Cavendish to shine on Bastille Day, without earpieces

LIMOGES, France (Reuters) - French riders will be keen to shine on Bastille Day but Briton Mark Cavendish may have other ideas when earpieces are banned in the 10th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday.

Organisers ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation), backed by the International Cycling Union (UCI), have banned all communications between sports directors and riders on the 194.5-km route in order to spice up the race.

Directors from 14 of the 20 teams in the Tour have filed a petition to the UCI to ask them to allow the earpieces but the sport's governing body has not changed its mind.

The stage, mostly flat between Limoges and Issoudun, is tailor-made for Cavendish, who has clinched two wins in this year's Tour.

A brilliant specialist sprinter, Cavendish will be eager to reclaim the green jersey from Norway's Thor Hushovd, who snatched precious points during the mountain stages.

Overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy is set to retain his yellow jersey while the rivalry between favourites Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong should be put on hold until the Alpine stages.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ed Osmond)