the greatest male cyclist of all time, _ cavendish was up there. the greatest male cyclist of all time, it's _ cavendish was up there. the greatest male cyclist of all time, it's truly - male cyclist of all time, it's truly an honour. it'sjust a number. it doesn't put me on a level with eddy merckx. as cavendish says, he's a different kind of rider. but a legend nevertheless. when he won his first estate in 2008, the current race leader looking good in yellow, was only nine years old. all eyes were on t

drew savage reports.l for him. 100 miles from the stage start in tours to the end in chateauroux, everyone was expecting a sprint finish. that suited geraint thomas — 12th overall and still recovering from his crash on monday. for him, an easy day before the race hits the hills tomorrow and the mountains on saturday. he just needed to ride with the peloton to the finish. the same for mathieu van der poel, to keep the leader's yellowjersey. since his win on tuesday, cavendish has worn the green, of the leader of the sprinter�*s competition. everybody knew what he was likely to do. it's just that, at the age of 36, the manx missile is miraculously back up to top speed. nobody could catch him. cavendish does it again! the celebration just the same as it was in 2008, his 32nd stage win. he's not talking about eddy merckx's record of 3a. you're in the form of your life, for once! _ just happy to be back here, and back on that podium. drew savage, bbc news. england's cricketers have taken an unassailable 2—0 le

drew savage, bbc news.at twickenham to watch england beat the usa 43-29. with the lions tour leaving eddiejones with a shortage of familiarfaces, he brought several uncapped players into the side, as craig templeton reports. with many players away on lions duty, it was time for some new england stars to earn their stripes. out of the eight uncapped starters, the most excitement was around marcus smith. his kick was kept in brilliantly by max malin is in sam underhill did the rest. it was the usa's first match since the world cup. joe took advantage of any rustiness and scored two tries. now, can you spotjoin me looking on the right? rubin didn't! a try at less than a minute into his england debut. one american that was paying attention was cam dolan. join me randall caught on in the usa had some glory. randall, though, would have the last laugh. he missed the six nations with an ankle injury but i think it is safe to say he has recovered. in the end it was comfortable for england but with a total of 11 trie

drew savage, bbc news.ds, but there�*s a good belief on this team. we are close and so to bounce back, it�*s been a great sign, a great mentality that we�*ve created. but of course, we all want to win. you play football to win. you dream of these moments as a kid. we have the opportunity now, so a great prospect for us. we just have to enjoy the moment, take it all in, but of course, perform. we want to be on the winning side. catalans dragons have maintained their lead at the top of rugby league�*s super league with another impressive win, this time over leeds rhinos. the french side were ten points behind at the break but came back strongly to win 26 points to 18. elsewhere, reigning champions st helens beat wakefield 30—14. britain�*s laura muir has ran the second fastest 800m by a british woman ever at the monaco diamond league tonight. the 28—year—old ran a time of one minute, 56.73 seconds — but is actually focusing solely on the 1,500m at the tokyo olympic games. fellow scot, jemma reekie, who will r

drew savage reports.back in the yellowjersey, and good luck to anyone trying to take it off him. the first stage in the alps helped whittle down the competition. darren thomas found himself at a group in the back on a monday�*s crash, today�*s his hope vanished into the distance, losing 35 minutes was not —— geraint thomas. he would have to battle to finish. at the front, there were two contests. dylan soared away. the stage when it would be his. but afterfounder paul was left behind, rivals were left gasping for breath. richard�*s is in sixth place overall. pogacar and questionably this target man in the mountains he leads by a minute and 48 seconds, but none could even get close. —— unquestionably. india women have won the third one day international against england by four wickets with three balls to spare. india won the toss in worcester and put england into bat in a match reduced to 47 overs a side because of bad weather. england finished on 219 all out — nat sciver top scoring with 49. but india cha

