Stage 11 – By the numbers
Stage 11, Lannemezan to Foix, 167.5km Weather Warmer, with moderate northerly winds, highs in the upper 80s Stage winner Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC-Saxo Bank) shot away with under 3km to go and stabbed his bike across the line to win in a photo-finish ahead of Martin Elmiger (Ag2r-La Mondiale) in a four-up sprint. After winning two Giro stages, it’s the first Tour victory for the Norwegian national champion.
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By Andrew Hood
Stage 11, Lannemezan to Foix, 167.5km
Weather
Warmer, with moderate northerly winds, highs in the upper 80s
Stage winner
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC-Saxo Bank) shot away with under 3km to go and stabbed his bike across the line to win in a photo-finish ahead of Martin Elmiger (Ag2r-La Mondiale) in a four-up sprint. After winning two Giro stages, it’s the first Tour victory for the Norwegian national champion.
Yellow jersey
Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) finished 27th safely tucked in the main pack at 14:51 back to enjoy his first full day in the maillot jaune. Alexandre Botcharov (Credit Agricole) was the best-placed rider to work into the break and climbed to 18th at 6:07 back. There were no other major shakeups in the overall standings.
Green jersey
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) sprinted to third-place points at the day’s first sprint and fourth in the bunch sprint to defend the points jersey. Kim Kirchen (Columbia) remained second, 138-128, and finished just behind Freire in the main pack. Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) remained third with 117 points.
King of the Mountains
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) retained the polka-dot jersey as the day’s main breakaway gobbled up all the day’s points. Riccò leads teammate David de la Fuente, 77-65, with Sebastian Lang (Gerolsteiner) in third with 57 points.
Most aggressive rider
Tour rookie Amael Moinard (Cofidis) won the day’s prize.
Best Young Rider
Riccò retained his lead to Vicenzo Nibali (Liquigas) by 1:49 with Maxime Monfort (Cofidis) third at 4:18.
Best team
Team CSC-Saxo Bank moved back into the team’s classification lead thanks to Arvesen’s attack. Ag2r-La Mondiale is second at 4:49 with Saunier Duval-Scott slipping from first to third, now 10:11 back.
Top American
Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Chipotle) finished safely in the main bunch and remained third overall, 38 seconds back.
Lanterne Rouge
Jimmy Casper (Agritubel) was last at 23:10 back. Wim Vansevenant (Silence-Lotto) remains last at 2h04:02 back.
The peloton
? Moises Dueñas (Barloworld) didn’t start after testing positive for EPO
? Paolo Longo Borghini and Felix Cárdenas (Barloworld) both crashed out, 166 riders remain
Medical report
? Crash at 57km – Longo Borghini (Barloworld), fractured right clavicle, transported to hospital in Saint-Girons, Cárdenas (Barloworld), deep cut to left knee, DNF
? Verdugo (Euskaltel-Euskadi), persistent throat pain
? Hushovd (Credit Agricole), small ear problem
? Barredo (Quick Step), thigh pain from earlier crash; Monfort (Cofidis), headache
Jury report
? Kirchen, Burghardt and Ciolek (all Columbia), all fined 60 euros for missing sign-in
? Tiralongo (Lampre), push at 33km
? Cooke (Barloworld), push at 110km, both fined 30 euros and penalized five points and 10 seconds
Thursday’s Forecast
Mostly sunny, brisk 40kph westerly winds, highs in 90s.
Compiled by Andrew Hood