THE RACE LIVE
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Dessel finished 4’46" behind the stage winner. The time bonus for third will ensure that Landis will claim the yellow jersey after stage 11.

The top 10 in the stage is:
1. Denis Menchov (RUS - RAB)
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA - GST) at st
3. Floyd Landis (USA - PHO) at st
4. Cadel Evans (AUS - DVL) at 17"
5. Carlos Sastre (ESP - CSC) at 17"
6. Michael Boogerd (NED - RAB) at 1’04"
7. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP - EUS) at 1’31"
8. Frank Schleck (LUX - CSC) at 1’31"
9. Andreas Kloden (GER - TMO) at 1’31"
10. Christophe Moreau (FRA - A2R) at 2’29"

Dessel is fighting hard to keep his yellow jersey. He began the day 4’45" ahead of Landis and is yet to reach the final kilometer. His current deficit is 3’22"...

The 11th stage of the Tour de France has been won by Denis Menchov. It’s the first time that the Russian has claimed a stage of the race that he was the Best Young Rider of only a few years ago.

Menchov has come into the lead on the final turn. He is racing ahead for the win.

Landis leads with Menchov and Leipheimer right on his wheel. They are 1km to go. We don’t have a time check for Evans or Sastre but expect the leading trio to fight it out for stage honours. Kloden is 1’20" behind the stage leaders.

Menchov, Landis and Leipheimer have a lead of 100m over Evans with 2km to go.

Menchov and Landis are now in the lead of the stage. They have caught and passed Leipheimer... who is now fighting back go the stage lead.

Leipheimer is the first to attack the lead group. He has been matched by Menchov and Landis but Evans and Sastre have lost contact.

The five riders are still together in the lead of the stage. Landis is still at the front of the quinet which is now 3km from the finish.

Landis is still in the lead of the five with 4km to go. He has been setting the tempo for over a kilometer. It’s fast enough to hold off the chase by Kloden who is about 40" behind but not rapid enough to droped Evans, Menchov, Sastre and Leipheimer.

This is considered a mountain top finish but the summit of the final climb is 2km before the finishing line.

Landis has been setting the tempo for about 500m now. Behind him is Evans, then Menchov, Sastre and Leipheimer. They have 5km to race.

Dessel is 3’45" behind the Landis group. If the Frenchman can maintain this pace, he will maintain his lead in the general classification.

The five riders who have been at the front since 6km to go are now all doing short turns of pace but there hasn’t been a serious attack since Leipheimer’s surge...

Kloden is 12" behind the leading five.

Leipheimer is showing that he wants to be aggressive. As soon as the pace eases, he attacks. His group is now 5km from the finish of the stage.

Leipheimer tried an attack but he has been chased down by Menchov. There are now five riders in the lead: Menchov, Leipheimer, Sastre, Landis and Evans.

There are five riders in the lead of the stage because Leipheimer is also in the mix.

Menchov has bolted into the lead. It’s an attack that has immediately dropped Kloden. There are now just four riders in the lead group: Menchov, Sastre, Landis and Evans.

Rabobank had the weight of numbers at the start of the final climb. Rasmussen sacrificed his chances and now Boogerd is doing likewise in favour of helping Menchov rise up the rankings.

Mercado and Dessel are 10km from the finish. They are 3’00" behind the seven stage leaders.

The seven riders who are now 7km from the end of the 11th stage are: Boogerd, Menchov, Evans, Landis, Leipheimer, Sastre and Kloden.
Boogerd has been setting the pace since the start of the final climb.

The seven stage leaders are:
25" ahead of Fothen, Totschnig and Rogers...
50" Azevedo, Simoni and Arroyo...

There are seven riders in the lead group with 10km to go. They are: Boogerd, Menchov, Evans, Landis, Leipheimer, Sastre and Kloden. They are 15" ahead of Moreau, Zubeldia and Schleck.

Moreau has been spat out the back of the lead group.

The riders in the lead of the stage are: Boogerd, Menchov, Evans, Landis, Leipheimer, Sastre, Kloden and Moreau...

Schleck has also been dropped...

The pace of the lead group is now being set by Boogerd. His acceleration has just thinned the group significantly... the latest to crack are Fothen and Parra.

Azevedo, Simoni, Totschnig, Arroyo and Rogers are now also being dropped because of the pace being set by Boogerd on the final climb.

Rasmussen has been dropped by the lead group. He was setting the pace (ahead of Boogerd and Menchov) in the valley between the 4th and 5th climbs.

The race jury has just asked the first five riders in today’s stage to bring their bikes to an area at the finish to be checked that they meet the UCI’s rules.

Azevedo, Sastre, Schleck, Kloden, Rogers, Moreau, Leipheimer, Fothen, Totschnig, Menchov, Boogerd, Rasmussen, Evans, Landis, Arroyo, Zubeldia, Parra and Simoni are now 2’00" ahead of the yellow/polka-dot jersey group.

