On an average mountain stage, the final sprint was won by Kurt-Asle Arvesen by the smallest of margins. Coming into the final kilometer it was a three man charge to the finish line, with Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Martin Elmiger, and Alessandro Ballan. Ballan, who made the move to bridge over from the bigger group of 10, just did not have anything left to contest the sprint. But gave Arvesen and Elmiger a run to the line none the less.

With no GC threats in the breakaway, the peloton finished over 14 minutes behind. Cadel Evans retains the yellow jersey for one more day.

Stage 11 Results
1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) CSC-Saxo Bank - 3.58.13
2 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
3 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre
4 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank - 0.01
5 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole - 0.02
6 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom - 0.14
7 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
8 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
9 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram
11 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole
12 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis

General Classification after Stage 11
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto - 46.42.13
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 0.01
3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 0.38
4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner - 0.46
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0.57
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 1.28
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - 1.56
8 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott - 2.10
9 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott - 2.29
10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale - 2.32

Full results here..

Jersey Standings:
Cadel Evans
Oscar Freire
Riccardo Ricco
Riccardo Ricco

Tour de France / Pro Cycling Forum - Click Here

Links to news sites…

“Arvesen wins 11th stage of Tour
FOIX, France (AP) — Kurt-Asle Arvesen of Denmark has won the 11th stage of the Tour de France, a ride largely overshadowed by the second doping bust to mar the race this year.

Cadel Evans of Australia appeared likely to retain the race leader’s yellow jersey. He was in the main rider pack that included his top rivals.” Read more from The Associated Press…

“Norwegian Arvesen wins first Tour stage
FOIX, France (AP) — Kurt-Asle Arvesen of Norway celebrated his first Tour de France triumph after an 11th stage that started with the second doping bust to mar the race this year.

Australia’s Cadel Evans retained the race leader’s yellow jersey by finishing 14 minutes, 51 seconds back in the main pack that included his top rivals for the overall title in the three-week race.” Read more from CNN International…

“Arvesen takes stage, Evans holds jersey
By Charles Pelkey

CSC’s Kurt Asle Arvesen emerged atop a successful 12-man break to take the 11th stage of the Tour de France Wednesday, outsprinting a group of four riders that gapped the group near the end of the 167.5km race from Lannemesan to Foix.” Read more from VeloNews.com…

“Arvesen captures stage in ultra-close finish
No change in overall standings, Evans retains yellow
By Shane Stokes

Leading out the gallop and having just enough strength to hang on to the line, Norwegian national champion Kurt Asle Arvesen (CSC – Saxo Bank) sprinted to a narrow victory over Martin Elmiger (AG2R La Mondiale) and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) at the end of the eleventh stage of the Tour de France.” Read more from CyclingNews.com…