Tour de France Stage 11: Wærenskjold Puts in Genius Move, Mammoth Sprint to Win

Søren Wærenskjold won the fastest-ever stage of the Tour de France Wednesday, with the Uno-X Mobility rider launching early to capture his first victory in the race.

The Norwegian kicked clear in pursuit of Cees Bol (Decathlon CMA CGM), who attacked inside the final kilometer on the stage to Nevers. He tore past Bol and while he still had a long way to go, was strong enough to hold off a hard-chasing Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and the rest of the main bunch.

Philipsen was regulated soon afterwards, with Milan Fretin (Cofidis) moving up to third. The reason for the disqualification was not immediately clear.

“I thought I was too far back and then it opened up on the right side like it usually doesn’t do,” Wærenskjold said. “It was a bit the same feeling as my first big win in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, that was also… Like I was too far back, and then suddenly I am at the front. It is unbelievable.”

Race leader Tadej Pogačar finished in the bunch and retains his Maillot Jaune at the halfway point of the Tour.

He stays 3:36 ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and 4:06 in front of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

The stage was run off at 50.9km/h, over half a kilometer per hour faster than the previous record of 50.356 set in Blois back in 1999.

Four forge clear early on fastest-ever stage

Stage 11 of the Tour de France was another big opportunity for the sprinters. The 161.3km from Vichy to Nevers had just over 1000 altitude meters, with two category 4 climbs. A big bunch finish was almost inevitable, with the four previous stage finishes in Nevers all being decided in gallops. But, as ever, riders were seeing to roll the dice, take their chance and go on the attack.

After Mathieu van der Poel tried and failed to snap the elastic early on, Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) and Mathis Le Berre (Total Energies) moved clear 13km after the start and built an initial lead of over a minute.

Liam Slock (Lotto Intermarché) tried to bridge but was unable to do so, with his only consolation being fifth in the intermediate sprint behind the winner Le Berre. Jasper Philipsen was best of the bunch there.

The four leaders increased their gap to a maximum of 1:40 heading into the final 70km, and still had 1:10 with 35km remaining.

Big name cracks, Bol gambles

Alaphilippe had the best career record of those in the break, but the double world champion and former Tour general classification contender was nevertheless dispatched on the day’s second and final climb, the Côte de Billy-Chevannes.

That left three out front, and while they did what they could to stave off the sprinters’ teams, they were gobbled up with 5.5km to go.

Decathlon led into the final kilometer, with Bol launching and Wærenskjold then putting in his winning move.

He previously was world under 23 TT champion and took the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last year.

“This means everything,” he said after his latest triumph. “It is my biggest win so far. I said when I came here I knew there are two or three guys who are faster than me, but if I am lucky and I have a good sprint like today, then it is possible. Sometimes I have really good confidence and I believe in myself, but there are many, many times where I feel super tired and it is impossible to win here.

“It is crazy that happened today also the crash,” he continued, referring to Tuesday’s bad luck. “I felt really shit in the start but then my body got going and I felt better in the final with the adrenalin and everything.

“To finish it off for the team [is great]. We have had quite highs and lows in this race, so it is incredible to take this win. It is a big surprise for myself.”

Final kilometer stage 11

Stage 12 predictions

Results: Stage 11