Greig Leach

Professional cyclist, like their amateur counterparts, are a very supportive lot. While the sprinter and winner of the first Malliot Jaune, Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano) didn't expect to be able to get over the nine climbs of today's stage to compete at the finale, it was still sad to watch most of the peloton ride away from him on climb after climb. Romain Feillu (Bretagne-Seche), from a rival team, even a rival country, reached out to pat Kittel on the back in congratulations, as Feillu went forward and Kittel continued to go backward on the climb up Holme Moss Hill.