Tour de France Stage 10 - Matthews revels in Revel

Tuesday's Stage 10 almost looked like it was in reverse, with a big category 1 climb at the start, and then a flat finish. It was a parcours asking for a breakaway, and not only did one oblige, it was half decent.

On the road, a pretty damn high quality breakaway group has six minutes on the peloton with 67km left of the stage.

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

That group includes Landa, Sagan, van Avermaet, Boasson Hagen, Gallopin, Rui Costa, Matthews, Chavanel and Nibali. #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

Costa and Sagan won the early climb and intermediate sprint, and almost everyone in the peloton was happy to let them stay clear. Almost.

For the third time this #Tour, the Tommy Tongue is dragging the peloton's pace upwards. Gap to the break drops under 6 minutes. #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

It was a slightly odd move considering that Voeckler's Direct Energie team had two riders in the break, but slightly odd is pretty much Tommy V's modus operandi. It was a quiet middle part of the stage, and even into the final 30km there was little of note. Until, of course, two things happened at once.

Mechanical for Rafal Majka there. Majkanical. #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

While I mess about making terrible puns, the break has split! They've dropped Chavanel, Cummings, Costa, Gallopin, Caruso, Landa and Nibali

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

The lead pack now is GVA, Sagan, EBH, Sam Dumoulin, and three from OBE (Matthews, with Impey and Durbridge) #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

Hilarious pun I'm sure you'll agree. That attack was the last nail in the coffin of hope for the peloton for the day, as they were still several minute behind and with an ever more determined group, that would battle it out between themselves for the stage honours.

The lead pack now is GVA, Sagan, EBH, Sam Dumoulin, and three from OBE (Matthews, with Impey and Durbridge) #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

Those three riders gave Orica-BikeExchange a big advantage over the rest of the group, but they were all still together in the pack, so who was the favourite?

10km to the finish in Revel. My money's on the coffee one. #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/CLUvdQh109

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

As though he was the long-since jettisoned peanut Revel, Durbridge was dropped by the group, his shift done for the day.

One of the OBE riders has been dropped, think it's Durbridge. Dumoulin clinging onto the back as they all toy with each other. #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

I say all, it's Sagan vs Matthews, with Boasson Hagen and van Avermaet waiting behind them for the fireworks. #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

It did come down to those two, with Impey trying to lead Matthews out into the final straight, but there was a floppy-haired spanner in the works as the finish approached.

Sagan basically treating Impey as his lead out man for the time being. Into the final straight, who's going to win it? #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

MATTHEWS! #TDF2016

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

Ultimately it was having three guys in that breakaway that made the difference, Matthews' sprint was so much fresher than the rest. #TDF

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

A tactical masterclass from Orica-BikeExchange then, their first win under their new sponsorship, and well deserved. Sagan, meanwhile, reclaimed the green jersey, for his 75th day in the green jersey in his 96th Tour stage. Stat.

Behind them, the peloton did nothing of note, rolling over uncontested and without any particular effort 10 minutes after the much more exciting breakaway group, meaning Froome retained his yellow jersey, before I made a dangerous prediction.

Don't expect those standings to change tomorrow either, Stage 11 to Montpellier has only two early cat 4 climbs, & is one for the sprinters

— The Laughing Group (@Laughing_Group) July 12, 2016

You tell 'em, Kev.

Stage results
1. Michael Matthews (OBE) 4:22:38
2. Peter Sagan (TNK) + :00
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (DDD) + :00

General Classification
1. Chris Froome (SKY) 49:08:20
2. Adam Yates (OBE) + :16
3. Dan Martin (EQS) + :19
4. Nairo Quintana (MOV) + :23
5. Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT) + :37

Sprint Classification
1. Peter Sagan (TNK) 242
2. Mark Cavendish (DDD) 204
3. Marcel Kittel (EQS) 182

King of the Mountains
1. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) 80
2. Rafal Majka (TNK) 77
3. Tom Dumoulin (TGA) 58