Greipel pips Cavendish

Omega Pharma-Lotto sprinter Greipel roared past HTC's Cavendish on the closing straight to take the first Tour stage win of his career - and the upper-hand in an ongoing feud between two of the peloton's fastest men.

Spaniard Jose Rojas (Movistar) finished third ahead of world champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) and Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil).

Frenchman Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) - who attacked on the final climb of the day alongside Greipel's team-mate, the green jersey Philippe Gilbert - finished safely in the bunch to retain the leader's yellow jersey.

Greipel, who becomes the first German since Jan Ullrich to have won stages on all three Grand Tours, said he was "the happiest person in the world" after winning the 158km stage from Aurillac to Carmaux in central France.

"It's an incredible feeling for me - a stage win in the biggest race in the world. I'm really happy to have found a team that I could ride for in the Tour de France. Of course I had my own ambitions here and I tried to win a stage and now I've managed that," said Greipel, with reference to his four years at HTC where he played second fiddle to Cavendish.

Quizzed about his constant overlooking for HTC's Tour squad, Greipel showed grace while praising the achievements of Cavendish.

"Of course it was always a hard decision that the sport directors [at my old team] had to make about selection and the success of Mark Cavendish is incredible - he's won 17 stages of the Tour de France and this sort of record gave the sport directors and him the right to make the selection," he said.

"That's why it's been hard for me in the past to get in to do this race. I'm grateful to Omega Pharma-Lotto for giving me a chance and I'm happy that I could win for this team."

After a much-needed rest day, the Tour resumed on Tuesday in the same light as it had been ridden over the first nine days: a crash occurred just 10km into the stage, with Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek), Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) and white jersey Robert Gesink (Rabobank) amongst those affected.

But all riders involved were soon back on their bikes and before long a French-flavoured six-man breakaway had formed off the front of the peloton. The break - which featured Remi Di Gregorio (Astana), Sebastien Minard (AG2R), Arthur Vichot (FDJ), Julien El Fares (Cofidis) and Anthony Delaplace (Saur Sojasun), as well as lone Italian Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) - built up a maximum lead of four minutes over the undulating roads of the Auvergne.

Moments before the final of four lower category climbs 20km from the finish, the escapees were caught by a streamlined peloton driven by Sebastian Lang of Omega Pharma-Lotto.

An attack from Cofidis rider Tony Gallopin provoked a hardy reaction by both the yellow and green jersey on the front of the leading group. Voeckler and Gilbert were shadowed by HTC's Tony Martin and Quick Step's Dries Devenyns, and the leading five riders soon found themselves 15 seconds clear after the much-loved Voeckler crossed the summit in pole position.

With the bunch reforming behind, Gilbert took advantage of a moment of indecision amongst the leaders to go on a long solo offensive 7km from the finish. Despite a gutsy effort, the Belgian all-rounder soon tired and was caught by the pack with 4km left to ride.

After a few failed counter attacks, the peloton arrived in Carmaux as one with a bunch sprint the likely outcome. Devoid of his HTC train, Cavendish was forced to take matters in his own hands as he attacked early inside the last kilometre in pursuit of his third stage win on this year's race.

But Greipel timed his counter-attack to perfection, rounding his rivals on the right-hand side of the road and coming from behind to beat Cavendish by a wheel at the death.

Second place at the finish and a high placing in the intermediate sprint at least strengthens the Isle of Man rider's position in the green jersey standings, where he trails Gilbert by 29 points.

The Tour continues on Wednesday with the largely flat 167.5km stage from Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur which will provide Cavendish with the ideal chance to get his revenge in what is proving a thrilling rivalry.