Stage 10: ÎLE D’OLÉRON LE CHÂTEAU-D’OLÉRON>ÎLE DE RÉ SAINT-MARTIN-DE-RÉ
The first truly flat stage of this year’s Tour de France. While there were no climbs to break up the peloton, there were dangerous crosswinds and sharp turns for the riders to contend with.
Two riders went off the front at the start of the stage as the riders traveled between two islands and over the mainland of France.
The breakaway was caught with 99km to go just as a crash occurred in the pack sending multiple riders to the pavement and into a ditch on the lefthand side of the road. Another crash with 64.5km to go as they entered a section of a roundabout. Another lefthand curve caught some riders out at 31.5km left in the stage, just before crossing a section of railroad.
A split in the field and another crash with 18km to go as the sprint teams started to rev up for the finish line.
Sam Bennett edged out Caleb Ewan and Peter Sagan for the stage victory and regained the green jersey from Sagan.
