Greipel defeats Cavendish for stage win in Carmaux

Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) beat his former teammate and bitter sprint rival Mark Cavendish in Carmaux, but their head to head sprint was only the closing act of a thrilling finale to Carmaux that saw both Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) on the attack.

Gilbert used the short but painful Cote de Mirandol-Bourgnounac to attack the peloton. He got away with Voeckler and others as the green and yellow jersey wearers laid down their panache.

Gilbert was riding for the stage victory and more precious green jersey points. It didn't quite come off but his final last dig cost HTC-Highroad dearly and helped Greipel in the sprint.

Cavendish tried to look after himself after Tony Martin led the peloton the final kilometre, letting Daniele Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale) lead out the sprint, but Cavendish then went a little early. Greipel was on him and had the speed to come past him before the line, celebrating with one arm as Cavendish finished a wheel length behind him. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) took third, ahead of Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) and Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil).

Victory meant Greipel joined the select club of riders who have won stages in all three grand tours. He celebrated with Gilbert, ending all talk of rivalry between the two as Gilbert targets the green jersey.

"It's an incredible feeling to win a stage in the biggest race in the world," Greipel said immediately after his victory.

"When I knew that I could be part of the race this year, winning a stage became my goal and the team supported me in that. I think I'm the happiest person the world at the moment. I've been working for this all season long. Gilbert attacked in last climb and then Marcel Sieberg got me in a good position so that I do my sprint."

Cavendish was gracious in defeat, making no excuses for not being able to hold off the charge of his former teammate. "I went early but it wasn't too early on this type of finish, but I didn't commit enough," Cavendish said. "I kicked with 170 [meters] to go but Greipel came past and beat me. I'm happy for him. He's come here to the Tour de France and won. I feel I made a mistake, but Greipel beat me, so there's no excuse I can say about that."

81 riders finished in the same time as the sprinters, with the overall classification unchanged and Thomas Voeckler still in yellow. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Rabobank) is second at 1:49, with Cadel Evans (BMC) third at 2:26, followed by Fränk and Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) at 2:29 and 2:37 respectively.

Gilbert stayed in the green points jersey despite only finishing 14th in the sprint, while Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) again fought back the tears on the podium after defending the climber's polka-dot jersey. He rode with 33 stitches in his wounds from the stage nine crash caused by the French television car but finished 111th at 5:59. He has become the symbolic hero of survival in this crash strewn Tour de France.

Fast day in the saddle

With the riders having enjoyed the first rest day of this year's race on Monday, the 158km stage was expected to be fast and furious as the breakaways tried to stop the sprinters strutting their stuff in Carmaux.

Breakaways have often formed as soon as race director Christina Prudhomme drops the start flag but today the 178 riders left in the race rolled along quietly for a few kilometres, perhaps a little scared they would get caught up in the hail and rain storm that hit Aurillac before the riders rolled out.

Fortunately the weather stayed dry and the peloton became lined out on the first little climb. A crash in the peloton after 11km then helped a breakaway of six go clear and set the pattern for the fast stage. Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) and Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) were caught up in the crash, with the American later stopping briefly to sort out his bike. Robert Gesink (Rabobank) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky) were also delayed and forced to work together to chase back to the peloton.

By the time the peloton had reformed, Rémy Di Gregorio (Astana), Arthur Vichot (FDJ), Sébastien Minard (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Julien El Fares (Cofidis), Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) and Anthony Delaplace (Saur-Sojasun) had a 40- second gap. Others tried to jump across but Europcar and even Thomas Voeckler himself, closed them down.

The six where then allowed to open a gap and made it to the intermediate sprint after the descent to Maurs (ironically where Alexandre Kolobnev won a stage in 2007). They picked up most of the big points, but behind the sprinters clashed for the minor points. Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) again showed his green jersey intentions by beating Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) even if the Spaniard was not happy about being trapped against the barriers.

The stage settled after the sprint with Europcar and HTC-highroad helping keep the six in check. The gap touched three minutes as Marcato picked up the climbers points to make sure teammate Johnny Hoogerland kept the jersey but then fell gradually back as more teams helped Europcar and HTC work for a sprint finish.

