Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM
Chris Froome’s dominance continues
Chris Froome maintained his grip on the Tour de France yellow jersey. (Getty Images)
BBC Sport – Britain’s Chris Froome maintained his grip on the Tour de France yellow jersey as Rafal Majka claimed stage 11.
Team Sky’s Froome finished the 188km route from Pau to Cauterets alongside most of his rivals, and leads Tejay van Garderen by two minutes and 52 seconds. Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali lost 50 seconds as he was dropped in the final stretch, following the arduous climb up the Col du Tourmalet. Tinkoff-Saxo’s Majka finished a minute ahead of Ireland’s Dan Martin.
It was Pole Majka’s third stage win at the Tour after two victories in 2014 and he looked a sure bet to reach Cauterets first from the moment that he burst off the front of a breakaway group of seven riders during the climb up to the Tourmalet.
“I knew this stage would be hard but I like this weather when it is warm and today I had a positive opportunity,” said Majka. “I am so happy and this victory is for my team-mates and Ivan Basso.”
There were relatively few problems for 30-year-old Froome on another hot day in the Pyrenees, with the stage lacking the drama of his spectacular attack on the climb to La Pierre-Saint-Martin on Tuesday. He was always protected by team-mates Geraint Thomas, who remains fifth in the general classification, and Richie Porte and there were no meaningful attacks from his general classification rivals Van Garderen, Nibali, Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador, as everyone seemed content to let the breakaway contest the stage win.
Indeed, the big loser of the day was Italian Nibali, who appeared to be in much better form than he showed on Tuesday only to fall off the back of the yellow jersey group as it made its way up the short but steep climb of Cote de Cauterets.
By that point Dutch rider Bauke Mollema had sprinted off the front to take the vital seconds that allowed him to force his way into the top 10 in the overall standings – his place coming at Nibali’s expense.
Froome did lose two seconds to Alejandro Valverde after the Spaniard’s late sprint but the Team Sky rider still has an advantage of almost four minutes over the Movistar rider.
The Team Sky leader also remains top of the King of the Mountains classification – and with team-mate Porte still second the Australian will once again wear the polka dot jersey on Thursday.
But Peter Sagan wrestled back the green jersey as the race’s leading sprinter after finishing above Andre Greipel in the day’s intermediate sprint.
Those were relatively minor considerations on a day that comprised four category three climbs, the category one Col d’Aspin and the hors catergorie Tourmalet.
It was a day of attacks from the moment the Tour left Pau and with more punishing conditions there were six withdrawals, including two from the AG2R-La Mondiale team.
A superb ride from Martin enabled him to cross from the main group to a breakaway of six and they remained together until Majka made his move.
It is unlikely that a breakaway will claim the stage today, when another tough day in the Pyrenees will end with a 15.8km climb up to Plateau de Beille.
General Classification after stage 11
1. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky 41hrs 3mins 31secs
2. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing +2mins 52secs
3. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar +3mins 9secs
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar +3mins 59secs
5. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky +4mins 3secs
6. Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo +4mins 4secs
7. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal +4mins 33secs
8. Robert Gesink (Ned) Team Lotto NL-Jumbo +4mins 35secs
9. Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin +6mins 44secs
10. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek Factory +7mins 5secs
Selected others:
11. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana +7mins 47secs
16. Dan Martin (Ire) Cannondale-Garmin +16mins 38secs
31. Adam Yates (GB) Orica-GreenEdge +31mins 11secs
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