drew savage, bbc news.as "proud of how the team had united the nation". it looks like lionel messi is staying at barcelona but with a huge 50% pay cut — providing enough players are sold to fund the deal. the argentine star has agreed to sign a new five year contract. there's more on the bbc sport website and that's all the sport for now. hello there. sunshine did wonders for the temperatures on wednesday. aberdeenshire, one of the places that got above 25 degrees with scenes like this. lots of southern england saw similar temperatures as well. and over the next few days with more sunshine on the way those temperatures could have a little further to climate. it may be up into the high 20s and parts of the south over the weekend. but it's not all about sunshine, this is the earlier satellite picture from wednesday. you can see this cloud that has spilt in across scotland and northern ireland, that working down into england and wales as well. so a lot of places having a fair amount of cloud through thursday,

drew savage reports.efore the race hits the hills tomorrow and the mountains on saturday. he just needed to ride with the peloton to the finish. the same for mathieu van der poel, to keep the leader's yellowjersey. since his win on tuesday, cavendish has worn the green, of the leader of the sprinter�*s competition. everybody knew what he was likely to do. it's just that, at the age of 36, the manx missile is miraculously back up to top speed. nobody could catch him. cavendish does it again! the celebration just the same as it was in 2008, his 32nd stage win. he's not talking about eddy merckx's record of 34. you're in the form of your life, for once! just happy to be back here, and back on that podium. drew savage, bbc news. england's cricketers have taken an unassailable 2—0 lead in their one day series against sri lanka, after comfortably beating sri lanka by eight wickets at the oval. sam curran was the star with the ball, skittling the top order and reducing sri lanka to 12 for three. he ended with a

drew savage reports. starting with such a big lead, tadej pogacarjust had to make it to the finish.imate stage drama this year. the young slovenian has been in stellar form. in contrast to chris froome, who must have been relieved to get this far after crashing on day one of his comeback from injury. while mark cavendish has exceeded all expectations after his surprise late call up. while most can take it easy in paris tomorrow, he has every chance of a record—breaking 35th sprint victory, and winning the green jersey. but it's been tough for geraint thomas — another crash and a dislocated shoulder ended his challenge for yellow. he's done his best to help ecuadorian team—mate richard carapaz, who did enough today to hold on to third place overall for britain's ineos grenadiers. belgium's wout van aert was fastest around the 19—mile course — another impressive ride to claim his second stage win this year. but the undoubted star of 2021 has been pogacar. he's earned that second yellow jersey, and he'll be drinking champagne on the streets of paris tomorrow. max verstappen will start

drew savage, bbc news.to the team gb tally today — and it was bronze in the men's trap shooting. matt coward—holley is the world and european champion, but he paid the price for a slow start, missing three of his first ten targets. however, he recovered with ia successive hits to climb into the bronze medal position. there is a new all around women's champion in the gymnastics after simone biles pulled out of the event. her team mate sunisa lee took gold with a convincing performance. but there were also some very encouraging results for team gb. john watson has more. so, sumi sally takes gold for the fit olympic games in a row. united states. that sister is, finishing tenth on her olympic debut and her sisterjennifer at 13th, all the more impressive when you consider the best results from gb in this event was a 12 place finish previously. we will of course he jessica back in the floor final to come, and we could even seejennifer competing as well. she is the first reserve, and in light of simone biles pull

drew savage reports. it's been a race of constant surprises and would there be any more? well yes.lthough as he started the day 1ath, over eight minutes behind pogacar, maybe the defending champion could afford to relax just a little bit. o'connor was having the ride of his life... the young australian has won a stage at the giro d'italia before but now in the alps he was heading for a really big win, the yellow jersey group had to respond. which included geraint thomas — looking stronger after losing 35 minutes yesterday. he led the counterattack to help ineos team—mate richard carapaz. but o'connor still had time in hand to win the stage up to second overall. but pogacar is still two minutes and a second ahead of him in the standings and he rode away from the rest of his rivals including carapaz, no—one else is within five minutes of him. to rugby union now and there was a crowd of 10, 000 at twickenham to watch england beat the usa 43-29. with the lions tour leaving eddiejones with a shortage of familiarfaces, he brought several uncapped players into the side as craig templeton

