After a chaotic stage that saw key general classification men fall by the wayside, the Tour de France gets back underway following the first rest day with an expected sprint finish. Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 10 from 10:30pm (AEST).
The riders start the 178-kilometre journey of today’s stage from Periguex, and climb out of the town for the first 20 kilometres, though; the climb is a false flat more than anything else.
There are a few other climbs on the stage, with two classified climbs being inside the final 80 kilometres of racing.
The first of those climbs is the category four test of the Cite de Domme, which averages only 3.3 per cent for 3.5 kilometres.
Before the second categorised climb on the days route, the town of Saint-Cyprien hosts the intermediate sprint.
A further 20 kilometres down the road is the final categorised climb on the day’s schedule, the Cote du Duisson-de-Cadoion, which is rated as a fourth category climb.
It is a 2.1-kilometre climb, with averages at over 5 per cent, with gradients close to 10.
At the top of the climb, the riders will be just inside the 40 kilometres to go point, with a flat final 50 minutes of racing ahead of the peloton, which should culminate in another bunch kick for the sprinters at the end of the stage in Bergerac.
The final 3 kilometres are technical, with a 90-degree right-hand bend leading the riders over the Dordogne River into the city centre. At the end of the bridge, the riders head right again, before straightening themselves until the final kilometre, when the riders turn 90 degrees left, before doing so again within 600 metres to the line.
It is then a dead straight finish that the final sprint will be raced over.
Marcel Kittel will be looking for another stage win, while Arnaud Demare will be hoping to resurrect his green jersey points classification challenge.
Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 10 of the Tour de France from 10:30pm (AEST).
Preview written by Brendon Vella
Connor Bennett
Editor
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 10 No changes to the GC standings thatnks to a bunch finish. An easy day in the saddle for yellow jersey wearer Chris Froome. Sky were in front and controlling the pace of the pack all day and Froom was allowed to just sit a few wheels back and save the legs.
Connor Bennett
Editor
STAGE 10 RESULTS Kittel takes another stage at the Tour and adds to his green jersey tally as well. Greipel limped to the line after a mistimed jump, not even picking up a top ten finish in the end.
Connor Bennett
Editor
MARCEL KITTEL WINS STAGE 10!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FINAL KILOMETRE!! Two long straights to the line now with a pair of sharp left hand turns all that stands in the way!! Katusha firing here coming out of the final corner. Greipel jumped a bit early as he shoots out in front inside the final 500 metres but. Kittel in green jumps perfectly though and he flies past Bouhanni and Greipel, just making it look as easy as you like on his way over the line. Another stage win for the sprint king and he is unstoppable.
Connor Bennett
Editor
2km to go Lotto really shaping up in the best position right now but Katusha are lining up as well and BMC just refuse to die on the outside. This is a high-pace chess battle!! Direct Energy are trying to wrestle their way up and they`re sneaking into BMC`s position. SKY aren`t interested in the sprint, just keeping their distance for Froome.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
The kind of situation Sagan would excel at!!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
3km to go Movistar are lost at the back end of the pack and numbers spread out across the peleton. Direct Energy are moving well up the middle as are Katusha. This is getting intense!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
4km to go BMC stretching across the road on the right edge, coming up alongside Katusha who have shot up out of nowhere alongside Lotto-Soudal. Direct Energy are in the fight as well and riders are flying across the road all over the place!! Everyone looking over their shoulders... waiting.
Connor Bennett
Editor
5km to go Very scrappy in the peleton here with a lot of teams jostling for prime position as we close into the finish line. Lotto-Soudal have numbers up front. Kittle is biding his time here but making sure to stay towards the front.
Connor Bennett
Editor
6km to go There we go... the breakaway have been reeled in after over 150km out in front today. They`ve been absorbed back into the pack and will quickly slip through and out the back. Their day is done.
Connor Bennett
Editor
7km to go BMC really coming up out of nowhere in the last kilometre and they have plenty of numbers up the right side of the road now and look to be taking control of the peleton. SKY now just being swamped a touch by other teams coming up having controlled all day.
Connor Bennett
Editor
8 km to go 10 seconds now...
Connor Bennett
Editor
11km to go Thomas de Gendt pushing up front. Astana making their presence known in the baby blue for the first time today. BMC have sat at the back all day but are also looking to shuffle forwards now.
Connor Bennett
Editor
12km to go Kittel looking eager and hungry at the front of the chasing pack. The breakaway are now 20 seconds in the lead... they won't be out much longer.
Connor Bennett
Editor
16km to go Not dissention but a little disorganisation in the peleton. The teams are really spread out and no one but Team Sky, who have been controlling the pace all day, really look like threatening at all.
Connor Bennett
Editor
18km to go The breakaway refuse to die but this fight has to be taking a bit toll on the legs. The lead is hanging around 55 seconds at the moment. Nothing to worry the chasing pack just yet.
Connor Bennett
Editor
24km to go Riding through the streets and the tight turns around proving difficult for the traffic of the peleton to navigate but the breakaway know they are done and the time continues to slip regardless.
Connor Bennett
Editor
26km to go It's all slipping away for Offredo and Gesbert, the lead now at just 40 seconds and the peleton can see them in the distance.
Connor Bennett
Editor
32km to go The peleton just stretching out as the pace picks up. A big group of around 20 bikes are slimmed out at the front and have nearly completely broken away from the main pack.