2014 Tour de France Stage 10 Report

Mulhouse - La Planche des Filles 161.5km

The break consisted of 8 riders: Peter Sagan, Lieuwe Westra, Giovanni Visconti, Amael Monard, Markel Aranburu, Thomas Voeckler, Joaquim Rodriguez and Christophe Riblon. However, there were many groups who were split across the course. On the second category; Col du Firstplan, Voeckler was first and took 5 points at the summit, Joaquim Rodriguez took 3, Sagan with 2pts and Riblon was fourth. Jan Barta and Arnaud Gerard caught the breakaway on the slopes of the Petit Ballon. The chase group included Michal Kwiatkowski and Tony Martin. Sagan, Barta and Gerard were dropped on the first category climb. Westra attacked on the climb and only Voeckler, Moinard and Rodriguez could stay with him. At the back, Ted King had to abandon the race after extreme fatigue. Rodriguez beat Voeckler to take 10 points on the Petit Ballon. On the Descent, Tony Martin's group caught back on to the the leading group. Tiago Machado, who was in 3rd, crashed on the descent and had to abandon the race. We then had work that he was back in the race. Alberto Contador crashed quite heavily on the foot of the Col du Platzerwasel. He lost 4 minutes on the peloton before he could get back on his bike. Rodriguez out sprinted Thomas Voeckler to take 10 points on the Platzerwasel. On the descent of the climb Alberto Contador abandoned the Tour, his injuries made it  too much for him to continue. Rodriguez beat Voeckler at the top of the 2nd Category Col d'Oderen. Joaquim Rodriguez beat Thomas Voeckler to take 2 points on the 3rd Category Col de Croix. On the 1st Category, Col des Chevreres, the breakaway shattered and Tony Gallopin in the Yellow jersey was dropped by the peloton. There was only two riders at the front, Joaquim Rodriguez and Michal Kwiatkowski, the latter was dropped halfway up the climb. Rodriguez took 10 points at the top of the climb. Michal Kwiatkowski passed Visconti and Co on the descent. Rodriguez and Kwiatkowski were the two leaders at the bottom of the climb. In the peloton, Scarponi crashed heavily on  the descent of the climb. With 5km to go, Rodriguez attacked Kwiatkowski and rode up ahead to have a 28 second lead with 4km to go. With 3km to go, Nibali attacked and caught Kwiatkowski to ride himself into the Yellow jersey. He swiftly caught Rodriguez and passed him. Nibali won the stage and has taken a massive lead in the Yellow jersey classification. Tony Gallopin came in 4:45 back, and lost his Yellow jersey.

Stage 10 Result:

1.	ITANIBALI Vincenzo	41	ASTANA PRO TEAM	04h 27' 26''
2.	FRAPINOT Thibaut	127	FDJ.FR	04h 27' 41''	+ 00' 15''
3.	ESPVALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro	11	MOVISTAR TEAM	04h 27' 46''	+ 00' 20''
4.	FRAPÉRAUD Jean-Christophe	81	AG2R LA MONDIALE	04h 27' 46''	+ 00' 20''
5.	FRABARDET Romain	82	AG2R LA MONDIALE	04h 27' 48''	+ 00' 22''
6.	USAVAN GARDEREN Tejay	141	BMC RACING TEAM	04h 27' 48''	+ 00' 22''
7.	AUSPORTE Richie	7	TEAM SKY	04h 27' 51''	+ 00' 25''
8.	CZEKONIG Leopold	201	TEAM NETAPP-ENDURA	04h 28' 16''	+ 00' 50''
9.	ESPRODRIGUEZ Joaquim	21	TEAM KATUSHA	04h 28' 18''	+ 00' 52''
10.	ESPNIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel	5	TEAM SKY	04h 28' 20''	+ 00' 54''