Greipel outclasses Cavendish to take the 10th stage

AFP - 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 Cavendish emerged from the wheel of Italian 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 convincingly.

Spain's Jose Joaquin Rojas, of Movistar, was third ahead of Norwegian Thor Hushovd of Garmin-Cervelo.

Cavendish, who rides for HTC-Columbia, 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.