The 17 stage leaders are now 15km from the end of stage 11. They are 1’45" ahead of the yellow jersey’s group.

The yellow jersey’s posse is 1’45" behind at the 190km mark. Calzati is setting the pace for Dessel who is followed by Merckx and Mercado.

Cunego has been dropped from the lead group which now includes the following riders: Azevedo, Sastre, Schleck, Kloden, Rogers, Moreau, Leipheimer, Fothen, Totschnig, Menchov, Boogerd, Rasmussen, Evans, Landis, Arroyo, Zubeldia, Parra and Simoni.

There are now 18 riders in the front group. Cunego is back but De la Fuente has been dropped.

Although the yellow jersey was dropped on the previous climb, he’s holding his own. At the moment Dessel is just 1’30" behind the Landis group... but he has a lead of 4’45" on the American who is the best-placed on GC of the 19 riders at the front of the stage.

The yellow jersey and polka-dot jersey group is 1’30" behind the leading group of 19 with 20km to go.

Simoni has come to the front of the lead group and interrupted the Rabobank trio that’s been in charge since catching Cunego’s trio.

Cunego has dropped off the back of the lead group that’s being driven by Rasmussen, Boogerd and Menchov with 20km to go.

The 19 riders who are lining up to contest the final climb are:
Azevedo (DSC)
Sastre & Schleck (CSC)
Kloden & Rogers (TMO)
Moreau (A2R)
Leipheimer, Fothen & Totschnig (GST)
Menchov, Boogerd & Rasmussen (RAB)
Evans (DVL)
Landis (PHO)
Cunego (LAM)
Arroyo (CEI)
Zubeldia (EUS)
Parra (COF)
Simoni & De la Fuente (SDV)

The final ascent is long but not particularly steep. The surface is fast and smooth and the gradient more gentle that what us usual for climbs in the Pyrenees.
Azevedo, Sastre, Schleck, Kloden, Rogers, Moreau, Leipheimer, Fothen, Totschnig, Menchov, Boogerd, Rasmussen, Evans, Landis, Cunego, Arroyo, Zubeldia, Parra, Simoni and De la Fuente are the riders lining up for the battle to the summit at Pla-de-Beret.

The Cunego/Arroyo/De la Fuente trio are about to be caught by the Rasmussen-led group.

Rasmussen, Boogerd and Menchov are in the lead of the chase group that’s now 35" behind Cunego, De la Fuente and Arroyo with 25km to go.

The leading trio have an advantage of just 40" over the Landis/Kloden group.

The leading trio are 28km away from the end of stage 11. They are 55" ahead of the Landis group. The final climb is ranked category-one. It rises for 13km at an average gradient of 5 per cent.

Arroyo and Cunego have caught De la Fuente. This trio is 1’25" ahead of the Landis group.

With 30km to go in the stage, De la Fuente has an advantage of 1’40" over the Landis group.

De la Fuente is now just 30" ahead of the Cunego/Arroyo chase.

Landis et al are 55" ahead of Dessel and Mercado’s group.

De la Fuente is 50" ahead of Cunego and Arroyo and 2’10" ahead of the Landis group.

A number of riders have caught up with the Landis/Kloden group on the descent. This posse now includes: Azevedo, Sastre, Schleck, Rogers, Kloden, Moreau, Boogerd, Rasmussen, Toschnig, Leipheimer, Fothen, Evans, Landis, Zubeldia, Parra and Simoni... and, well, Menchov.

Cunego and Arroyo are now just 1’10" behind De la Fuente.

De la Fuente leads Arroyo (not Pereiro) and Cunego by 1’30" and Landis’ group by 2’10".

On the descent of the Col du Portillon, Cunego and Pereiro have attacked the Landis group.

The stage is still being led by Saunier Duval-Prodir’s David De la Fuente. He has an advantage of 1’40" on the Kloden/Landis group.

At the top of the 4th climb, Hincapie’s group was 5’00" behind the stage leader.

The yellow jersey is destined to change again today. Dessel and Mercado are 3’40" behind the Kloden/Landis group.

Sastre has crashed near the top of the fourth climb. He is back on his bike and doesn’t appear to have lost too much time.

De la Fuente claimed the 15 points for first place at the top of the Col du Portillon.
1. De la Fuente 15pts
2. Rasmussen 13pts - at 1’30"
3. Boogerd 11pts
4. Landis 9pts
5. Moreau 8pts
6. Sastre 7pts
7. Leipheimer 6pts
8. Schleck 5pts

The Landis/Kloden group is now 2’00" ahead of Mercado and Dessel’s mob.

The stage leader is over the top of the Col du Portillon.

The group of 18 is now 1’25" ahead of the riders who were first and second in the general classification after 10 stages.

