Stage Ten: Bunch Sprint in St. Malo

As expected, today’s stage ended in a contest of the big sprinters.  The early breakaway group won the high points in the intermediate sprint, while the Big Three essentially tied for the middle points: 6th place André Greipel (Lotto) 10 points, 7th Peter Sagan (Cannondale) 9 points, 8th Mark Cavendish (Omega) 8 points.  At the finish, Marcel Kittel (Argos) swept out of Greipel’s slip stream to take the stage win from his compatriot, scoring the maximum prize of 45 points.  Greipel in 2nd scored 35 points, with 3rd Cavendish 30 points, and 4th Sagan 26 points.  That leaves Sagan still in the Green Jersey, leading Greipel by 83, and Cavendish by 103.  Kittel moved up from 7th to 4th, but still trails Sagan by 137.

Cavendish figured in a bit of drama at the end.  As he charged out of the line to begin his final sprint, he bumped into Tom Veelers, from Kittel’s lead-out train just as Veelers peeled out to make way for Kittel’s sprint.  Veelers crashed, while Cavendish managed to stay upright, but it broke his rhythm just enough to keep him from catching Kittel and Greipel.  No penalty for Cavendish, but also no stage victory.

One hundred riders finished with the same time, but Daniel Moreno (Katusha) lost 1'40", which dropped him from 17th place to 18th, for the only change of standing in the GC top 20.  There should be some changes in that group after tomorrow’s individual time trial, but Chris Froome (Sky) will probably keep his Yellow Jersey.

I don't have any biking pictures relevant to today's stage.  But in two days the Tour heads across the Loire Valley, home of many of France's most amazing châteaux.  This hobby horse/cycle was on display in the Château Cheverny . . .

While, outside the château, we spotted this cool old Rolls Royce.

Then, while visiting the Château Villandy, we spotted another wonderful Rolls Royce . . .

. . .  and this super-cool Bentley.  They have nothing to do with the Tour de France, but they have wheels and I saw them in France, in the area where the Tour will soon pass through.  Does that count?