Froome holds on to Yellow Jersey as Cavendish is left frustrated after allegations of foul play

Marcel Kittel is the first rider to clinch two stages in the 2013 Tour de France as he beats Cavendish to the line in a 10th stage finale sprint after a bumpy 197km ride from Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Saint-Malo. 

Having won all five sprints during the Giro d'Italia, Cavendish's third place in yesterday's 10th stage of the Tour de France would not have satisfied the Olympic Gold Medallist. The cyclist from the Isle of Man was involved in a crash close to the finish line with Dutchman Tom Veelers, that could have cost him dearly. 

"I just followed the road, the road went to the left, I just did a normal sprint and I hope Tom is okay," Stated Cavendish in the face of allegations of misconduct by fellow cyclist, Veelers - "I did a sprint to put Marcel Kittel on the front and I was dropping back and suddenly I got ridden off my bike by Mark Cavendish," 

Despite Veeler's protesting, fellow Argos-Shimano team mate and stage winner, Marcel Kitter, decided that Cavendish's action were not malicious and that the sliding collision that saw the Dutchman hit the ground was just an accident -"It was very unlucky, Tom was going out [dropping back], Cavendish was going up, their handlebars clashed and he [Veelers] just lost control. I cannot imagine it was on purpose, it's something that just happens sometimes."

With the race officials agreeing with the Kitter, Cavendish was free to race another day without a penalty being imposed on his already less than satisfying (in his view) race. 

British interests were not all tied in with controversy as Chris Froome managed to end the race in 24th position which sees him regain the yellow jersey for yet another stage. After sky made a promise to give Froome more support during the tour after a less than satisfying team performance during the 9th stage of the race on Sunday, last year's tour runner up manages to keep a healthy lead over rival Alejandro Valverde of Movistar going in to the next stage of the race. 

Stage 10 results:

1. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Argos 4:53:25"

2. Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto same time

3. Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step

4. Peter Sagan (Slo) Cannondale

5. William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.fr

Selected others:

21. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing same time

24. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky

25. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar

31. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Tinkoff

39. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin +1:44"

47. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar

82 Andy Schleck (Lux) Radioshack Leopard

Overall standings after stage 10:

1. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky 41:52:43"

2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar +1:25"

3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin +1:44"

4. Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Belkin +1:50"

5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Saxo-Tinkoff +1:51"

Selected others:

6. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Tinkoff +1'51"

7. Nairo Quintana (Spa) Movistar +2'02"

8. Daniel Martin (Ire) Garmin +2'28"

9. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha +2'31"

16. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC +4'36"

34. Richie Porte (GB) Team Sky +20'10"

47. Nicolas Roche (Ire) Saxo-Tinkoff +31'50"

83. Peter Kennaugh (GB) Team Sky +55'51"

99. David Millar (GB) Garmin +1h10'28"

148. Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma-Quickstep +1h38'50"

165. Ian Stannard (GB) Team Sky +1h48'16"

175. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky +1h53'06"

Green points jersey standings after stage 10:

1. Peter Sagan (Svk/Cannondale) 269 points

2. Andre Greipel (Ger/Lotto) 186

3. Mark Cavendish (GB/Omega Pharma - Quickstep) 166

4. Marcel Kittel (Ger/Argos-Shimano) 132

5. Alexander Kristoff (Nor/Katusha) 131

Standings from bbc.co.uk/sport