Reminding you of the riders who are now in pursuit of De la Fuente: Azevedo (DSC)
Sastre & Schleck (CSC)
Rogers and Kloden (TMO)
Moreau (A2R)
Boogerd and Rasmussen (RAB)
Totschnig, Leipheimer and Fothen (GST)
Evans (DVL)
Landis (PHO)
Zubeldia (EUS)
Parra (COF)
Simoni (SDV)

De la Fuente is 1.5km from the top of the 4th climb. He is 2’00" ahead of Kloden’s group.

The riders in the 2nd group are: Azevedo (DSC), Sastre & Schleck (CSC), Rogers and Kloden (TMO), Moreau (A2R), Boogerd and Rasmussen (RAB), Toschnig, Leipheimer and Fothen (GST), Evans (DVL), Landis (PHO), Zubeldia (EUS), Parra (COF) and Simoni (SDV). They are 1’20" ahead of Dessel.

De la Fuente is still in the lead of the stage. He had caught and passed Wegmann while the attacks were coming from Kessler and co.

Cunego has dropped out of the Kloden group as has Wegmann.

The acceleration of the Kloden group has been rapid. They have just caught Wegmann.

Kloden’s group is now 45" ahead of Dessel. Here are the names of the riders in
Azevedo, Sastre, Schleck, Kloden, Kessler, Rogers, Moreau, Leipheimer, Totschnig, Fothen, Boogerd, Menchov, Rasmussen, Evans, Landis, Cunego, Arroyo, Zubeldia, Parra and Simoni.

Kloden’s group is now 2’40" behind Wegmann. There are 18 riders in this posse... which is now 5km from the top of the Col du Portillon.

Simoni, Fothen, Zubeldia, Cunego are also present with Kloden’s group.

Kessler, Kloden, Rogers, Landis, Evans, Boogerd, Leipheimer, Rasmussen, Sastre are some of the riders in the 2nd group on the road... only Wegmann and De la Fuenta are ahead.

Kessler is now driving the peloton. He is followed by Rogers and Kloden of T-Mobile. The yellow jersey is out of this group now... we’ll post the names of the riders in the 2nd group soon.

The control of the peloton has been taken over by T-Mobile. The efforts of Sinkewitz has oblitorated the big group. The yellow jersey has just been dropped.

The stage leader is 50" ahead of De la Fuente.

The peloton is now being controlled by the T-Mobile team. The pace of their surge has dropped Calzati from the yellow jersey peloton.

Voeckler is paying for his chase of the stage leaders earlier today. He has been dropped... other riders being spat out the back are Moncoutie, Savoldelli, Pereiro...

Iban Mayo has quit the Tour de France. There are 167 riders still in the race.

Wegmann is now 20" ahead of De la Fuente. The peloton is at 3’40".

There are now just two riders ahead of the peloton. Flecha was caught by the bunch at the 152km mark.

Wegmann has bolted ahead of his escape companion. The difference between the two is eight seconds.

As Wegmann attacks at the front of the stage and drops De la Fuente, we can report that the points for the sprint in Luchon were won by:
1. De la Fuente (SDV) 6pts
2. Wegmann (GST) 4pts
3. Flecha (RAB) 2pts - at 3’10"
The peloton was 3’45" behind at the 144.5km mark.

De la Fuente and Wegmann are at the base of the Col du Portillon.

De la Fuente has led Wegmann over the intermediate sprint line in Luchon. This is 55.5km from the end of the 11th stage.
The next challenge is the Col du Portillon, a category-one ascent that is 8km long with an average gradient of 7.9 per cent.

The escapees - De la Fuente and Wegmann - are about to contest the 2nd sprint of the 11th stage. This is in Luchon at the 144.5km mark...

The peloton is closing in on the leaders. With 5km to go before the Luchon sprint, it was 3’25" behind De la Fuente and Wegmann.

The third rider is still Juan Antonio Flecha. The Rabobank rider is 2’35" behind De la Fuente and Wegmann.

Wegmann has caught De la Fuente at the front of the stage. They have 5km to go before contesting the sprint in Luchon.

There is a 15km long downhill section following the Col de Peyresourde. Once in the valley between the 3rd and 4th climbs, the leaders will claimed points at the intermediate sprint in Luchon (at 151km) and then immediately begin the ascent of the Col du Portillon.

Wegmann is now 12" behind his former escape companion De la Fuente who has collected 48 points in the climbing classification so far today.

At the top of the col de Peyresourde the points were won by:
1. De la Fuente 15pts
2. Wegmann 13pts - 18"
3. Flecha 11pts - at 2’10"
4. Rasmussen 9pts - at 3’00"
5. Boogerd 8pts - at 3’00"
6. Caucchioli 7pts - at 3’10"
7. Arrieta 6pts - at 3’10"
8. Goubert 5pts - at 3’10"

Fourth place at the top of the 3rd climb was taken by Rasmussen 3’00" behind De la Fuente.

Flecha has reached the summit ahead of the peloton but 2’10" behind his former escape companions.

