Cycling: Severe back pain, two crashes and a chest infection forced American Andrew Talansky to become the latest top rider to abandon the Tour de France yesterday. “I’m absolutely heartbroken. I built my season around the Tour, and the team has supported me every step of the way,” Talansky, winner of the Criterium du Dauphine warm-up race in June, said. “I had hoped the rest day would allow some time to recover from my crashes. I was hopeful that I could get through yesterday But it proved too much.”

Motor Racing: Shareholders in Formula One including private equity fund CVC are set to share a $1 billion dividend thanks to a refinancing of the high-profile motor sport business. Sources close to the deal confirmed a Sky News report yesterday that Formula One’s parent company was increasing its borrowings to $3.8 billion from $2.8 billion to fund the payout. The deal is being arranged by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. CVC is the largest shareholder in Formula One with a stake of around 35 percent after investing in the sport eight years ago.

Rugby Union: Simon Easterby has been confirmed as Ireland’s new forwards coach. The former Ireland captain will replace John Plumtree in head coach Joe Schmidt’s back-room set-up, with the New Zealander returning home for family reasons. Easterby will assume his new role in October, in time for Ireland’s autumn international Guinness Series of Tests against South Africa, Georgia and Australia. Easterby will leave the Scarlets after two years as head coach of the club.

Golf: Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods sprayed Royal Liverpool with a barrage of birdie bullets to steal the show midway through the opening round of the 143rd British Open yesterday. McIlroy has developed a penchant for making fast starts, firing a pacesetting six-under-par 66. Matteo Manassero was in second place on 67, one ahead of fellow Italians Francesco and Edo-ardo Molinari. Also on 68 were Americans Brooks Koepka and Jim Furyk as well as Spain’s Sergio Garcia. Woods confounded the critics who wrote off his chances by shooting a 69.

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