Stage 11 of the Tour de France will be a relaxed one for the peloton coming off the Pyrenees, tackling a flat 162 kilometres on their way towards the east coast of France. Catch all the live racing action and updates on The Roar from 10pm (AEST).
Michael Matthews and Orica-Bike Exchange dominated Stage 10 to give the Australian his first Tour de France stage victory, however it’s still Chris Froome who holds the leader’s yellow jersey.
The stage is classified flat, and is that way for the majority, but two Category 4 climbs in the opening half after starting in Carcassonne will ensure the riders have to put in a little work.
Going to Montpellier, the sprinters have their best chance at a clean run since Stage 6. An upside down ‘u’ shape (or lower-case ‘n’?) greets the riders coming into the west entrance of Montpellier, setting up for a bunch sprint to the finish.
This will be the 30th visit for the Tour to French hub of Montpellier, where today’s stage finishes.
Prediction
Sprinters. This is a day for the fast men who had a rough time in the mountains before the rest day.
The possible breakaway should jump before the two aforementioned category climbs, but it will be tough for anyone to take it to the finish.
All the usual suspects are big chances for the stage win. Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep) hasn’t been as strong as he would have liked, so keep an eye out for him, as well as Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) and Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal), who are always up for a fight on the line.
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Scott
Roar Rookie
he did need more time, as he knows Quintana will probably take some time back off him in the mountains like he did in stage 19 and 20 last year.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Just over his domination.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Chris Froome's gap over Adam Yates has now extended to 28 seconds, with Daniel Martin a further 3 seconds back.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Stage 11 Results: 1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff - 3:26:23 2. Chris Froome (GBR) Sky +00" 3. Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Tinkoff +00" 4. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha +06" 5. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits +06" 6. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo +06" 7. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data +06" 8. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal +06" 9. Sondre Holst Enger (Nor) IAM +06" 10. Oliver Naesen (Bel) IAM +06"
Connor Bennett
Editor
A scintillating battle between yellow and green took us to the finish. Both came away winners in the end, extending the lead in their respective classifications by the end of Stage 11.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Not a fan of Froome I take it?
Connor Bennett
Editor
Peter Sagan wins Stage 11 Sagan picks up his second stage win of the tour as Froome increases his lead at the top of the GC standings, taking an extra 6 second bonus on top of it all for his silver medal finish. Incredible scenes to see a yellow jersey rider follow a breakaway by a green jersey rider at still such an early stage of the tour. It paid off for the Kenyan born Froome in the end, but the resulting fatigue could rear it's head in tomorrow's rough stage tackling Ventoux
Connor Bennett
Editor
FINISH Thomas leads with Froome on his wheel... Sagan is at the back and biding his time. Bodnar is gone off the back. Froome and Sagan switch places now with Thomas searching over his shoulder. FROOME LAUNCHES!!! But it's early and Sagan sees it coming!! The green jersey leader breaks off the back of Thomas and crosses to the right shoulder of Froome, easily skipping away from him as the stronger sprinter. Relatively easy in the end for Sagan to take the stage.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Like Froome needed any more time. The only thing I can hope for is that Ventoux will be ridden in full tomorrow and he will have absolutely nothing left in the tank
Connor Bennett
Editor
1km to go A bit of movement for the four man lead group, trying to find road position for a final launch at the line
Connor Bennett
Editor
2km to go The lead has dropped back under 20 seconds, now sitting on 16 as Katusha are forced back off the front for the sake of the group pace.
Connor Bennett
Editor
3km to go Katusha have control up front of the main pack, not a lot of pace though. Thomas, Froome, Sagan and Bodnar are working well as a team at the moment but that will die as they get closer to the line. It benefits pretty well all of them to make sure they at least get to the finish with a decent gap to the peloton
Connor Bennett
Editor
4km to go 24 seconds the gap. The chasing peloton aren't looking attack ready, but they still have time.
Connor Bennett
Editor
5km to go Mark Cavendish is gone from the back of the peloton!! Looks to be some bike troubles, and he is beginning to crawl now, possibly waiting for his team car
Connor Bennett
Editor
6km to go 18 seconds the gap for the four-man breakaway, consisting of Thomas, Froome, Sagan and Bodnar. Froome is unlikely to win the stage, but this will increase his lead in the GC standings, again, only if these men can hold the gap.
Connor Bennett
Editor
7km to go As it stands, Sagan has the best chance of a stage win among these four riders out front, only if they can hang on to any kind of lead over the peloton
Connor Bennett
Editor
8km to go The peloton have barely moved an inch since the breakaway, but Ettix and a few mixed riders look to be sorting something out at the front, maybe trying to work an organised chase.
Connor Bennett
Editor
9km to go Thomas, Froome, Sagan and Bodnar lead the way at the moment with a fierce pace. Froome has a team mate to work with but it's Sagan who continues to be the aggressor.
Connor Bennett
Editor
10km to go Four men begin to create a gap out front, Froome and Sagan included. Four men try to follow and make a jump of their own off the peloton in pursuit
Connor Bennett
Editor
11km to go Peter Sagan in green has jumped from the front... and FROOME FOLLOWS!!! Yellow chasing green... what a sight