Voeckler has been caught by the peloton that’s now being led by Boogerd and Rasmussen.

At the top of the col de Peyresourde the points were won by:
1. De la Fuente 15pts
2. Wegmann 13pts - 18"... (to be continued).

De la Fuente has put in a mighty attack at the top of the third climb. He claimed first place points with ease.

Camano has been caught by the peloton near the top of the third climb.

De la Fuente and Wegmann are now 1km away from the third summit of the stage.

The leaders covered 30.5km in the fourth hour of racing in stage 11. The average speed for the first four hours is 33.5km/h.

The peloton is led by six riders from the AG2R team. Included in this group are: Dessel, Gerrans, Moreau, Kloden, Rogers, Leipheimer, Boogerd, Rasmussen, Landis, Hincapie, Azevedo...
Recently dropped riders include: Pereiro, Popovych, Rubiera, Simoni, Da Cruz...

The latest rider to drop off the back of the yellow jersey’s peloton is Stefano Garzelli (LIQ).

With 5km to climb the peloton is 4’05" behind De la Fuente and Wegmann.

The peloton is dropping riders on a regular basis on the Col de Peyresourde. The latest victims of the pace set by the AG2R boys include: Martinez (DSC), Sprick (BTL), Zabriskie (CSC)...

With 5km to climb on the Col de Peyresourde, Camano is 1’20" behind De la Fuente and Wegmann.

De la Fuente and Wegmann are less than 5km from the top of the Col de Peyresourde. They are 30" ahead of Flecha, 55" ahead of Voeckler... the peloton is at 3’50".

Camano has just been passed by Voeckler. The Frenchman is now in fourth place as the peloton begins the ascent of the Col de Peyresourde.

Wegmann has accelerated at the front of the stage. He has just dropped Flecha (RAB). The first victim of the Gerolsteiner’s attack was Camano who is now 25" behind and about to be caught by Voeckler.

Honchar has slipped off the back of the yellow jersey’s peloton on the early slopes of the Col de Peyresourde.

The rider who claimed first place points at the top of the Col de Peyresourde in the Tours of 1979, 1981 and 1986 was Bernard Hinault. The five-time Tour champion recently contacted LeTour.fr to offer his thoughts on the early phase of today’s stage.
“Everyone is riding at an easy pace," said Hinault. "I haven’t learned anything about the favourites for this Tour on the Tourmalet or Aspin climbs. I hope that things will change on the Peyresourde or Portillon!"

The peloton is still being led by six riders from the AG2R team. This group is 3’05" behind Wegmann, Flecha, De la Fuente and Camano.

Voeckler is just 25" behind the four stage leaders who are now in Aneran at the 127.5km mark.

Octave Lapize was the first rider to reach the summit of the Col de Peyresourde during the Tour de France. That was in 1910... it has been a feature of the race on 66 other occasions. The most recent winners of the points at the top of this category-one climb are:
2005: Laurent Brochard
2003: Gilberto Simoni
2001: Laurent Jalabert
1999: Alberto Elli
1998: Rodolfo Massi
1995: Richard Virenque...

Voeckler began his pursuit of the four stage leaders at the top of the first climb. He was 3’50" behind... that deficit is now just 35".

The next challenge in stage 11 is the 1,569m high Col de Peyresourde. This category-one ascent is 9.7km long with an average gradient of 6.8 per cent. The steepest section is the 9th kilometer at 10.

The AG2R team has led the peloton out of the feedzone. It is 4’00" behind the four stage leaders who escaped at the 32km mark. Here’s a reminder of who is in the lead of the stage:
Iker Camano (ESP - EUS) - 51st on GC at 10’09"
Fabian Wegmann (GER - GST) 91st at 17’02"
Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP - RAB) 123rd at 30’07"
David De la Fuente (ESP - SDV) 157th at 42’25"

Voeckler is now just 55" behind the four stage leaders. The peloton is currently in the feedzone and Zabel has just caught up with the group that’s 3’55" behind Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann.

Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann are now in Arreau at the 118.5km mark. They are 1’10" ahead of Voeckler at the bottom of the Col d’Aspin descent.

Samuel Abt is the cycling writer for the Herald Tribune. The American was presented with a special medal this morning by Christian Prudhomme and Jean-Marie Leblanc because this year’s Tour marks the 30th successive year that he has repoted on the race.
Congratulations Sam! Only 26 more before you equal the effort of the Tour’s historian Jacques Augendre.

Voeckler is still in pursuit of the stage leaders. His latest deficit to Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann is 1’15".

It’s 13.5km from the top of the Col d’Aspin to the feedzone at Arreau in the valley between the 2nd and 3rd climbs.

At the top of the Col d’Aspin, Rasmussen claimed sixth place 3’45" behind Wegmann.
Then came:
7. Boogerd 6pts
8. Caucchioli 5pts...

Boogerd is leading Rasmussen at the head of the peloton. They are 1km from the top of the Col d’Aspin and about 4’05" behind the stage leaders.

