Rest day gallery: Lying around in Limoges

So what does the peloton get up to during a rest day? Well after a flight the previous night to Limoges, many of the riders simply spend the day resting mixed in with a brief training ride mixed in. If you're a Astana or Columbia-HTC rider you might have even got lost on that training ride (link to external website).

But for a select few - mainly the race leader and general classification favourites - you need to fit your casual training ride in between being mobbed by fans, requests for interviews and the traditional requests for quirky photo shoots. Surprise race leader Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) had his fair share of stalking by the media during the Tour's first rest day, with coffee shop and carousel photoshoots all part of the responsibility that comes with the yellow jersey.

While Nocentini filled his obligations, other riders - like Tour hopeful Cadel Evans - spent the day figuring out where they can make up for lost time over the coming week. Evans was just one of the general classification contenders to take a hammering in the overall standings over the first 10 days, as Astana powered the majority of its team into the top 10 overall.

Evans was so busy relaxing, he even let 'Ronny Roo' (the nickname for the kangaroo on his headtube, we presume) update his website CadelEvans.com.au. Roo said: "He’s fine and happy to have a rest day, like most of the people involved with the Tour, especially every one watching from Australia… He’s amazed at how many Aussie’s are in France; he could finally read some of the messages from the Guestbook and he would like to say, once again, a loud thank you to you all"

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