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Matthews thanks dog after realising TDF dream

Revel - Michael Matthews dedicated a stage 10 victory to his dog Gigi after admitting he had considered giving up on his Tour de France dreams following a succession of crashes.

The 25-year-old Australian benefitted from strong teamwork by his Orica colleagues Luke Durbridge and Daryl Impey to outsprint world champion Peter Sagan and Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway on Tuesday.

But he said there was a time when he believed such a win would never come.

"It's been three years since the dream came true of starting, or planing to start the Tour de France, but then crashing when I was meant to fly to the UK to start the Tour de France (in 2014)," said Matthews, whose nickname is Bling due to his flashy Monaco lifestyle and penchant for jewelry, designer labels and fast cars.

"It was what it was. Then the next year -- last year -- I crashed on stage three and broke four ribs.

"This year I already crashed two times. I was almost giving up on this race and going to say maybe the Tour de France is not for me."

But a chat with his wife and some clear affection for his dog seemed to give Matthews the morale boost needed to fight on.

"I had so much bad luck but yesterday (Monday), on the rest day, with my wife we had a good talk," he added.

"She kept me motivated to keep pushing -- I dedicate this win to my wife and my dog Gigi."

Matthews had been attentive during the opening skirmishes of Tuesday's stage to ensure he got in the right breakaway.

And when fellow Aussie Durbridge and South African Impey bridged over to the escapees, he knew his team was confident in his stage chances.

"My team-mates did a really special job today. When I was in the breakaway at the top of the climb with Sagan and (Vincenzo) Nibali, I was unsure what would happen in the race," said Matthews.

"Then I heard on the radio that Luke Durbridge and Daryl Impey were coming across to the breakaway I was in.

"From then I knew it was game on! They believed in me."

Durbridge concurred, praising the team effort.

"When you close out like that you could call it a technical masterpiece. We're pretty happy with that," he said.

"It doesn't always come together like that, but when it does it's pretty special."

Durbridge said the crucial moment came when the original 15-man breakaway was trimmed to seven by an acceleration from Slovak Sagan with 25km left.

All three Orica riders got in the front group, after which Durbridge worked hard to keep the gap to the eight others.

When he cracked on a short, steep climb around 8km from the finish, Impey took over.

He kept Sagan busy with attacks before leading out the sprint finish, keeping the pace high so no one could get the jump on Matthews and attack from distance.

"We had Matthews - he had obviously done a little less than Sagan, (Greg) Van Avermaet and (Edvald) Boasson Hagen, and saved the legs a bit," said Durbridge.

"He still has to have the legs to do it, but I think Sagan helped us out there a bit and split the group.

"Then we had three in the front seven."

Impey, who wore the race leader's yellow jersey for two days in 2013, was also delighted that the team's tactics bore fruit.

"That was some day @LeTour . Massive team effort ! Super proud of everything we achieved today," he wrote on Twitter.

Results from the 10th stage of the Tour de France, a 197km ride from Les Escaldes to Revel on Tuesday:

1. Michael Matthews (AUS/ORI) 4hr 22min 38sec

2. Peter Sagan (SVK/TIN) at 0:00.

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/DDT) 0:00.

4. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 0:00.

5. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA/ALM) 0:00.

6. Daryl Impey (RSA/ORI) 0:02.

7. Luke Durbridge (AUS/ORI) 1:10.

8. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) 3:01.

9. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/MOV) 3:10.

10. Tony Gallopin (FRA/LOT) 3:10.

11. Rui Costa (POR/LAM) 3:10.

12. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/DEN) 3:10.

13. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 3:14.

14. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 3:14.

15. Stephen Cummings (GBR/DDT) 5:35.

16. Edward Theuns (BEL/TRE) 9:39.

17. Jasper Stuyven (BEL/TRE) 9:39.

18. Michael Andersen (DEN/TIN) 9:39.

19. Tony Martin (GER/ETI) 9:39.

20. Luke Rowe (GBR/SKY) 9:39.

21. Kristjan Koren (SLO/CAN) 9:39.

22. Ian Stannard (GBR/SKY) 9:39.

23. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 9:39.

24. Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 9:39.

25. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 9:39.

26. Richie Porte (AUS/BMC) 9:39.

27. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) 9:39.

28. Pierre Rolland (FRA/CAN) 9:39.

29. Daniel Martin (IRL/ETI) 9:39.

30. Nélson Oliveira (POR/MOV) 9:39.

31. Mickaël Cherel (FRA/ALM) 9:39.

32. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 9:39.

