Waerenskjold wins Tour stage run at record speed

PARIS: Norway’s Soren Waerenskjold claimed victory on stage 11 of the Tour de France on Wednesday after launching his sprint from distance at the end of the 161-kilometre route from Vichy to Nevers, in what was recorded as the fastest road stage in the race’s history.

Dutch rider Olav Kooij, winner of stage five, finished second, while Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen took third. The stage was completed at an average speed of 50.91kph, making it the quickest road stage across the Tour’s 113 editions.

After the race, Waerenskjold described the win as the biggest of his career so far.

"It means everything, it's my biggest win so far". the 26-year-old said.

He added "When I came here, I knew that there are two or three guys that are faster than me, but if I'm lucky and I have a good sprint like today, then it's possible".

Waerenskjold also said "Sometimes I have really good confidence and I believe in myself, but there's many, many times where I feel super tired and it's impossible to win here."

The finish was again marked by a lack of organisation among the sprint teams, with no side able to form a proper lead-out train for its designated finisher. Kooij’s lead-out man Cees Bol accelerated first as the main sprinters waited, but Waerenskjold immediately responded and opened a clear gap. Although Kooij and Philipsen closed rapidly near the line, neither could get past him.

Philipsen was initially relegated after the finish, with fellow Belgian Milan Fretin moved up to third, but that decision was later reversed on appeal. Belgian rider Tim Merlier, who had won the seventh and eighth sprint stages, ended the day in 14th place. Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay came fifth and reduced Mads Pedersen’s advantage in the green jersey standings to 43 points after the Dane could only finish 10th.

The result gave Uno-X Mobility its second Tour stage win. The Norwegian team, competing in its first season as a World Tour outfit, had also won through Jonas Abrahamsen last year. It had also worn the yellow jersey for two stages in this year’s race through Torstein Traeen before he was forced out by concussion and broken ribs following a crash.

Fast pace shaped by breakaway and wind

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished safely in the peloton and kept his overall lead of more than three and a half minutes over two-time former winner Jonas Vingegaard. Pogacar said the speed of the stage was driven in part by the strength of the early escape group.

Speaking after the finish, the 27-year-old world champion said "There was a lot of chance for the breakaway to go to the finish line, and the sprint teams, they control and they need to catch them."

He added "Today was a strong breakaway, that's why the speed has to be high".

Pogacar also said "Once we caught them, we slowed down immediately and it was so funny to ride from 5km to 2km to go -- we ride the slowest of all day".

He further noted "The biggest reason is also the tailwind. With the headwind will be much, much less speed."

And added "But when you have such a strong breakaway in front, you go fast".

A four-rider break moved clear early after the start in Vichy. Following the intense heat of the opening 10 days, when temperatures often exceeded 40C, riders began in rain and cooler weather, though those conditions did not last. The breakaway was never allowed more than 1min 40sec, and with about 40km remaining former world champion and ex-yellow jersey holder Julian Alaphilippe was dropped on a short climb, reducing the front group from four to three.

Anthon Charmig, Mathis Le Berre and Nelson Oliveira continued to work together and delayed the peloton’s return, but their lead had fallen to 20 seconds with 10km left. Within the next six kilometres they were reeled in, setting up the bunch sprint in which Waerenskjold secured the stage.