watching was drew savage. this is what a good day at the office looks like at the tour de france.t in the race. pogacar already had a big lead, no need to attack but the slovenian does things with style. rigoberto uran, the man second in the standings, was left behind. and then there were three. alongside pogacar, the young danejonas vingegaard wearing white, and richard carapaz, the ecuadorian in the colours of britain's ineos grenadiers — promoted to second and third overall. most likely fighting to finish closest to pogacar in the battle for yellow — but all three wanted the glory of the stage win. carapaz made his move with a mile to go but although pogacar didn't need to win the stage, he wanted to. a scenario that made the outcome as inevitable as it was impressive, an iconic victory that would extend his lead to five minutes 48 seconds. vingegaard second, carapaz third with four stages to go, it may stay like that all the way to paris. jadon sancho has responded to the racist abuse he and other england players suffered after their euro 2020 final defeat. sancho, who was one

drew savage has the story, and stand by for a thriller of a sprint finish.rance. but he never gave up and today, he got his reward. a gave up and today, he got his reward. , ., , gave up and today, he got his reward._ you i gave up and today, he got his i reward._ you could reward. made history! you could finally speak— reward. made history! you could finally speak the _ reward. made history! you could finally speak the name. - reward. made history! you could finally speak the name. when i reward. made history! you could finally speak the name. when a | reward. made history! you could l finally speak the name. when a its all—time greats of 46 years and four days since he won his 34th tour de france stage. and now he was right up france stage. and now he was right up there. next to him and set the record books. his own career is the stuff of legends when he won his stage of 2008 in the current leader looking good in the electricity was going to be nine years old. all eyes are on the man in green. as a child, he dreamed of winning the tour de france if you fol

to remain in yellow with just three stages to go, as drew savage reports. off his back. even the combined might of the succeeding leaving behind those lower down the overall standings. as the riders tackled the final mounting in this years tour. including cavendish but he did what he needed to. finished within the current time so we can challenge tomorrow for a 30 for stage when on the flat. those were hoping for more twists and turns in the battle for the yellow jersey were going to end up disappointed. but they got another mounting master class champion at the edge ofjust 22 the slovenian has made this racism. then they are in second overall and carol pass and ilio sent third a case of deja vu as the catcher rode away. no more mountains for him to conquer with a lead of five minutes and 45 seconds the podium in paris is within touching distance. still to come on sportsday... team gb haved named three captain's to lead their women's football team at the olympics in tokyo with their first match just six days away. and with a capacity crowd back at silversto

as expected, slovenia's tadej pogacar won the overall yellow jersey, as drew savage reports.un the day hoping to read up on amazing come back to with one more stage when. starting alongside tadej pogacar, who had an easy day i had come traditionally the right into paris is a victory lap for the man in yellow and their markable young slovenian had earned a day off after defending the title he won last year in style. but once the race hit the shops in lisee, it was all business for anyone wanting the glory of a stage when in paris. it had been a fairy tale return for cavendish come from a select come up to the race after three years of interest and illness to winning a stage and winning three more to finally equal the all—time record. and it took a brilliant spring from another belgian to spoil the ending and stop him from beating it. third confirmed cavendish's spot on the podium but he clearly hope for more. that's all from sportsday. the highlights from collin morikawa's great when at the open championship beginning on bbc two shortly but for me in the team that is it for us

drew savage reports. 512 miles from today's * in the pyrenees to paris.um mountain states are for the tour hits the really stuff stuff tomorrow. mark cavendish would be to cut off time and stay in the race. he has exceeded all expectations, unlike team ineos. they had won seven of the previous nine tourists but this your not so well. garrett thomas crashed and no stage went so far in the lead rider is only four. it will be hard to challenge tadej pogacar who leads by five minutes or even finish alongside him on the podium. with the grenadier is opted not to chase the stage went today. however patrick conrad did as he broke three and held on for 18 miles, the first professional stage win for the 29—year—old from vienna which meant everything to him. while the other leading contenders all finish together, the battle for your lubricant miss tomorrow but time is running out. —— the battle for yellow will recommence tomorrow. he's won seven world titles and is the most successful driver formula i has ever seen. now lewis hamilton has a new mission — to make th

