Tour de France 2017: Marcel Kittel wins stage as Chris Froome stays safe in yellow jersey
Froome is 18 seconds clear of Italian national champion Fabio Aru in the general classification
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Marcel Kittel won stage 10 of the Tour de France in Bergerac as Chris Froome stayed safe in the yellow jersey.
Quick-Step Floors' Kittel strengthened his grip on the green jersey as leader of the points classification by winning his fourth stage of the Tour, with fellow German John Degenkolb of Trek-Segafredo second and Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen of LottoNL-Jumbo third.
Team Sky's Froome crossed the line safely in the pack, keeping the three-time Tour winner 18 seconds clear of Italian national champion Fabio Aru in the general classification.
Fortuneo-Oscaro's Dan McLay had looked strong in the finale but launched his sprint too soon and faded to finish seventh at the end of the 178 kilometre stage from Perigueux to Bergerac.
The race started at a strong pace as riders re-found their legs following Monday's rest day, but once a two-man breakaway - formed of Wanty-Groupe Gobert's Yoann Offredo and Fortuneo-Oscaro's Elie Gesbert - had gone clear, the peloton settled down for a gentle ride around the Dordogne.
The leading duo quickly built a lead of more than five minutes, but always knew their's was a doomed mission with the sprint teams eyeing their chance after two difficult days in the mountains, and with the Pyrenees looming later in the week.
The gap gradually began to fall, and the catch was made with seven kilometres to go as Offredo and Gesbert shook hands.
Team Sky led the peloton towards Bergerac in a bid to keep Froome safe before the sprint trains took over on the way into town.
Kittel did not have many team-mates left on the approach to the line and appeared a long way back, but he surfed the wheels and used McLay's attack to set up his victory.
“Maybe if it was a race where I didn't win a stage yet, maybe I would have panicked with the position I was in,” Kittel said.
“I was waiting for someone to make a move because there were a few that were too far back. That was McLay today, I just held his wheel and then I could hit the front at the perfect moment.”
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments