Stage 10 Goes To The Sprinters

Many people, including me, had thought that the four climbs in stage 10 would probably be just enough to keep the stage from being a sprint finish, but that did not turn out to be the case today. There was an early breakaway which was eventually swallowed up by the peloton, and another breakaway on the final climb in an effort to string out the peloton. But the second one didn't work either, and the stage (from Aurillac to Carmaux) turned out to be one for the sprinters to earn their points.

The stage winner was German Andre Greipel (Omega-Lotto) who beat British rider Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) by no more than a wheel length. The third place finisher was Spain's Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar).

Tomorrow's 167 kilometer race from Blaye-Les-Mines to Lavaur will probably be another day for the sprinyers. It has a category 3 climb and a category 4 climb, but the finish is pretty much downhill and the sprinters will have time to regroup for the finish. Stage 12 on Thursday is a different matter though, as it will be the first day in the high mountains.

Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (INDIVIDUAL LEADER)
1. Thomas Voeckler, France (Europcar)
2. Luis-Leon Sanchez, Spain (Rabobank)..........1' 49"
3. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........2' 26"
4. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........2' 29"
5. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........2' 37"
6. Tony Martin, Germany (HTC-Highroad)..........2' 38"
7. Peter Velits, Slovakia (HTC-Highroad)..........2' 38"
8. Andreas Kloden, Germany (Radio Shack)..........2' 43"
9. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........2' 55"
10. Jakob Fuglsang, Denmark (Leopard-Trek)..........3' 08"
16. Alberto Contador, Spain (Saxo Bank)..........4' 07"
17. Tom Danielson, USA (Garmin-Cervelo)..........4' 22"
19. Christian Vande Velde, USA (Garmin-Cervelo)..........4' 53"
36. Levi Leipheimer, USA (Radio Shack)..........7' 16"


GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)........226 pts
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Movistar)........209 pts
3. Mark Cavendish, Great Britain (HTC-Highroad)........197 pts
4. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)........163 pts
5. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)........135 pts


POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Johnny Hoogerland, Netherlands (Vacansoleil)..........22 pts
2. Thomas Voeckler, France (Europcar)..........17 pts
3. Tejay Van Garderen, USA (HTC-Highroad)..........5 pts
4. Marco Marcato, Italy (Vacansoleil)..........5 pts
5. Rui Alberto Costa, Portugal (Movistar)..........5 pts
6. Sandy Casar, France (FDJ)..........5 pts


TEAM STANDINGS
1. Europcar (France)
2. Leopard-Trek (Luxembourg)..........32"
3. Radio Shack (USA)..........1' 02"
4. Rabobank (Netherlands)..........1' 18"
5. Garmin-Cervelo (USA)..........1' 50"