RACE REPORT: Sometimes the Tour writes a script nobody saw coming. Tadej Pogacar did NOT take any extra time out of his rivals on today’s stage 11.
Full race report, analysis, video hilights and results.
In other Tour news… With Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen and Olav Kooij all expected to fight it out in Nevers, it was Norway’s Søren Wærenskjold who turned the sprint hierarchy upside down. Launching what looked like an impossibly long sprint from deep inside the final few hundred metres, the Uno-X powerhouse simply refused to come back, holding off a furious late charge from Kooij and Philipsen to claim the biggest victory of his career.
After Stage 10’s brutality of the Massif Central, Stage 11 from Vichy to Nevers was designed as a recovery day for the GC men and a golden opportunity for the fast finishers. The 161-kilometre route featured only two modest Category 4 climbs and little else capable of preventing another bunch sprint along the Loire.
Van der Poel Refuses to Read the Script
Of course, Mathieu van der Poel had other ideas.
The Dutch superstar wasted no time attacking almost from kilometre zero—a surprising move considering Alpecin-Deceuninck also had Jasper Philipsen waiting for a sprint finish. Van der Poel clearly had the freedom to animate the race and twice tried to split the peloton before finally easing off.
Cees Bol – doing that dad thing…
His attacks never stuck, but they lit the fuse for a frantic opening hour as riders launched one move after another.
It’s the Massif Central – a hot bed of France’s sunflower industry
Eventually four riders finally escaped clear:
- Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor)
- Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility)
- Nelson Oliveira (Movistar)
- Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies)
The sprinters’ teams were never prepared to give them much rope, allowing the break only about a minute and a half at its maximum advantage.
Philipsen Chips Away at Pedersen
The break worked smoothly through the day, with Le Berre taking maximum points at the intermediate sprint in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule.
Behind them, however, another battle was quietly unfolding.
Jasper Philipsen and Green Jersey holder Mads Pedersen fought hard for the remaining sprint points. Pedersen opened first, but Philipsen powered past before the line to claw back two valuable points in the points classification—and perhaps even more importantly, rebuild confidence after a difficult opening week.
Breakaway Finally Reels In
Despite never gaining a significant advantage, the escape refused to surrender.
Even on the day’s final climb—the Côte de Billy-Chevannes (1.4 km at 4.6%)—the quartet still held around a minute. The climb proved too much for Julian Alaphilippe, who slipped off the back on terrain that once would have suited him perfectly.
Oliveira, Charmig and Le Berre pressed on stubbornly, still holding around twenty seconds with just ten kilometres remaining.
But the inevitable happened.
The peloton finally swallowed the last survivors with six kilometres to go.
Chaos Replaces the Lead-Out Trains
Normally the final kilometres of a sprint stage are a carefully choreographed ballet of lead-out trains.
Not this time.
The narrow roads into Nevers created confusion rather than order, making it almost impossible for teams to reorganize after the catch. Instead of the familiar trains from Alpecin or Soudal-QuickStep, riders were scattered throughout the bunch, desperately searching for wheels.
For a brief moment, Cees Bol unexpectedly found himself clear at the front after opening a small gap in the final few hundred metres.
Wærenskjold reacted instantly.
Rather than hesitate, the Norwegian launched his sprint immediately from distance.
It looked far too early.
Except it wasn’t.
Behind him, Olav Kooij and Jasper Philipsen finally found clear air and came charging through the closing metres, but Wærenskjold never cracked. The Uno-X rider held his speed all the way to the line to secure a sensational first Tour de France stage victory.
Kooij finished a frustrating second, Philipsen crossed third, while pre-stage favourite Tim Merlier never found an opening and rolled across the line in a disappointing fifteenth.
One day after the climbers stole the spotlight, the sprinters finally got their chance.
Nobody expected Søren Wærenskjold to steal the show.
Tadej Pogacar possibly wondering how much more time he can gain in the stages ahead
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