At the top of the Col d’Aspin, Voeckler claimed eight points 1’30" behind Wegmann.

1. Fabian Wegmann 15pts
2. David De la Fuente 13pts
3. Juan Antonio Flecha 11pts - at 10"
4. Iker Camano 9pts...
Voeckler was 1’20" behind at the last check.

The lead group has been attacked by Wegmann. He has crested the summit about 50m ahead of De la Fuente.

Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann are now less than 1,000m from the top of the Col d’Aspin. Each rider in the escape group has been prepared to swap relatively turns but we can expect an attack from De la Fuente or Wegmann soon. Both riders have led the climbing classification this year and they demonstrated that they are keen to chase the polka-dot prize today.

The leaders raced 32.7km in the third hour. The average speed for the first three hours is 34.1km/h.
The peloton is now 4’30" behind Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann.

Rinero, Millar, Gilbert and Rubiera have just been dropped by the peloton.

Voeckler appears destined to claim fifth place points at the 2nd summit. He outsprinted Rasmussen at the top of the Col du Tourmalet and then attacked the descent. He was 3’50" at the top of the first climb and is now 1’50" behind...

Voeckler is closing in on the four stage leaders. The Bouygues Telecom rider is now 2’20" behind Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann.

Simon Gerrans is currently leading the peloton (5’25" behind the Camano’s quartet). The Australian and his AG2R colleagues have their chain on the big chainring as they climb the Col d’Aspin...

The four stage leaders are now less than 5km from the top of the Col d’Aspin. They are 5’30" ahead of the peloton. In between the leading quartet and the yellow jersey’s group is Voeckler who was 2’55" behind at the last check.

Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann are now in Payolle at the 99.0km mark. They have a lead of 2’55" on Voeckley and 5’30" on the peloton.

The Col d’Aspin is the next challenge in stage 11. This mountain was a feature of the Tour for the first time in 1910. The most recent winners of the category-one 1,489m high mountain are:
2004: Rasmussen
2003: Chavanel
2001: Julich
1999: Piccoli...

Calzati and Gerrans are the riders currently setting the pace of the yellow jersey’s peloton. There are six AG2R riders at the front of the bunch that’s 5’35" behind Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann at the 95km mark.

The next climb in stage 11 is the Col d’Aspin. This is a 12.4km climb with an average gradient of five per cent. The steepest section 11 per cent at the 7.5km mark.
The four stage leaders have just begun their ascent of this category-one climb that rises from 871m above sea-level to 1,489m.

The yellow jersey’s peloton is in Saint-Marie-de-Campan at the 92km mark. It is 5’35" behind the four stage leaders.

Voeckler is trying his hardest to catch the four stage leaders. The Bouygues Telecom rider is 3’55" behind Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann.

As expected many of the riders who were dropped on the climb have come back to the yellow jersey’s peloton on the descent. The downhill lasts for 22km.

Camano has caught up with Flecha, De la Fuente and Wegmann. In pursuit of this quartet is Voeckler who was dropped early on the Tourmalet climb.

Flecha has caught Wegmann and De la Fuente. Camano is at 18".
Voeckler is at 3’50"...
The yellow jersey’s peloton is at 4’05".

Savoldelli is now 2’35" behind the yellow jersey’s group.

De la Fuente and Wegmann are 200m ahead of their former escape companions Flecha and Camano on the descent of the Col du Tourmalet.

The minor places at the top of the Tourmalet were taken by:
7. Dessel 8pt
8. Totschnig 7pts
9. Moreau 6pts
10. Boogerd 5pts

Rasmussen was beaten to the top of the Col du Tourmalet by Thomas Voeckler. They were 3’50" behind the four escapees.

Rasmussen has attacked the yellow jersey’s peloton. He has been marked by Voeckler.

The peloton is now being led by Boogerd (RAB). He has just had a brief discussion with Rasmussen near the front of the pack that’s been led by AG2R most of the way up the Tourmalet climb.

The first four riders have crested the summit of the only ’hors category’ col in today’s stage. The order over the top was:
1. David De la Fuente 20pts
2. Fabian Wegmann 18pts
3. Iker Camano 16pts
4. Juan Antonio Flecha 14pts
The peloton is at 4’30".

De la Fuente has attacked the lead group at the top of the Col du Tourmalet. He was followed by Wegmann.

The yellow jersey has the support of five team-mates in the group that’s now 4’50" behind the four stage leaders. This bunch has just dropped Rujano...

Hincapie, Azevedo and Popovych are the only riders from the Discovery Channel team still in the yellow jersey’s peloton.

George Hincapie is isolated in the yellow jersey’s peloton that’s 4’50" behind the four stage leaders. Most of his Discovery Channel team-mates have been dropped on the col du Tourmalet. The latest victims are Martinez, Ekimov and Noval...

