Tour de France stage 10 LIVE: Albertville to Valence

Welcome to our live coverage of stage 10 of the 2021 Tour de France. We are leaving the Alps today and heading back for a lumpy stage that should really be a sprint.

There a few climbs but they shouldn't cause any problems. Maybe another win for Mark Cavendish? 

It will likely be a slower day after the brutality that were stages eight and nine in the Alps in the atrocious weather and with the double ascent of Ventoux coming tomorrow.

It's the start of the second week of the Tour. Hopefully we are leaving the horrible weather conditions behind in the Alps and we can have the sunshine that we're used to seeing here at the Tour.

Currently, 18 riders have left the race for various reasons. It's been a real race of attrition with some awful crashes and bad weather. Also other riders leaving the race to focus on the Olympics.

Make sure to head over and vote in our poll on our Twitter page on who you think is going to take the glory today

Some must-reads from yesterday's rest day:

'It's been an incredible journey': The story of Nic Dlamini and his first Tour de France

Mark Cavendish says ‘people will not understand mindset’ of Chris Froome as he chases Tour de France comeback

'I've not got many Tours left in me,' says Geraint Thomas, before smiling 'no, it's not the last'

Tour de France: 'The first openly LGBTQ+ rider will have my support,' says Jacopo Guarnieri

'A world away from the Tour de France’ - Pro cyclists are finding solace off-road, but why switch from WorldTour to gravel?

It looks like a glorious day weather-wise in Albertville. Lets hope this is a bit of what's to come.

Lachlan Morton, who is riding the whole Tour de France 2021 route and transfers with no help has already ridden up Ventoux yesterday morning at first light and is on his way to stage 12.

Can he make it to Paris before the peloton?

Another good chance for Mark Cavendish today it seems.

During the rest day on Monday Cavendish gave a press conference the world's media, and he was asked his thoughts about Chris Froome chasing his Tour de France comeback.

Froome, a four-time winner of the Tour, is around 20 seconds down on Cavendish in the general classification after the first week, but Cavendish said you can never write someone off.

Read Cavendish's full comments on Froome here: Mark Cavendish says ‘people will not understand mindset’ of Chris Froome as he chases Tour de France comeback

Away from the Tour de France, the biggest stage race for the Women's WorldTour is underway. The newly rebranded Giro Donne, previously the Giro Rosa, is a huge target for the pros, but yesterday's time trial ended in huge disappointment for a big group of the riders.

After Anna van der Breggen dominated the TT, 12 riders were forced out of the race after missing the time cut.

Read the full story here: Anna van der Breggen's time trial at the Giro Donne was so fast she eliminated a dozen riders

We've had an abandon this morning. Jonas Koch from Intermarché-Wanty has pulled out of the race after being unwell over the last two days, so he won't take to the start  of stage 10. 

That's 19 abandons so far in this Tour, with the Olympics also on the horizon I think we'll be seeing a lot more this week. 

We're not too far off the start now. So many possibilities that can happen today with the awkward terrain on the menu today.

After his incredible performance taking third on the mountain top finish on stage nine, Sonny Colbrelli will be hoping to continue his push to take green away from Cavendish.

There is a chance that a certain Slovakian could now come into play in this second week too as he will hope he can push for an eighth green jersey. Time will tell.

We've started the Départ réel. Just over 6km of this before the official start. The sun is out but there is a tiny bit of drizzle out there as well. 

The rain starts to fall and Alejandro Valverde starts complaining to the cameras. He has had a rough race. 

He really does not like the wet weather. Hopefully it will clear up as we leave the Alps. 

We are now racing! But, no attacks as of yet. I'm not surprised that not many riders want to go up the road.

Some moves coming in now with Jérémy Cabot, Silvan Dillier and Thomas De Gendt trying a move but Deceuninck - Quick-Step aren't letting it go yet.

Tosh Van der Sande is the next to go for Lotto-Soudal. Astana-Premier Tech is also sending a rider up the road. Cavendish's team won't want to let to many riders go up the road. Hugo Houle is the man for Astana. 188km to go.

Wout van Aert going for the win today!

Looks like we have the break sorted then. 181km to go and we already have a 2-00 gap to Van der Sande and and Houle.

Peloton already controlling for the sprinters. It is forecast that there will be thunder storms at the end and possible crosswinds. Could be a bit frantic at the end.

Jumbo-Visma team boss, Richard Plugge spoke about Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert potentially riding on the same team. 