33. Tylan van Baarle (NED/CAN) 9:39.

34. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) 9:39.

35. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/ETI) 9:39.

36. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 9:39.

37. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 9:39.

38. Roy Curvers (NED/GIA) 9:39.

39. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 9:39.

40. Matteo Bono (ITA/LAM) 9:39.

41. Tsgabu Grmay (ETH/LAM) 9:39.

42. Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOA) 9:39.

43. Adam Yates (GBR/ORI) 9:39.

44. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC) 9:39.

45. Matthew Hayman (AUS/ORI) 9:39.

46. Sergio Henao (COL/SKY) 9:39.

47. Arthur Vichot (FRA/FDJ) 9:39.

48. Michael Schär (SWI/BMC) 9:39.

49. Cyril Gautier (FRA/ALM) 9:39.

50. Simon Gerrans (AUS/ORI) 9:39.

51. José Herrada Lopez (ESP/MOV) 9:39.

52. Paolo Tiralongo (ITA/AST) 9:39.

53. Cesare Benedetti (ITA/BOA) 9:39.

54. Ramon Sinkeldam (NED/GIA) 9:39.

55. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR/SKY) 9:39.

56. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN/LAM) 9:39.

57. Mikel Nieve (ESP/SKY) 9:39.

58. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/KAT) 9:39.

59. Jon Izagirre (ESP/MOV) 9:39.

60. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/TIN) 9:39.

61. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 9:39.

62. Louis Meintjies (RSA/LAM) 9:39.

63. Pierre-Luc Perichon (FRA/FVC) 9:39.

64. Tejay Van Garderen (USA/BMC) 9:39.

65. Sébastien Reichenbach (SWI/FDJ) 9:39.

66. Alberto Losada (ESP/KAT) 9:39.

67. Tom Slagter (NED/CAN) 9:39.

68. Luka Pibernik (SLO/LAM) 9:39.

69. Bertjan Lindeman (NED/LNL) 9:39.

70. Chris Anker Sorensen (DEN/FVC) 9:39.

71. Ben Gastauer (LUX/ALM) 9:39.

72. Anthony Delaplace (FRA/FVC) 9:39.

73. Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA/ALM) 9:39.

74. Gregory Rast (SWI/TRE) 9:39.

75. Warren Barguil (FRA/GIA) 9:39.

76. Anthony Roux (FRA/FDJ) 9:39.

77. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/DDT) 9:39.

78. Eduardo Sepulveda (ARG/FVC) 9:39.

79. Fabian Cancellara (SWI/TRE) 9:39.

80. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM) 9:39.

81. Jan Polanc (SLO/LAM) 9:39.

82. Angel Vicioso (ESP/KAT) 9:39.

83. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/TRE) 9:39.

84. Brice Feillu (FRA/FVC) 9:39.

85. Frank Schleck (LUX/TRE) 9:39.

86. Diego Rosa (ITA/AST) 9:39.

87. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/AST) 9:39.

88. Jan Bárta (CZE/BOA) 9:39.

89. Petr Vakoc (CZE/ETI) 9:39.

90. Matteo Tosatto (ITA/TIN) 9:39.

91. Daniel Moreno (ESP/MOV) 9:39.

92. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 9:39.

93. Nicolas Edet (FRA/COF) 9:39.

94. Maciej Bodnar (POL/TIN) 9:39.

95. Lawson Craddock (USA/CAN) 9:39.

96. Jan Bakelants (BEL/ALM) 9:39.

97. Georg Preidler (AUT/GIA) 9:39.

98. Stef Clement (NED/IAM) 9:39.

99. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) 9:39.

100. Alex Howes (USA/CAN) 9:39.

101. Mathias Frank (SWI/IAM) 9:39.

102. Serge Pauwels (BEL/DDT) 9:39.

103. Martin Elmiger (SWI/IAM) 9:39.

104. Tanel Kangert (EST/AST) 9:39.

105. Markel Irizar (ESP/TRE) 9:39.

106. Mark Cavendish (GBR/DDT) 9:39.

107. Marcel Sieberg (GER/LOT) 9:39.

108. André Greipel (GER/LOT) 9:39.

109. Michael Albasini (SWI/ORI) 9:39.

110. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN/LOT) 9:39.

111. Laurens ten Dam (NED/GIA) 9:39.

112. Patrick Konrad (AUT/BOA) 9:39.

113. Daniel Teklehaymanot (ERI/DDT) 9:39.

114. Alexis Gougeard (FRA/ALM) 9:39.

115. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA/ETI) 9:39.

