Chelsea are on the verge of becoming the first titleholders to fail to make it out of the group stage of the Champions League.

European soccer’s big reputations counted for nothing as Real Madrid, AC Milan, Manchester City and Arsenal all lost in the Champions League.

Beaten in four of the last five races, Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel will aim to reassert his authority at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Belgian rider Jelle Vanendert won Saturday’s 14th stage of the Tour de France, and Thomas Voeckler retained the race leader’s yellow jersey.

The Tour de France rest day will be a welcome break for riders after Sunday’s ninth stage produced the worst series of crashes in this year’s race.

The attacks never came on the first mountain trek of the Tour de France, as defending champion Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck both held fire.

Tour de France leader Andy Schleck is working to turn up the pressure on Alberto Contador they lock into a two-way battle for supremacy.

France has recalled veteran scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and centre Mathieu Bastareaud in a squad to prepare for next month’s Six Nations champio