While Stage 10 was your standard Pyrenean-Alpine transitional stage (i.e. dead flat and perfect for the sprinters), the finish was less than traditional, with the run in to Saint Malo resulting in one of the strangest Tour sprints I have seen for some time. In the end it was a German 1-2 with Marcel Kittel winning his second stage of this years tour from Andre Greipel. Mark Cavendish was third over the line but is sure to be relegated for dangerous sprinting after sending Argo's Shimano's Tom Veelers crashing to the deck in the final kilometer with a shoulder bump that would have the AFL match review panel itching to hand out a hefty suspension.
The stage itself was a drab affair (with no change to the standings in any of the competitions) so we may as well devote maximum time to what was a crazy sprint finish. It was likely the result of a ridiculous finishing line position, which appeared less than 200m from a sweeping bend. The second factor was that apart from Lotto (Greipel) and Argos (Kittel), every other team absolutely botched their sprint train, seeing the likes of Cavendish and Peter Sagan ducking and diving for wheels inside the last k. Basically chaos ensued. Cav refused to follow his final lead out man to the front of the race, and instead tried to jam his way onto Griepels wheel. Unsuccessful at that, he settled for Kittel, but in doing so absolutely hammered poor Tom Veelers in the back in trying to get Kittel's wheel. Veelers was sent skittling across the asphalt and it was remarkable no one else hit the deck. The bump from Cav was clearly a dangerous and border line dirty act which is disappointing coming from a man who has dished out plenty of advice to wayward sprinters in the past. In the end he was punished enough with his finishing position - the crash halting his momentum and preventing him from launching any realistic attempt at the win.
Up front Greipel, who had received close to the perfect lead out, had seemingly bolted away with the race, going well clear around the final bend. However, perhaps he was lulled into a false sense of security, as he seemed to have plenty in reserve, only to see Marcel Kittel (who also received an excellent lead out from his Argos team) power over the top of him from nowhere to take the victory right on the line (by less than half a bike length). Kittel had luckily unleashed his sprint just in time to avoid the Cav-induced crash, and his finishing burst was super impressive, especially in dealing with a veteran sprinter like Greipel from so far back. He looks a potential green jersey winner of the future - well at least in years when Sagan doesn't show up (the green jersey holder managed to avoid the carnage and still got home in 4th, losing little ground on his points competition rivals).
The main wash up from the stage will be weather or not Cavendish is relegated to last in the peleton from the stage (he definitely should be). Hell as much as it pains me to say it as an unabashed Cav fan, he should really be chucked out of the race given Aussie Mark Renshaw was thrown out for less (headbutting, with no resulting crash) a few years ago when riding as Cav's lead out man. Let's see what the commisaires come up with.
Tomorrow sees the first individual time trial of this years Tour - and it is hard to see any other result apart from a juiced up Chris Froome taking the win. Maybe we should just leave our screens switched to the Ashes instead.
Yellow Jersey - Chris Froome
Green Jersey - Peter Sagan
Polka Dot Jersey - Pierre Rolland
White Jersey - Nairo Quintana
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