The sprinters resumed hostilities at the 2013 Tour de France after a break of several days. 

The quick men of the hundredth edition of  cycling’s greatest race would have relished the rest day after two days of suffering on the gradients of the Pyrenees.

As they prepared to roll out of Saint-Gildas-des-Bois for 197km of flat – and flat-out – racing, the press cameras naturally gravitated towards the sprint stars.

Mark Cavendish, the fastest of them all, green jersey holder, Peter Sagan, and Marcel Kittel, winner of the opening stage and the first yellow jersey of this hundredth edition, were all snapped en route to the start line.

Andre Greipel, captain of the best sprint-train in the business, Lotto Belisol, emerged with a new hair cut.

The GC favourites were captured, too. Chris Froome, resplendent in yellow, took time to sign autographs, while two-time victor, Alberto Contador, enjoyed his share of attention.

Check out this gallery from official UCI WorldTour photographer, Stefano Sirotti.