MATT LAWTON IN NIMES: The tone was one of defiance; the message that Team Ineos are not dead yet. As Sir Dave Brailsford was quick to point out, they sit second and fifth.

The 55-year-old cycling coach confirmed in an interview with The Times that he has had surgery on a tumour which doctors discovered after flagging up concerns over blood tests.

This cat is so easy to live with, I grew into it like a much-loved jacket. Driving it quickly became second nature.

James Bond star Daniel Craig performed a top secret mission right under the noses of the world's media at this week's royal global premier of the latest 007 movie, Skyfall, which goes on general release today.

Start queuing for the Dacia Sandero - it’s Britain’s cheapest car at less than £6,000. Renault bought the Romanian car-maker in 1999 as its ‘budget’ brand and the UK market is the final piece of the jigsaw.

The Aixam Coupe S (pictured) may look like a compact city car, but it is classed as a ‘light quadricycle’, which can be driven with a moped licence.

This is the fourth generation of the Honda CR-V, which has established itself as a mainstay of Middle Britain for adaptable family transport since the first generation arrived in Europe in 1997.

Production of the third generation Octavia started this month at the Mlada Boleslav plant in the Czech Republic, ahead of its March launch in Britain.

RAY MASSEY: As controversial table-manners go, it certainly beats resting on your elbows. This remarkable stunt came as the dashing Earl of March hosted a sumptuous sponsors and press dinner.

The British car maker is marking its big day with a striking display of its heritage and future technology, proving that although it's 65, the car won't be pensioned off.

Japan's Mazda unveiled its new five-door small family hatchback simultaneously in five locations across the globe this week - including Britain.

Earplugs ready! German sports car meister Porsche and the Goodwood Festival of Speed are revving up for their birthdays this month. Porsche will mark the 50th anniversary of its classic 911.

Skoda is about to launch the second generation of its popular crossover sports utility vehicle. The first generation has already proved a big hit.

Let's hear it for 12 plucky drivers who drove for 24 hours at an average speed of 125 mph in British-built Vauxhall Astra hatchbacks.

Order books are now open for the new British-built Honda Civic Tourer with the first deliveries set to reach UK showrooms from February.

Just in time to add to your New Year wish list comes Mercedes-Benz's latest version of its C-Class compact saloons. And what a high-tech feast it is.

Motoring editor Ray Massey takes the Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 i-dTEC EX Plus diesel (manual), £27,960 (price as driven) for a mini test and tells you the best and worst bits of his drive.

She is known for her individual style, so it should come as no surprise that singer VV Brown has partnered with Vauxhall Motors to personalise and design her very own Vauxhall ADAM car.

Motoring editor Ray Massey takes the Vauxhall Adam Glam 1.4i 16v VVT (87PS) (price as driven: £15,685) for a mini test and tells you the best and worst bits of his drive.

Ray Massey tests the Hyundai iX35 Premium 1.7 CRDI 2WD Manual, a car with kerb appeal

The Mazda 2 is the fourth member of a line-up that includes the CX-5 sports utility vehicle, the svelte Mazda 6 saloon and estate and the Mazda3 hatchback and fastback

The new model will be 17 per cent more economical than its predecessor. The Fabia is expected to go on sale in the UK early next year and will cost between £10, 000 and £16, 000.

Honda has revealed its new compact sports utility vehicle — the HR-V — which goes on sale next summer from £16,000.

Mazda promises great performance, economy, safety and driving fun when the supermini reaches Britain early next year, priced from around £13,000.

The Czech company beat rivals BMW and Range Rover to win the title. The original Skoda Fabia won the award 15 years ago as well. Since VW took over the firm, Skoda has shed its joke reputation.

It's a petrol electric sport hybrid with aerodynamic low slung features. It has a combination of the 550bhp twin-turbo V6 engine at the rear and two of its three electric motors fixed on the axle towards the front.

The good news is that the five-door hatchback version will be built exclusively at the Swindon factory. Honda announced the Wiltshire works would benefit from a £200million investment.

The festival will feature cars from yesteryear, today and tomorrow. Since 1993 automotive extravaganza has become the nation's motor show. All major car makers brass will be attending.

Just in time for next month's new 65 plate, Honda has announced prices for its funky new third-generation Jazz, which goes on sale from £13,495.

The massive camper van, produced in Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer, Austria, has a 720-horsepower engine and comes with a £585,000 price tag.

What a week. And it's not over yet by a long chalk. The scandal sparked by Volkswagen caught cheating on its diesel emissions in America has a fair way to run

Bosses at Kahn Automobiles are offering a £20,000 reward for help catching a hooded vandal who smashed a Bugatti Veyron's windscreen with an iron bar at the dealership in Leeds.

The video shows the driver leaving skid marks on the road while drifting around the roundabout between the busy Westwood Cross shopping centre and The Haine Road in Broadstairs, Kent.

Though now retired from professional cycling, the six-times gold medal winner has learned to drive a Nissan Juke on two wheels in just two days, rather than the two months experts say is normal.

She is a reliable purveyor of glamour on star-studded red carpets. And Ciara more than lived up to her reputation for chic when she arrived at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday.

Ashlee Simpson and husband Evan Ross couldn't keep their hands off each other at the Billboard Awards on Sunday in Las Vegas. The pair locked lips several times on the red carpet.

The 31-year-old actor posted a hilarious behind-the-scenes video of him trying and failing to get Swift to move out of his eyeline during Shawn Mendes' performance.

Pauly D made heads turn as he arrived at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night in pineapple-themed attire alongside The Ritas, as they promoted the brand's new margarita.

Sam Smith is afraid to sing in case it damages his voice further - after deciding to drop out of upcoming appearances at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the Billboard Music Awards.

Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie have prime seating for the show, based on photos of the seating arrangement for the A-list music event. And the Jonas Brothers will bring their high profile partners.

New mom Eva Longoria looked fabulous on Wednesday when she hit the red carpet of the 2019 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nick stopped for a second to plant a sweet kiss on wife Priyanka's lips. She was standing next to Sophie Turner who is engaged to Joe, who was next to Danielle who is married to Kevin.

The Footloose actress, 30, looked glamorous as ever at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Madonna will tour for the first time in four years with her new Madame X album.

This has come as a huge shock. My father's family have no clue who this woman is. Dad's new will was written less than a year before death while he was sick in hospital.

My brother's wife went to the Land Registry and found the deeds were put in my sister's name in 1999. As far I know there was no will. Ian Johnston (pictured), solicitor at JMW Solicitors, replies.

In my dad's will, the house is left to me and cash to be split 50/50 with my sister. It was made 10 years ago when my parents were estranged from my sister. My dad is now widowed and has dementia.

Gaynor Seymour, pictured with husband Andrew, lost state pension credits over an innocent paperwork error - but she can prove she looked after their daughter during the disputed period, she says.

I have four other siblings but I'm the only child who still lives there. I have never lived anywhere else and consider it my home. Lawyer Bonita Walters (pictured right), of Clarke Willmott, replies.

It is feared that equity release could soon echo the PPI mis-selling scandal which has rocked Britain in recent years. Experts last night said the industry was 'ripe for mis-selling'.