today's stage in poitiers produced the closest sprint finish of this year's race.on it on the line. ireland's sam bennett keeps the sprinters' greenjersey, he was moved up to second place to after the judges relegated peter sagan for pushing. well, the 2018 champion geraint thomas isn't competing in this year's race — focusing instead on the giro d'italia, which he describes as "unfinished business" after crashing out in 2017. he's been speaking about the decision to skip the tour, and living up to expectation. not being selected, i would not put it in the sort of words really because i could go there and do a job. but at the same time, i am at the stage in my career now where i wa nt to the stage in my career now where i want to go to races and outperform myself. i don't want to go without sounding bad to go and just right for the team. i want to be fighting for the team. i want to be fighting for the team. i want to be fighting for the win myself. there are a few other guys who could have done the role, that i couldn't have done during the tour. it made sense to

today they will raise to poitiers over a fairly flat route. i like the way you said that, sadly.uper simple" to follow and be in force "for the forseeable future". social gatherings of more than six people will be banned from one day, with some exemptions. local lockdowns are already in force in areas across the uk, including bolton, which has seen a recent spike. bolton has the highest number of infections in the country. people cannot meet with those outside their own household in any setting. restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs have been restricted to takeaway only and will have to close at ten pm. our correspondentjohn maguire has spent the day in bolton. the inflation level here in bolton has increased over the past two weeks from the low 20s, something like 15 - weeks from the low 20s, something like 15 — 18 per 100,000 to now, we find, more than 120 cases, per 100,000. that is what has caused the change in the restrictions. primarily, the difference it will make is to the hospitality industry, so no longer will pubs, cafe is a restau ra nt so no longer will pubs, cafe is a r