German Andre Greipel pipped bitter rival Mark Cavendish to win the 10th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday.
Greipel, who was working for Cavendish at HTC-Highroad until last year but who never got along with the Manxman, outsprinted Cavendish to give his Omega Pharma Lotto team a welcome victory.
The win comes two days after team leader Jurgen van den Broeck, who was targeting a podium finish in Paris, pulled out of the race injured after a crash.
France's Thomas Voeckler of the Europcar team retained the overall leader''s yellow jersey after spending the day safely in the main bunch.
Andy Schleck's team mate Fabian Cancellara, Dutchman Robert Gesink and American Levi Leipheimer were involved in an early crash but survived to reach the finish line.
After the bunch caught the early breakaway riders, green jersey holder Philippe Gilbert, the world number one, attacked one kilometre from the top of the category-four climb to the Cote de Mirandol Bourgnounac, followed by four riders, including Voeckler.
The quintet built a 15-second gap but the peloton reeled them in with some five kilometres left.
In the final stretch, Cavendish launched his sprint a little early allowing Greipel to beat him on the line.
Wednesday's 11th stage will take the peloton over 167.5km from Blaye les Mines to Lavaur.
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