Sport

On This Day - July 26, 1987: Stephen Roche becomes the first irishman to win the Tour de France

It is 31 years today since Stephen Roche become the first Irishman to win the Tour de France
It is 31 years today since Stephen Roche become the first Irishman to win the Tour de France It is 31 years today since Stephen Roche become the first Irishman to win the Tour de France

BIRTHDAYS

Lawrie McMenemy (soccer) - former Southampton, Sunderland and Northern Ireland manager, born 1936.

Nelinho (soccer) - former Brazil full-back, born 1950.

Felix Magath (soccer) - former Fulham and Bayern Munich manager, born 1953.

Dai Young (rugby union) - former Wales and British and Irish Lions prop and now director of rugby at Wasps, born 1967.

Tanni-Grey-Thompson (wheelchair racing) - eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist, born 1969.

Martin Laursen (soccer) - former Aston Villa and Denmark defender, born 1977.

Maicon (soccer) - former Brazil and Manchester City full-back, born 1981.

Gael Clichy (soccer) - former Arsenal and Manchester City full-back, born 1985.

Leonardo Ulloa (soccer) - Leicester striker, born 1986.

ON THIS DAY

1966: Gloucestershire cricketer Tony Brown equalled Mickey Stewart's first-class record for an outfielder by taking seven catches in an innings in a match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

1971: Muhammad Ali won his first title since returning to boxing after being stripped of his world heavyweight crown four years earlier for refusing, on religious grounds, to be drafted into the US Army. He beat Jimmy Ellis for the North American belt.

1987: Stephen Roche became the first Irishman to win the Tour de France and only the second winner from outside continental Europe - American Greg LeMond was the first the previous year.

1997: English football chiefs agreed in principle to let out-of-contract players aged 24 and over move to other clubs for nothing, bringing the game into line with European laws following the Bosman ruling.

2001: Wakefield became the first Super League club to be docked points, having four deducted after being found guilty of breaching the salary cap by spending more than 50 per cent of their income on players' wages. The penalty was later reduced to two points on appeal.

2004: Ashley Giles claimed his first five-wicket Test haul on home soil as England completed a 210-run win over West Indies in the first Test at Lord's.

2005: London Broncos confirmed their cross-code partnership with rugby union club Harlequins. The Broncos became known as Harlequins Rugby League Club and moved into The Stoop.

2009: Alberto Contador won the Tour de France, with Andy Schleck second and Lance Armstrong third. Armstrong later had his third-placed finish taken off him for doping offences and Bradley Wiggins was awarded the place, becoming the first Briton to finish on the podium.

2011: The Crusaders withdrew their application for a Super League licence.

2012: Tim Cahill completed his move to the New York Red Bulls from Everton.

2015: Chris Froome won the Tour de France for a second time after a ceremonial final stage in Paris.

On this day in 1971, Muhammad Ali won his first title since returning to boxing by beating Jimmy Ellis for the North American belt
On this day in 1971, Muhammad Ali won his first title since returning to boxing by beating Jimmy Ellis for the North American belt On this day in 1971, Muhammad Ali won his first title since returning to boxing by beating Jimmy Ellis for the North American belt

QUICK QUIZ BLITZ

1. From which club did Tottenham sign midfielder Dele Alli in 2015?

2. What nationality is tennis player and world number seven Marin Cilic?

3. Who was the last Englishman to win golf's Open Championship?

4. Which athlete holds the women's British record for both the 100 and 200 metres?

5. Which NHL team won the 2018 Stanley Cup?

TODAY’S TV

SOCCER: MLS, Orlando City v New York City FC - Sky Sports Main Event 0120 (Fri), Los Angeles FC v Los Angeles Galaxy - Sky Sports Main Event 0330 (Fri).

CRICKET: Vitality T20 Blast, Middlesex v Hampshire - Sky Sports Cricket 1800.

CYCLING: Tour de France - Eurosport 1 1230 & ITV 4 1245.

FORMULA ONE: Hungarian Grand Prix, drivers' press conference - Sky Sports F1 1400.

GOLF: European Tour, Porsche European Open - Sky Sports Main Event 1000, Sky Sports Golf 1000 & 1430; PGA Tour, RBC Canadian Open - Sky Sports Golf 2000; European Seniors Tour, Open Championship - Sky Sports Main Event 1200 & Sky Sports Golf 1200 & 1700.

TENNIS: WTA, Moscow River Cup - BT Sport 2 0900.

DARTS: World Matchplay from Blackpool - Sky Sports Action 1900 & Sky Sports Main Event 2130.

BASEBALL: MLB, Chicago Cubs v Arizona Diamondbacks - BT Sport/ESPN 1915, Atlanta Braves v Los Angeles Dodgers - BT Sport 1 0030 (Fri).

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QUICK QUIZ BLITZ ANSWERS

1. MK Dons; 2. Croatian; 3. Nick Faldo (1992); 4. Dina Asher-Smith; 5. Washington Capitals.