Stage 10 from LIMOGES to ISSOUDUN, 194.5 km
Today's stage saw the teams compete without using team radios and the peloton seemed to react by cycling at a leisurely rate for the first 180km, content to let the 4 man breakaway stay away.
With about 10km to go the pace went from about 37kph to over 45kph and the brekaway were caught before the finish in the narrow roads of Issoudun.
On the final bend before the final sprint Vladimir Karpets from Team Katusha crashed but no-one else was involved. Team Columbia HTC were in the perfect position to lead Mark Cavendish towards the finish line and when Cavendish began his sprint to the finish line Thor Hushovd, who was on Cav's wheel, was unable to catch him and Cavendish claims his 7th Tour stage win (his 3rd of this Tour). One more stage win will see him equal Barry Hoban's record.
It was business as usual within the peloton and there are no major changes in the overall standings although Bradley Wiggins drops to 7th (don't know why).
Nocentini is still in yellow.
Tony Martins is still in white.
Thor Hushovd is still in green.
Martinez is still in the polka dot jersey.
Stage 10 result:
Mark CAVENDISH GBR THR 04:46:43
Thor HUSHOVD NOR CTT +00:00:00
Tyler FARRAR USA GRM +00:00:00
Leonardo DUQUE COL COF +00:00:00
Jose Joaquin ROJAS ESP GCE +00:00:00
Lloyd MONDORY FRA ALM +00:00:00
Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL NED SKS +00:00:00
William BONNET FRA BBO +00:00:00
Daniele BENNATI ITA LIQ +00:00:00
Saďd HADDOU FRA BBO +00:00:00
Overall Standings (GC):
Rinaldo NOCENTINI ITA ALM 39:11:04
Alberto CONTADOR ESP AST +00:00:06
Lance ARMSTRONG USA AST +00:00:08
Andréas KLÖDEN GER AST +00:00:54
Levi LEIPHEIMER USA AST +00:00:54
Tony MARTIN GER THR +00:01:00
Bradley WIGGINS GBR GRM +00:01:01
Christian VANDE VELDE USA GRM +00:01:24
Andy SCHLECK L UX SAX +00:01:49
Vincenzo NIBALI ITA LIQ +00:01:54
Stage 11 is VATAN > SAINT-FARGEAU, 192 km and is likely to favour the sprinters again. |