With 3.5km to climb the peloton is 5’10" behind Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann. Savoldelli is now 1’00" behind the yellow jersey’s peloton.

Weening, Iglinkski, Padrnos, Zabel, Ventoso, Garate... are some of the riders who have recently been dropped by the peloton.

Savoldelli (DSC), Rous (BTL), Gilbert (FDJ) and Astarloza (A2R) are some of the riders who have recently been dropped by the peloton.

The peloton is now 5km from the top of the Tourmalet 5’25" behind Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann.

The escapees are currently 5’35" ahead of the peloton. There have been no attacks from the yellow jersey’s group but Rasmussen appears poised to surge forward. He is hovering just behind riders from the AG2R team who have led the peloton for most of the day.

Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann are less than 5km from the top of the Col du Tourmalet. The last time check had them 5’50" ahead of the peloton which has just spat Boonen, Bennati, Casper and a few others out the back...

The time checks are a little erratic today. Race Radio has reported that the current advantage of Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann is 5’50". Only a few minutes ago it was 8’00"...
What we do know for certain is that the four escapees are working well together while the peloton continues to be led by riders from the AG2R team.

Boonen, Brard, Voeckler are other riders who have dropped out of the main peloton.

The CSC team is down to six riders. Giovanni Lombardi has just stepped off his bike and abandoned the Tour de France.

Vincent Lavenu, the director of the AG2R team has offered a few comments about today’s stage to France Television.
"The escape group suits our tactics," said Lavenue, "because Camano is the best placed rider but he’s not threat to the yellow jersey at the moment. Furthermore there are only four riders involved.
"We have to defend the yellow jersey but we’ll do it cleverly. We don’t need to be involved in any escapes and we have to put the pressure on other teams to dictate how the stage is raced. We also want Christophe Moreau to conserve as much energy as possible."

Steegmans, Jalabert, Coyot, Pozzato, O’Grady, Beneteau are some of the riders who are losing contact with the peloton on the Col du Tourmalet.

The peloton is at the 65km mark and the official deficit (not that reported by France Television) is 8’00".

The Phonak and Saunier Duval teams are moving to the front of the peloton that has been controlled by AG2R for most of the day. This group is now 1’10" ahead of Mayo who appears ready to abandon the Tour. He is currently holding onto his team car and talking to his manager...

The peloton is in Bareges at the 63km mark. It is 6’35" behind the four escapees.

Of the four riders in the lead of the stage, Iker Camano of the Euskaltel team is the best placed in general classification. He began the day in 51st place, 10’09" behind Dessel.

Auge, Galvez, Mengin and Rubiera are some of the riders who have not been able to keep up with the peloton that’s being led by seven riders from the AG2R team.

Mayo is destined to ride the 11th stage in the grupetto at the back of the race. He lost 24’24" to Mercado in stage 10 and is currently 111th place in general classification. It’s not exactly a stunning performance by a rider who is the designated team leader of Euskaltel...

Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann are sharing the work at the front of the stage. They are 7’15" ahead of the peloton at the 63km mark.

Mayo has been able to force his way back into the peloton along with Hushovd.

The peloton is being led by riders from the AG2R team. Calzati, Astarloza and Gerrans are the men currently setting the pace. It’s not fast enough to close in on the four escapees but a number of riders are dropping being he peloton including De Jongh (QST), Hushovd (C.A), Mayo (EUS), Casar (FDJ)...

The four escapees are 13km from the summit of the Col du Tourmalet. The 4th, 7th, 8th and 18th kilometer of the 18.3km ascent have the steepest gradient. These sections are 9.0 per cent.
The climb rises from 704m above sea level at the 56.7km mark of the 11th stage to 2,115m at the 75m mark...

The peloton is over eight minutes behind the four escapees as it approaches the base of the Col du Tourmalet.

Flecha, De la Fuente, Camano and Wegmann are now 8’10" ahead of the peloton which continues to be led by riders from the AG2R team.

Marcus Fothen has said at the end of every stage that he is in the Gerolsteiner team to help Levi Leipheimer. The young German is, however, the best placed in GC of his team. He is 13th overall, while Leipheimer is in 58th place. The team’s manager Hans Holczer isn’t too sure what he can expect from the American today.
"Levi is okay," said Holczer. "Yesterday he said he felt perfect early but on the second climb he said that he had no power in the legs.
"I hope that after the first hills yesterday that his body is accustomed to the rhythm of climbing but it’s hard to tell.
"I’m a little cautious. It’s too early to know exactly what we can expect from Levi."

Gerolsteiner’s Marcus Fothen is currently in the white jersey as leader of the youth classification but the team’s manager Hans Holczer isn’t sure if it’s worth concentrating on defending this prize so early in the Tour.
“Marcus has the ability to win the white jersey but I think it’s a little too soon to start focussing on it. The best idea is for him to do his job in the team and help where he can. If he remains high in the general classification, that’s a good thing,” continued Holczer.
“I think that we’ll start to concentrate on defending Marcus’ lead if he’s still in a good position in the last stages in the Alps.”