116. Marcel Kittel (GER/ETI) 9:39.

117. Ilnur Zakarin (RUS/KAT) 9:39.

118. Timo Roosen (NED/LNL) 9:39.

119. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/DDT) 9:39.

120. Armindo Fonseca (FRA/FVC) 9:39.

121. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 9:39.

122. Amaël Moinard (FRA/BMC) 9:39.

123. Rubén Plaza (ESP/ORI) 9:39.

124. Wilco Kelderman (NED/LNL) 9:39.

125. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 9:39.

126. Christopher Juul-Jensen (DEN/ORI) 9:39.

127. Daniel Navarro (ESP/COF) 9:39.

128. Peter Stetina (USA/TRE) 9:39.

129. Winner Anacona (COL/MOV) 9:39.

130. Jarlinson Pantano (COL/IAM) 9:39.

131. Florian Vachon (FRA/FVC) 9:39.

132. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 9:39.

133. Reto Hollenstein (SWI/IAM) 9:39.

134. Oliver Naesen (BEL/IAM) 9:39.

135. Sondre Enger (NOR/IAM) 9:39.

136. Maarten Wijnants (BEL/LNL) 9:39.

137. Simon Geschke (GER/GIA) 9:39.

138. Borut Božic (SLO/COF) 9:39.

139. Kristijan Durasek (CRO/LAM) 9:39.

140. Wout Poels (NED/SKY) 9:39.

141. Jürgen Roelandts (BEL/LOT) 9:39.

142. Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU/CAN) 9:39.

143. Matti Breschel (DEN/CAN) 9:39.

144. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 9:39.

145. William Bonnet (FRA/FDJ) 9:39.

146. Jérome Coppel (FRA/IAM) 9:39.

147. Steve Morabito (SWI/FDJ) 9:39.

148. Tom Dumoulin (NED/GIA) 9:39.

149. Albert Timmer (NED/GIA) 9:39.

150. Rafal Majka (POL/TIN) 9:39.

151. Bartosz Huzarski (POL/BOA) 9:39.

152. Angelo Tulik (FRA/DEN) 9:39.

153. Natnael Berhane (ERI/DDT) 9:39.

154. Luis Ángel Maté (ESP/COF) 9:39.

155. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO/TIN) 9:39.

156. Oscar Gatto (ITA/TIN) 9:39.

157. Antoine Duchesne (CAN/DEN) 9:39.

158. Fabrice Jeandesboz (FRA/DEN) 9:39.

159. Julien Vermote (BEL/ETI) 9:39.

160. Paul Voss (GER/BOA) 9:39.

161. John Degenkolb (GER/GIA) 9:39.

162. Adam Hansen (AUS/LOT) 9:39.

163. Bryan Coquard (FRA/DEN) 9:39.

164. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 9:39.

165. Vegard Breen (NOR/FVC) 9:39.

166. Dylan Groenewegen (NED/LNL) 9:39.

167. Robert Wagner (GER/LNL) 9:39.

168. Paul Martens (GER/LNL) 9:39.

169. Adrien Petit (FRA/DEN) 9:39.

170. Jens Debusschere (BEL/LOT) 9:39.

171. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/DEN) 9:39.

172. Iljo Keisse (BEL/ETI) 9:39.

173. Greg Henderson (NZL/LOT) 9:39.

174. Yohann Gene (FRA/DEN) 9:39.

175. Geoffrey Soupe (FRA/COF) 9:39.

176. Davide Cimolai (ITA/LAM) 9:39.

177. Jérôme Cousin (FRA/COF) 9:39.

178. Maximiliano Richeze (ARG/ETI) 9:39.

179. Romain Sicard (FRA/DEN) 9:39.

180. George Bennett (NZL/LNL) 10:13.

181. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/LNL) 10:13.

182. Christophe Laporte (FRA/COF) 10:38.

183. Arnold Jeannesson (FRA/COF) 10:38.

184. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ/AST) 10:38.

185. Andreas Schillinger (GER/BOA) 10:38.

186. Sam Bennett (IRL/BOA) 10:38.

187. Cyril Lemoine (FRA/COF) 10:42.

188. Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA/KAT) 11:38.

189. Marco Haller (AUT/KAT) 11:38.

190. Daniel McLay (GBR/FVC) 11:38.

191. Shane Archbold (NZL/BOA) 11:38.

192. Leigh Howard (AUS/IAM) 12:17.

. Sébastian Langeveld (NED/CAN) Retired

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