"At Alpecin-Fenix he is the one and only king of that team. The whole squad is built around him there. With us, he would also have to deal with other riders. I don't think he wants to, but I don't think we should either."

Read more: Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert can't be on the same team, says Jumbo-Visma boss

Pace has kicked up again with Küng, Dillier, Colbrelli and Benoot all trying to get up the road but two Deceuninck - Quick-Step riders jump onto them and it immediately sits up again.

Cavendish just getting back onto the peloton after tinkering with his bike. Team DSM now taking control for Cees Bol.

166km to go with a gap of 5-51 gap to the duo up front.

Ciao cycling world, Alex Ballinger here.

I've relieved Tim Bonville-Ginn of his duties for the next few kilometres as he's off for some refueling.

Just as I take over we have our two-rider breakaway out in front, Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Soudal) and Hugo Houle from Astana-Premier Tech.

This makes things a lot more simple for the sprint teams, as they only have to chase down the two riders, rather than a big breakaway, on the impending climbs.

The break has 4-37 over the peloton at the moment, with Tim Declerq from Deceuninck - Quick-Step putting on his usual tractor display at the front of the bunch. 

For those out in the world still supporting the dream of 'Nairo in green' (it's an unusual Twitter niche, for those unaware), we have this update from Arkéa-Samsic.

If you've missed this particular quirk of the Tour de France, for the last few years there has been a Twitter account absolutely consumed by the idea that Colombian climber Nairo Quintana is secretly the fastest sprinter in the peloton and will one day win the green jersey.

After all, anything really can happen at the Tour...

The race is a t the foot of the only categorised climb on today's route, the Col de Couz. 

We've still got 144km left to race, so this won't be decisive in the result, BUT it's 7.5km-long, with 2.9 per cent average gradient, so it'll still soften up the legs for the potential sprint at the end. 

Break has 4-08 on the peloton. 

If you've been watching GCN's coverage during the Tour de France, you may have seen mention of WHOOP at some point.

Basically WHOOP is a fitness tracker and is used by EF Education-Nippo, who are sponsored by the company.

As a result, we've been sent some interesting data from the team about EF riders which reveal a little bit about how tough the Tour really is.

This data below is from Colombia's Sergio Higuita after stage nine to Tignes. 

Higuita got seven hours sleep before the stage, which is very low considering the huge amount of recovery these riders need. He also burned 5,500 calories during the 145km stage and have an average heart rate of 141BPM, with a maximum of 190BPM.

There is also HRV and resting heart-rate data for those of you are up to speed on those kind of metrics.

The recovery score is a combination of all the recovery data including sleep, HRV and RHR to give a picture of how recovered a rider is - 34 per cent is very low, although not Higuita's worst recovery from the last week.

His day strain is also very very high, as the highest day strain you can get on WHOOP is 21. 

The peloton has made it over the categorised climb, Team DSM are leading the bunch. Mark Cavendish still in there looking fairly comfortable.

We've now got a bit of a descent and 10km on the valley floor, before an interesting little addition to this stage - a long uncategorised climb that has the intermediate sprint at the top. 

Going to be interesting to see who goes for this one, but expect Sonny Colbrelli and Sagan to fancy their like, while Cavendish will want to give it a go as well. 

114km and riders are approaching the intermediate sprint. 

The two breakaway riders are going to take the major points, but there will still be enough on offer to fight for third. 

Team DSM are leading the bunch, Deceuninck close behind with Cavendish. 

Crash in the bunch, bit of a compression and the concertina effect took down Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) and Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange) was caught up in that. 

All the riders are looking a bit grumpy but are back on. 

The breakaway are on the uncategorised climb to the sprint point now, 3-38 ahead of the bunch. Hugo Houle is pulling in the break. 

The sprint is here! Van der Sande wins maximum points up in the breakaway and the peloton and surging towards it three metres behind.

Sonny Colbrelli fires himself out of the bunch and comfortably crosses over third behind the break, taking 15 points.

Michael Matthews was next taking 13 points followed by Jasper Philipsen who takes 11. 

Cavendish not a feature in the sprint, but he still leads in the points classification for now. 

Here's the virtual green jersey classification after the sprint:

1. Mark Cavendish, 168pts
2. Michael Matthews, 143pts
3. Sonny Colbrelli, 136pts

With that, I'll hand back to my colleague Tim Bonville-Ginn, who is back from lunch and ready to bring you all the action from the new few kilometres. 

Thanks Alex for taking that middle slot of the day. Bit of an intriguing day today with the occasional attack and Cavendish not contesting the intermediate sprint.