Gerolsteiner’s team manager Hans Holczer has just spoken to LeTour.fr to give his thoughts on some of the riders on his team and the role they’re playing in this year’s Tour. Fabian Wegmann is the only non-Spaniard in the escape group today. He has won the Giro d’Italia’s climbing classification and has been aggressive on the hills during the first week of the Tour.
“I think Fabian wants the polka-dot jersey," said Holczer. "One of his competitors from the first days (De la Fuente) is with him as well but we’ll have to pay attention on a day like this with four category-one cols and one ‘hors category’ mountain.
"Maybe Fabian will be okay after the first climb and find himself in a good position but I’m not too sure about the rest of the stage. It’s a long day in the saddle but his approach is the right way to play the game.”

The escapees - Camano (EUS), De la Fuente (SDV), Wegmann (GST) and Flecha (RAB) - are now seven minutes ahead of the peloton.

The escapees are now near the second ’hors category’ col of the 2006 Tour. They are 6’10" ahead of the peloton at the base of the Col du Tourmalet - a 2,115m high mountain. The ascent is 18.3km long with an average gradient of 7.7 percent.

The leaders have covered 45.9km in the first hour of racing in stage 11.

The peloton is being led by riders from the AG2R team. After a rapid start to stage 11, the bunch appears content to allow the four escapees to gain a reasonable advantage.
Camano (EUS), De la Fuente (SDV), Wegmann (GST) and Flecha (RAB) are 5’20" ahead.

Camano, De la Fuente, Wegmann and Flecha were 3’05" ahead of the peloton at the 38.5km mark.

This is the third time in 20 years that a rider has led by the general and climbing classification in the same Tour de France. Dessel (A2R) has a lead of 2’34” over Mercado (AGR) in the general classification and a nine point advantage of the same rider in the race for the polka-dot jersey. The last time was in 2003 after Richard Virenque won the seventh stage to Morzine. Before that, it was Bernard Hinault in the 1986 edition of the Tour.

Camano (EUS), De la Fuente (SDV), Wegmann (GST) and Flecha (RAB) are now 2’20" ahead of the peloton which is led by the AG2R team.

The peloton is now 1’50" behind the four escapees - Camano (EUS), De la Fuente (SDV), Wegmann (GST) and Flecha (RAB).

The four escapees are in the town of Boo (at the 36.5km mark) with an advantage of 1’05" over the peloton which is being led by the AG2R team.

There are now four riders ahead of the peloton. The move was started by De la Fuente (SDV). He was joined by Camano (EUS) and later by Wegmann (GST) and Flecha (RAB). Their advantage over the peloton is 35".

The winner of stage 10, Juan Miguel Mercado is currently in second place in both the general and climbing classifications and his team manager Denis Leproux has told LeTour.fr that the Spaniard hopes to claim the yellow jersey after today’s stage.
“It may sound pretentious but the goal is for us to get the yellow jersey today,” said Leproux. “It’s possible that the big favourites of the Tour are going to be very active today but if Mercado has the legs to follow them – and Dessel has a bad day – then it’s possible for our team to make a big impression on the race.
“We can’t let an opportunity like this slip by. This morning Mercado was in good spirits and we’ll see how he copes during the stage.”

De la Fuente and Camano lead Wegmann and Flecha by 8" and the peloton by 14" at the 32km mark.

At the 31.5km mark, Camano (EUS) and De la Fuente (SDV) have attacked the peloton.

No escapes are being allowed any leeway early in stage 11. The bunch is at the 31km mark in Lugagnan.

There is a rider from the Bouygues Telecom team trying to escape the peloton but he has been reeled in at the 29km mark.

The escape has been reeled in by the peloton at the 25km mark.

The stage is now being led by 16 riders. The move was instigated by O’Grady (CSC) and Martinez (DSC) at the 19km mark. We await confirmation of those who joined them in the last couple of minutes.

There are two more riders attacking the peloton. It’s Popovych (DSC) and Marchante (SDV).

Moreau and Calzati (A2R), Moerenhout (PHO), Garcia Acosta (CEI), Ricco (SDV), Chavanel (COF), Camano (EUS) are now in pursuit of the stage leaders.

Vila (LAM) has attacked the escape group. The peloton is at the 22km mark and led by riders from the Euskaltel-Euskadi team.

The five stage leaders are 8" ahead of Wegmann (GST) and Zandio (CEI) and 18" ahead of the peloton.

There are now five riders in the lead of the stage. The latest man to join the escape is Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ).

Verbrugghe (COF) and Vila (LAM) are now chasing the two stage leaders, O’Grady and Martinez.

There are two riders on the attack. They are Martinez (DSC) and O’Grady (CSC)... the move began at the 19km mark.