Race on a knife edge

The final climb did not seem difficult but it was the speed with which Omega Pharma-Lotto hit it that caught the break and had the sprinters in trouble. HTC had started the climb near the front and cleverly slipped down the long peloton but Gilbert stomped on the pedals as if he was riding Liege-Bastogne-Liege and joined up with Tony Gallopin (Cofidis), Voeckler and Dries Devenyns (Quick Step). Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) also got across the gap as the peloton blew apart behind them over the top of the 3.9km climb.

Martin's presence was a disturbing factor and the peloton never gave up the chase but for several minutes, the Tour de France was on a knife edge, with the yellow and green jerseys in the thick of the action. The five were caught by a Leopard Trek lead chase with five kilometres to go after Gilbert made one last dig. Blel Kadri (Ag2r-La Mondiale) Rob Ruijgh (Vacansoleil) tried another move but they were pulled back on the descent.

Even David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo) did not have the speed to get away on the fast run-in, as HTC-Highroad tried to set up Cavendish. The US-based team was perfect when Cavendish won in Châteauroux but lacked numbers this time after the likes of Mark Renshaw and Bernhard Eisel were dropped after doing so much work on the final climb.

Martin lead the peloton to the final kilometre but Cavendish was isolated and so vulnerable. Greipel saw it and took advantage, coming through late at speed to finally prove he can beat Cavendish in the big sprints in the biggest races.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto3:31:21
2Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-HighroadRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 3 - Cell 2
5Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 5 - Cell 2
7Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 6 - Cell 2
8Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 8 - Cell 2
10Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 9 - Cell 2
11William Bonnet (Fra) FDJRow 10 - Cell 2
12Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Pro Team AstanaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre - ISDRow 12 - Cell 2
14Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 13 - Cell 2
15Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 14 - Cell 2
16Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre - ISDRow 15 - Cell 2
17Gianni Meersman (Bel) FDJRow 16 - Cell 2
18Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 17 - Cell 2
19Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeRow 18 - Cell 2
20Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 20 - Cell 2
22Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 21 - Cell 2
23Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 22 - Cell 2
24Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard TrekRow 24 - Cell 2
26Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 25 - Cell 2
27Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 26 - Cell 2
28Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 30 - Cell 2
32Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 32 - Cell 2
34Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-HighroadRow 33 - Cell 2
35Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard TrekRow 34 - Cell 2
36Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 35 - Cell 2
37Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 36 - Cell 2
38Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard TrekRow 37 - Cell 2
39Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 38 - Cell 2
40Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 39 - Cell 2
41Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 40 - Cell 2
42Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 44 - Cell 2
46Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Yuriy Trofimov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 47 - Cell 2
49Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-HighroadRow 48 - Cell 2
50Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJRow 50 - Cell 2
52Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 51 - Cell 2
53Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 52 - Cell 2
54Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard TrekRow 53 - Cell 2
55Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Leopard TrekRow 54 - Cell 2
56Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 57 - Cell 2
59Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 58 - Cell 2
60Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Pro Team AstanaRow 59 - Cell 2
61Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 60 - Cell 2
62Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShackRow 61 - Cell 2
63Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 63 - Cell 2
65Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 64 - Cell 2
66Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 65 - Cell 2
67Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 66 - Cell 2
68Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJRow 67 - Cell 2
69Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Team RadioShackRow 68 - Cell 2
70Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShackRow 69 - Cell 2
71Jens Voigt (Ger) Leopard TrekRow 70 - Cell 2
72Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky ProcyclingRow 71 - Cell 2
73Christian Knees (Ger) Sky ProcyclingRow 72 - Cell 2
74Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 73 - Cell 2
75Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team RadioShackRow 74 - Cell 2
76Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 75 - Cell 2
77David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 76 - Cell 2
78Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-HighroadRow 77 - Cell 2
79Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 78 - Cell 2
80Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 79 - Cell 2
81Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:00:22
83Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky Procycling0:00:30
84Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi0:02:48
85Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:03:02
86Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-HighroadRow 85 - Cell 2
87Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Leopard Trek0:05:33
88Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
89Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 88 - Cell 2
90Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 89 - Cell 2
91Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 90 - Cell 2
92Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 91 - Cell 2
93Anthony Charteau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 92 - Cell 2
94Nicki Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 93 - Cell 2
95Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
96Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank SungardRow 95 - Cell 2
97Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingRow 96 - Cell 2
98Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 97 - Cell 2
99Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Leopard TrekRow 98 - Cell 2
100Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Pro Team AstanaRow 99 - Cell 2
101Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 100 - Cell 2
102Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-HighroadRow 101 - Cell 2
103Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 102 - Cell 2
104Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 103 - Cell 2
105Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
106David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 105 - Cell 2
107Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 106 - Cell 2
108Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 107 - Cell 2
109Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:05:59
110Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
112Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Joost Posthuma (Ned) Leopard TrekRow 112 - Cell 2
114José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
115Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar TeamRow 114 - Cell 2
116Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 115 - Cell 2
117Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 116 - Cell 2
118Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
119David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
120Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 119 - Cell 2
121Vladimir Isaichev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
122Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 121 - Cell 2
123Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
124David Loosli (Swi) Lampre - ISDRow 123 - Cell 2
125Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 124 - Cell 2
126Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank SungardRow 125 - Cell 2
127Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 126 - Cell 2
128Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 127 - Cell 2
129Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Team RadioShackRow 128 - Cell 2
130Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 129 - Cell 2
131Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team AstanaRow 130 - Cell 2
132Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
133Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team AstanaRow 132 - Cell 2
134Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 133 - Cell 2
135Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 134 - Cell 2
136Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJRow 135 - Cell 2
137Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 136 - Cell 2
138Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJRow 137 - Cell 2
139Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 138 - Cell 2
140Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 139 - Cell 2
141Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 140 - Cell 2
142Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 141 - Cell 2
143Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 142 - Cell 2
144Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJRow 143 - Cell 2
145Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJRow 144 - Cell 2
146Ben Swift (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 145 - Cell 2
147Brian Vandborg (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 146 - Cell 2
148Jérémie Galland (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 147 - Cell 2
149Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 148 - Cell 2
150Egor Silin (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 149 - Cell 2
151Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 150 - Cell 2
152Danny Pate (USA) HTC-HighroadRow 151 - Cell 2
153Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 152 - Cell 2
154Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 153 - Cell 2
155Bernhard Eisel (Aut) HTC-HighroadRow 154 - Cell 2
156Addy Engels (Ned) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 155 - Cell 2
157Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team0:07:00
158Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 157 - Cell 2
159Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 158 - Cell 2
160Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 159 - Cell 2
161Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 160 - Cell 2
162Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar TeamRow 161 - Cell 2
163Julien El Fares (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 162 - Cell 2
164Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 163 - Cell 2
165Laurent Mangel (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 164 - Cell 2
166Jesús Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 165 - Cell 2
167Denys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDRow 166 - Cell 2
168Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 167 - Cell 2
169Lars Ytting Bak (Den) HTC-HighroadRow 168 - Cell 2
170Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 169 - Cell 2
171John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 170 - Cell 2
172Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 171 - Cell 2
173Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 172 - Cell 2
174Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 173 - Cell 2
175Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team RadioShackRow 174 - Cell 2
176Yohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 175 - Cell 2
177Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 176 - Cell 2
178Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 177 - Cell 2
DNSAlexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 178 - Cell 2
DNSYaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Team RadioShackRow 179 - Cell 2
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Sprint 1 - Maurs, 37.5km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ20pts
2Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur - Sojasun17Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale15Row 2 - Cell 3
4Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team13Row 3 - Cell 3
5Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Pro Team Astana11Row 4 - Cell 3
6Julien El Fares (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne10Row 5 - Cell 3
7Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad9Row 6 - Cell 3
8Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad8Row 7 - Cell 3
9Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team7Row 8 - Cell 3
10Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team6Row 9 - Cell 3
11Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto5Row 10 - Cell 3
12Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJ4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne3Row 12 - Cell 3
14Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad2Row 13 - Cell 3
15Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team1Row 14 - Cell 3
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