Perhaps holding all his energy for the final kick to the line. In my opinion Sonny Colbrelli is now the favourite for the green jersey.

The was was dragged up briefly before the feed station with 83km to go so the time gap to the break is now down at 1-06.

Interesting to hear Hugo Houle say to Tosh Van der Sande to take it easy for now and really go for it with 30km to go. Could be an interesting finish today.

Deceuninck - Quick-Step have moved up closer to the front with Cavendish. They have Declercq on the front as per usual along with riders from DSM and Arkéa-Samsic.

Big crash at the back of the peloton including almost all of the Ineos Grenadiers team. Porte staying down a bit longer than the rest but that team just can't buy luck. 

Jumbo-Visma were also caught out with Wout van Aert involved. Two teams that have had no luck at all.

We're seeing some amazing shots of the mountains in the distance but the light is showing a lot of rain.

I have a feeling that the rain is going to start coming down pretty soon. It has also suddenly got very dark.

55km to go with the duo holding on to a 1-17 gap over the peloton.

Results are in and it's a huge percentage for the 'Manx missile' for today. Can he hold on over the climb?

UAE, Jumbo-Visma, Bora, Qhubeka-NextHash, Movistar and EF all in colour order at the front of the bunch already.

Still 50km to go, the pace is likely up for the climb that's not far away. Wind is apparently also picking up with a possible headwind finish. 

Just a minute between the break and the peloton now. Deceuninck do get a couple of riders up to the front now too with Cavendish very close to the front.

The break is going to be coming back very soon as the pace has rocketed in the peloton. Van der Sande and Houle did have a plan for the final 30km, but they may not even get to that before getting caught. Just 22 seconds with 46km to go.

The pace has gone out of the peloton again. 42km to go and the gap is starting to head out to a minute again. 

Real cat and mouse stuff here.

We have started the final awkward climb of the day with 40km to go. Deceuninck have Cavendish right at the front along with all the other sprinters, but will anyone try and really kick up the pace to drop the Manxman? 

Jonas Vingegaard getting a little bullied in the peloton there as he is forced down the bunch by Deceuninck with Team BikeExchange upping the pace for Michael Matthews.

Is the climb tough enough to drop any of the pure fast men though? So far I would say no.

Meanwhile, at the front, Houle has attacked Van der Sande. 38km to go with 39 seconds of a gap.

Lucas Hamilton is absolutely hammering the pace here. Pogačar has had to come up to fourth wheel and looks to be breathing heavily. 

Cavendish has slipped a little bit but he has team-mates alongside him. I don't think he's too far off the front anyway.

The break has now been caught with 36km to go.

That's the climb done. Cavendish now at the front. We now have a cross-tail-wind hitting the riders at 29kph.

34km to go and the other teams have failed to drop Cavendish. Alaphilippe on the front with Ballerini and Asgreen. Cavendish with Devenyns a few rows back.

They have now gone into the open and it is a stiff crosswind. The peloton is not a full one, quite a few riders out of the back.

Alaphilippe, Formolo, Konrad and Fraile working on the front at the moment, Pogačar in second wheel. 32km to go.

The whole Deceuninck - Quick-Step team are now together as Tim Declercq returns to the front once again.

Michael Mørkøv now chatting with Cavendish. Shows that they're probably relaxed now they've got over that climb with no real issues.

Team Arkéa-Samsic now join the power at the front with Nacer Bouhanni. Deceuninck have really upped the pace now but Ballerini, Mørkøv and Cavendish have lost the DQS train. 29km to go as the rain is closing in on the peloton. 

Alaphilippe is absolutely hammering the pace on the front now.

Sonny Colbrelli with a rear wheel puncture at the worst possible moment for the Italian national champion! 

27km to go and he does have a team-mate with him but this could be game over for him.

Very clunky bike change there from the Bahrain Victorious team car as Deceuninck - Quick-Step continue to push. Bora-Hansgrohe continuing the pace too. Pogačar well placed still.

The peloton is one very long line now with 25km to go as UAE Team Emirates look to slow the pace down.

Alaphilippe and Oss come back to try and get the pace up. Asgreen there too. Colbrelli has Marco Haller alongside him as he flies through the cars behind. 

Ineos, Jumbo-Visma, Israel Start-Up nation and BikeExchange all move up to the front yet again with 24km to go.

It looks like Colbrelli will make it back to the peloton with 22km to go but he has to make his way up to the front again.

The peloton is very compact but he has all his team around him now moving him up. 

