Tour de France Stage 11 Preview

Photo: © AFP Photo

Andre Greipel let loose a ferocious sprint to overtake Mark Cavendish in the final 50 meters of today's Tour de France-Stage 10 to take his biggest win of his career. Greipel beat his former teammate in a validation of his feeling that he should have been allowed to ride for his own wins more often during his tenure at HTC-Highroad. Before Greipel left for Omega Pharma-Lotto at the end of last season, HTC-Columbia management typically directed him to ride in a support role for Cavendish.

Greipel left HTC-Highroad for a team that he felt would support his efforts to go for wins, which is why he was so incensed at the beginning of this year's Tour when he felt (with a nod to Yogi Berra) like it was deja vu' all over again. Greipel  felt that the team was supporting his superstar teammate Phillipe Gilbert in the green jersey competition, instead of helping him get lined up for the stage wins. However, it looks like things turned around today, as Gilbert rode away from the peloton on the Cote de Mirandol-Bourgnounac to attack with about 12 km to go in, what was revealed later, an effort to drop Cavendish before the finish and subsequently setting up Greipel. It was a great strategy that worked to perfection. The peloton stretched out in the hard efforts to catch the storming maiilot vert (Green Jersey) storming up the road with Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) and the yellow jersey of Thomas Voeckler, whose presence greatly disturbed the peloton. Gilbert's effort hurt the peloton and forced the sprinter's teams to chase if they wanted a chance at victory. Cavendish, by his own post-race admission, said that he started his sprint too early. He didn't diminish his ex-teammate win, potentially reigniting their fractious relationship, but admitted that he just plain got beat.

Vous etes ici (you are here) 
Stage 11 - Blaye-les-Mines - Lavaur (168km)

I know a couple of things after today's stage. One, Mark Cavendish, does not like to lose and tomorrow he will be sure to not make any mistakes that will cost him a win. Two, eventhough there is a slight bump towards the end of the stage, it is too far to keep it coming down to a bunch sprint. Especially, since tomorrow is the last stage before the Pyrenees.

Other Stage notes

• It's nice to see Raymond Poulidor continue to attend the Tour and greet stage winners. A great French Champion is beloved by all for his 'eternal second' underdog status in the Tour, Poulidor completed 12 Tours, but never wore the yellow jersey, despite finishing 2nd three times and on the final step of the podium (3rd) five times!
• It's also nice that the 'Badger'-Bernard Hinault, the five time Tour winner is finally wearing long sleeve shirts on the podium. Much classier than the mid-manager look that he has had going on for years.

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