drew savage, bbc news.e star with the ball at the oval — he took five wickets, as sri lanka posted a target of 242. in response, england were never troubled. captain eoin morgan built on the good foundation laid by the opening batsmen, guiding his side to victory by eight wickets, with seven overs to spare. they've already won the t20 series 3—0. a busy day and evening ahead on bbc one and bbc two with tennis and the semifinal between belgium and italy. that's all the sport for now. we can go back to our top story, the pretty narrow labour victory in batley and spend, just over 300 votes. lewis goodall is here with more analysis of the result. labour has ulled more analysis of the result. labour has pulled off _ more analysis of the result. labour has pulled off what _ more analysis of the result. labour has pulled off what a _ more analysis of the result. labour has pulled off what a few _ more analysis of the result. labour has pulled off what a few days - more analysis of the result. labour has pulled of

in paris, but there's still chance for mark cavendish to make history on the champs elleyses. as drew savage4 miles of dominating the tour de france, tadej pogacar finished stage 20 with a lead of more than five minutes. today he'll be drinking champagne on the road to paris. others will be relieved it's over. geraint thomas had hoped to challenge him but a crash and a others will be relieved it's over. geraint thomas had hoped to challenge pogacar but a crash and a dislocated shoulder ended that. next for him the tokyo 0lympics. thomas stayed in the race to help his team—mate richard carapaz richard carapaz finish third overall for britain's ineos grenadiers team. while chris freeman's return from injury was almost scuppered by a crash on day one. he's done well to make it this far. most riders will take it easy on the final stage. the belgian wout van aert will be going for another stage victory, this time on the champs—elysees, but to do it he'll have to beat the tour�*s comeback king. victory in paris for mark cavedish would secure the sprinter�*s green jersey and set a new all—time reco

win that, and it's history for mark cavendish, as drew savage reports.st helens came from behind to win a thrilling final in searing heat in london. castleford had led at half—time but three second—half tries for saints sealed their first challenge cup since 2008 — when their captainjames roby was also in the side. yeah, it's been a long time coming. get back even when again, it was a tough game here today. both teams played really hard on the second half but very special for me as captain to lift the trophy. the preparation's now over for the british and irish lions — they thrashed the stormers 49—3 in theirfinal warm—up match before the first test against south africa next weekend. they did fall behind early, but quickly turned things around... exeter�*s sam simmonds was just one of seven try scorers, but the headlines were saved for tour captain alun wynjones... he came off the bench, to complete an incredible return to action... just three weeks after dislocating his shoulder. and we've been talking about the olympics this morning — there's less than

drew savage reports. no hiding the smile behind the mask.reer— back in green and suddenly his career has _ back in green and suddenly his career has been rebooted. he might not be _ career has been rebooted. he might not be talking about the record, but we are _ not be talking about the record, but we are because he is only two away. he has— we are because he is only two away. he has had — we are because he is only two away. he has had over 150 career wins and is literally— he has had over 150 career wins and is literally the best road splinter of all— is literally the best road splinter of all time. is literally the best road splinter of all time-— of all time. for the non-cycling audience. _ of all time. for the non-cycling audience, the _ of all time. for the non-cycling audience, the record _ of all time. for the non-cycling audience, the record holder, i of all time. for the non-cyclingl audience, the record holder, we of all time. for the non-cycling i audience, the record holder, we are going back to the 60s, aren't we? to someone who

drew savage reports.rent stage and now cavendish was up there, next to him in the record books. although he is modest about it. —— gill —— eddy merckx. to modest about it. -- gill -- eddy merckx. ., , modest about it. -- gill -- eddy merckx. ., . , modest about it. -- gill -- eddy merckx. ., , , ., merckx. to be spoken about in the same sentence _ merckx. to be spoken about in the same sentence as _ merckx. to be spoken about in the same sentence as eddy _ merckx. to be spoken about in the same sentence as eddy merckx, i merckx. to be spoken about in the same sentence as eddy merckx, is| same sentence as eddy merckx, is just amazing. he same sentence as eddy merckx, is just amazing-— same sentence as eddy merckx, is just amazing. he is a different kind of writer, sprinter, _ just amazing. he is a different kind of writer, sprinter, specialising i just amazing. he is a different kind of writer, sprinter, specialising in i of writer, sprinter, specialising in stage wins. when he won his first tour stage in