Suddenly, we hit a very wide road and the peloton is all over it. Greg Van Avermaet now moves up with his team as they look after second overall, Ben O'Connor.

I was about to say Deceuninck are sitting calmly behind in about 15th position but then they all appear on the front just before a roundabout. They now share the front with Jumbo-Visma who are working for Wout van Aert. 

Bora-Hansgrohe has also got going on the front and the pace has split the peloton and Vingegaard is in the front group. Sagan there with Van Aert and cavendish but this is very quickly closed down by Pogačar himself!

15km to go and Deceuninck now hammer on the pace again with Cavendish in second wheel.

That effort from Pogačar to close that rather large gap looked superhuman! Absolutely incredible the power he can put out.

14km to go, EF join Bora and Deceuninck at the front. Maybe trying to split the race for Urán? 

Jonas Vingegaard is trying to help split the race but he just doesn't have the power to go with the likes of Cort, Asgreen, Alaphilippe or Mohorič.

A few gaps are being created a little bit further back and we have echelons!! 12km to go and it is carnage.

Richard Carapaz suddenly appears on second wheel! Superb ride by him with Pogačar also well placed. About 50 riders at the front I would say.

Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome and Richie Porte all have sat up. Not nice to see those riders so far back and giving up on the race. 10km to go and Carapaz is really trying to get rid of Pogačar but it is really not working.

Cees Bol and DSM have missed the move! But the pace has completely gone out of the peloton.

EF Education-Nippo, BikeExchange and Deceuninck - Quick-Step all take control again as Bol's group does make it up there with 7km to go.

This is the most we've seen of EF all race! They have their whole team on the front. Maybe they're thinking of having a go with Cort.

5km to go and Pogačar is right at the back of the bunch at the moment. He is slowly being brought up again but Kwiatkowski is pushing the pace with Carapaz on his wheel.

Alarm bells die down for UAE as Pogačar comes back up with Mikkel Bjerg. But, Pogačar is being pushed around a bit.

None of that usual respect for the yellow jersey as he's bumped and barged out of the way again and he slips down the group. Deceuninck - Quick-Step take full control of the peloton now with Devenyns, Alaphilippe, Ballerini and Mørkøv working in front of Cavendish. 3km to go.

Ah Asgreen and Cattaneo have rejoined their team-mates. DSM an Bora both moving up. Colbrelli, Philipsen, Sagan, Greipel, García and Van Aert all well placed.

1.5km to go. 

Flamme rouge! Asgreen still on the front. He pulls off with 800 metres to go and hands over to Ballerini, he starts his sprint, Mørkøv picks it up now with Cavendish perfectly placed 

Mark Cavendish wins his 33rd Tour de France stage in emphatic style! That was a vintage lead out! Wow!

1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, in 4-14-07
2. Wout van Aert (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma
3. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
4. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Team Arkéa-Samsic
5. Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange
6. Michael Mørkøv (Den) Deceuninck - Quick-Step
7. André Greipel (Ger) Israel Start-Up Nation
8. Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
9. Anthony Turgis (Fra) Team TotalEnergies
10. Cees Bol (Ned) Team DSM, all at same time.

GC after stage 10!

1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 38-25-17
2. Ben O'Connor (Aus) Ag2r Citroën Team, at 2-01
3. Rigoberto Urán (Col) EF Education-Nippo, at 5-18
4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma, at 5-32
5. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers, at 5-33
6. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar Team, at 5-47
7. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 5-58
8. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech, at 6-12
9. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis, at 7-02
10. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 7-22

Cavendish has a nice gap in green but it is still all to play for.

1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, 218pts
2. Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange, 159pts
3. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, 136pts

Tomorrow, we head back to some mountains but it is a monster. Double Mont Ventoux! Both the Sault and Bédoin sides of the 'Giant of Provence' will be tackled before a finish in Malaucène.

Pierre Rolland was targeting the stage until he was told on the rest day that it is not a summit finish. I think Pierre needs to look through his roadbook!

Here is Tadej Pogačar's reaction after stage 10 - Read here

Mark Cavendish reacts to his third stage win - read the full story 

Wout van Aert put on a good show in the sprint to finish second.

Read his reaction here 

And finally check out our analysis from the stage, as we picked the five biggest moments from the day. Read here 

That wraps up our live coverage from stage 10 of the Tour de France 2021.

We'll be back bright any early tomorrow with live updates from the huge double Mont Ventoux stage.

Thanks for reading!