The points for the first of two intermediate sprints in the 11th stage were won by:
1. Robbie McEwen (DVL) 6pts/6"
2. Geert Steegmans (DVL) 4pts/4"
3. Philippe Gilbert (FDJ) 2pts/2"

On the approach to the intermediate sprint, the green jersey (McEwen) has attacked the peloton.

The 20 escapees have been reeled in by the peloton 1km before the first intermediate sprint.

The pace has been extremely rapid early today. The peloton is near the site of the first intermediate sprint - in Arcizac-ez-Angles (17.5km) - and a group of about 20 has a slight advantage on the main bunch. We await confirmation of the riders involved.

Although he was presented with a jersey that was half yellow and half polka-dot, Cyril Dessel will wear the ’maillot jaune’ in stage 11. The climber’s jersey is worn by Juan Miguel Mercado.

Cyril Dessel (A2R) was presented with a special yellow/polka-dot jersey at the start of the 11th stage. He is the first rider to lead both the general and climbing classifications since Richard Virenque in stage eight of the 2003 Tour.

The peloton is now at the 9km mark. There are no riders on the attack at the moment. The pace is extremely fast early in stage 11 with the bunch screaming along at over 50km/h.

Voigt (CSC), Calzati (A2R), Le Mevel (C.A), Verbrugghe (COF), Gilbert (FDJ), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Garcia Acosta (CEI) and Geslin (BTL) were caught by the peloton at the 5.5km mark.

Two of the chasers have caught the six leaders. Garcia Acosta (CEI) and Geslin (BTL) are now with Voigt’s group.

The peloton is 10" behind the six stage leaders and just 5" shy of the four counter-attackers. The bunch is being led by the T-Mobile squad.

Three kilometers have been raced in stage 11. There are four riders in pursuit of the six who attacked at the 2km mark. The chasers are: Rubiera (DSC), Moerenhout (PHO), Garcia Acosta (CEI) and Geslin (BTL).

There are six riders on the attack early in stage 11. They are: Voigt (CSC, Calzati (A2R), Le Mevel (C.A), Verbrugghe (COF), Gilbert (FDJ) and Vaugrenard (FDJ). The move was instigated by Vaugrenard. They are currently about 200m ahead of the peloton.

The official start time for the 11th stage was 11.11am. There are 168 riders still in the race with no overnight retirees.

The temperature at the start of stage 11 is 23 degrees Celsius in the air and 29 degrees at road level. It’s expected to heat up considerably through the day. The sun is shining at the finish in Spain and the temperature is already approaching 30 degrees.

The peloton is currently rolling along in the 4km neutral zone. The official start is only a few minutes away.

Marcus Fothen (GST) is in charge of the youth classification. The German rider has a lead of 58" over the youngest rider in the 93rd Tour, Sweden’s Thomas Lovkvist of the Francaise des Jeux team. In third place is Italian Riccardo Ricco of the Saunier Duval-Prodir team, at 3’22".

The French AG2R Preyovance squad is in the lead of three prize classifications including the one for the teams. Dessel and his crew will wear yellow ’dossards’ (race numbers) in stage 11. His team has an advantage of 2’55" over the previous team classification leaders T-Mobile. In third place is the Swiss-registered Phonak squad, at 6’04".

There are five high mountains passes in the 11th stage of the 2006 Tour. The climbs are: the Col du Tourmalet (‘hors category’ – 18.3km with an average gradient of 7.7% at 75km); the Col d’Aspin (category-one – 12.4km, 5.1% at 105km), the Col de Peyresourde (category-one – 9.7km, 6.8% at 136km), the Col du Portillon (category-one, 8.0km, 7.9% at 161km) and the final ascent to Pla-de-Beret in Spain (13km, 5.5% at 204.5km).
The mountains classification is led by Cyril Dessel, but the polka-dot jersey will be worn by the winner of stage 10, Juan Miguel Mercado because Dessel is also the leader of the general classification.
Dessel (A2R) has 54 points, nine more than Mercado (AGR) and 16 more than Inigo Landaluze (EUS).

There are two sprints with points for the green jersey during the 206.5km 11th stage. They are in at Arcizac-ez-Angles (at 17.5km) and Luchon (at 151.0km).
Robbie McEwen (DVL) currently leads the points classification with a tally of 211 points. Tom Boonen (QSI) is second with 188pts and Oscar Freire third with 181pts.

There is a 4km neutral zone before the flag will fall to signal the official start of the 206.5km stage from Tarbes to Pla-de-Beret. Racing is expected to begin at around 11.08am.

The 11th stage of the 2006 Tour de France travels from Tarbes at the foothills of the Pyrenees, over four high climbs, into Spain and onward to the first mountain-top finish at Pla-de-Beret. The 206.5km stage is scheduled to start at 11.00am.
The weather conditions are ideal with no cloud cover at the start in Tarbes although the temperature is expected to be above 30 degrees Celsius when the race begins.
Live coverage of the stage will begin shortly.