Stage 11
Cavendish in the rain
- Wednesday 13 July 2011
- 162 km
- 1,432 m climbed
- Won by Mark Cavendish
The road
At the start
The last flat day before the Pyrenees
André Greipel finally beat Mark Cavendish at Carmaux, after Philippe Gilbert had ridden the last climb as though it were Liège and very nearly taken the Tour apart. Nothing changed overall: Voeckler leads Luis León Sánchez by 1:49 and Cadel Evans by 2:26. John Gadret does not start. Today goes to Lavaur over two small hills with rain forecast — the sprinters' last chance, and Cavendish is chasing the green jersey.
How it was won
- 77 km to go
Nine points at Gaillac
Cavendish slyly takes Greipel's wheel and slips out to beat Rojas for the bunch sprint behind the break. Nine points to him, eight to the Spaniard, five to a gapped Gilbert — the green jersey changes hands here, not at the finish.
- At the line
Cavendish in the rain
Thomas opens it up for Boasson Hagen, Renshaw takes it back, and Cavendish goes early into a downpour that had promised a dangerous sprint. Greipel charges from sixth wheel and gets within half a bike length. The Manxman pulls on green.
The result
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Cavendish | HTC - High Road | 3:46:07 |
| 2 | André Greipel | Omega Pharma-Lotto | +0:00 |
| 3 | Tyler Farrar | Team Garmin - Cervélo | +0:00 |
The route on real terrain, every moment pinned to the kilometre it happened on — and the GPX to ride it yourself.