French riders expected to launch their Bastille offensives

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Tuesday's stage ten from Limoges to Issoudun will be expected to see the traditional attacks from French riders keen to claim glory on the French national holiday, Bastille Day.

French rider's have had a strong Tour de France so far this year with Brice Feillu (Agritubel), Thomas Voeckler (BBox Bouygues Telecom) and Pierrick Fédrigo (BBox Bouygues Telecom) each claiming stage wins in the first ten days of the race.

Speaking on the BBox Bouygues Telecom squad's website on Monday, Voeckler indicated that his team's success in breakaways had been assisted by the fact that none of the favourites for overall had moved into the yellow jersey."I think that it is because the favourites are marked. They do not want to take their responsibility [and] have the weight of the race thereafter."

The Frenchman, who took his Tour de France stage win last Wednesday in Perpignan, could be one of the riders to attack on Bastille day. He said he would be looking to attack in the stages leading up to the Alps.

"[I will aim] to be an actor on the next stages. Gaining a third [stage win] would be brilliant," said Voeckler. "We will maintain the same objectives because we are not riders competing for the general classification."

At the start of stage ten a French team also holds the overall race lead. Riding for AG2R La Mondiale,  Italian Rinaldo Nocentini has led the race since claiming the yellow jersey on stage seven to Andorra Arcalis.

Aiding potential escapees could be the fact that team radios will be banned throughout the stage. The absence of immediate communication between teams and riders could allow riders the ability to sneak away from the peloton.

"I'm more against earpieces than for them. There are many situations where the communication with the DS puts breakaways to a disadvantage. I'm more a rider that takes opportunities." said Voeckler to Cyclingnews.