Matt Ogborn looks at why Mark Cavendish's handling of Andre Greipel's Stage 10 win shows a more mature Manx Missile is riding the Tour de France in 2011.
There is nothing quite like a simmering rider feud to get Tour de France fans going.
The countless personal battles that are played out in every Tour are one of the many fascinations of the race: David Millar's pre-race barbs aimed at former Garmin team-mate Bradley Wiggins being a perfect example.
However, anyone expecting a flare up after Tuesday's fascinating dash to the line between outspoken Mark Cavendish and former team-mate Andre Greipel was disappointed.
Cavendish's honesty has won him fans beyond the world of cycling, and more than a few detractors too.
But the way he handled the aftermath of his stage loss to former HTC team-mate Greipel showed why Cavendish is more about confidence than arrogance. He had been beaten fairly, and he admitted it.
"Greipel just came past and beat me," Cavendish said. "I'm happy for him. I feel I made a mistake, but Greipel beat me so there's nothing I can say about that."
In turn, Greipel played down his rivalry with his fellow sprinter, saying: "[Cavendish] has proved he's the fastest sprinter in the world. He's won 17 Tour stages and I've won just one, so that says it all.
"I have a lot of respect for him. [He] was not always friendly toward me in his comments, but that's not my style. I prefer to let my legs do the talking."
The feud began during their time at HTC-Highroad's earlier incarnation T-Mobile where Cavendish ignored orders to lead out the older Greipel in a sprint during the Etoile de Besseges race, finishing ahead of him.
Gorilla, as Greipel is nicknamed, then achieved four stage wins and the green jersey in the 2009 Vuelta a Espana only for Cavendish to remain the team's top sprinter.
They may have been two of the best sprinters in the world, but Greipel knew that while Cav was around he wouldn't ride Le Tour.
That's why the powerful 28-year-old, who celebrates his 29th birthday on Saturday's gruelling Stage 14, moved to Omega Pharma-Lotto, a risky decision which paid off handsomely in Carmaux.
Given his Tour debut this year, the Hurth native got the raw end of their first Tour duel on opposing teams when Cavendish blitzed the other contenders in the Chateauroux group sprint.
Greipel's Stage 10 win then allowed the German to release years of pent-up emotion, while Cavendish was magnanimous enough to congratulate his rival face-to-face.
Thankfully, it appears Cav's mind seems more focused on the green jersey than personal grudges.
With Philippe Gilbert and Jose Joaquin Rojas in premium form too, the art of sprinting looks in safe hands for Wednesday's race into Lavaur, Sunday's Montpellier jaunt and the Champs-Elysees closer with Greipel and co. looking to push the new, improved Cavendish all the way to the Paris finishing line.
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