Greipel outsprints Cav as Voeckler keeps yellow

Germany's Andre Greipel outsprinted British rival Mark Cavendish to claim his maiden Tour de France victory in the 158km 10th stage between Aurillac and Carmaux on Tuesday. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler of the Europcar team retained the race leader's yellow jersey by 1min 49sec on Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez of Rabobank. In one of the few remaining sprint stages of the race Greipel took full advantage of Cavendish losing his formidable sprint 'train' in the final kilometres.
As the finish line came into view HTC-Highroad sprinter Cavendish emerged from the wheel of Liquigas sprinter Daniel Oss to attack on his own. Greipel, however, had been keeping a close eye on his rival and immediately pulled out to the side, gritted his teeth and drove hard for the line where he beat the Isle of Man rider by a wheel length. "It's the moment I've been waiting for all year. I've worked really hard all year and I want to say thanks to everyone who has supported me and kept behind me," said Greipel.
Greipel's maiden win, against the man whose dominance effectively deprived him of racing the Tour de France while the German was at HTC, could not come at a better time for Omega-Pharma. The Belgian outfit had a dream first week as Philippe Gilbert triumphed in stage one to take the yellow jersey. However the tears were flowing when their yellow jersey contender, Jurgen van den Broeck, crashed out injured on stage nine. "The first nine days were a dream, we worked hard as a team and had a lot of success," added Greipel.
"Then after we lost Jurgen everyone was down. On Monday's rest day we talked and told each other we had to stick together and give it everything we could in the race. "It's the most beautiful race in the world. To win here is amazing." Spain's Jose Joaquin Rojas, of Movistar, was third ahead of Norwegian Thor Hushovd of Garmin-Cervelo. Cavendish has won two stages on the 98th edition so far to take his career tally on the race to 17 - unrivalled for a sprint specialist on the Tour.
Greipel added: "He (Cavendish) is probably the best sprinter on the Tour de France, so to beat him is pretty special. "We're big rivals, and I hope we get a chance to contest another stage win." Wednesday's 11th stage is a 167.5 km ride from Blaye les Mines to Lavaur with another flat finish which should tempt the sprinters.