Wærenskjold wins fastest Tour de France stage in sprint to Nevers
Wærenskjold claims historic stage victory
Søren Wærenskjold of Uno-X Mobility secured victory in Stage 11 of the Tour de France, marking the fastest road stage in the race’s 123-year history. The Norwegian sprinter triumphed in a frenzied finish into Nevers, with an average speed of 50.91 kilometers per hour. This record-breaking pace surpassed the previous fastest stage, set in 1999, by over half a kilometer per hour.
The stage, covering just over 100 miles, concluded in slightly over 3 hours and 10 minutes. Wærenskjold’s win comes five days after his teammate Torsten Træen crashed out of the Tour while wearing the yellow jersey.
The victory was particularly notable given Wærenskjold’s performance the previous day, where he finished last in the stage to Le Lioran following a crash that injured his hand. He described the win as his biggest so far, acknowledging that while some riders are faster, luck and a good sprint can lead to success.
A rapid day on the road
The flat and fast nature of Stage 11 contributed to its record-breaking speed. Drafting played a significant role, with riders conserving energy by riding closely together. A four-man breakaway, including Julian Alaphilippe, Anthon Charmig, Nelson Oliveira, and Mathis Le Berre, formed early in the stage. This group maintained a gap of between 60 and 90 seconds for over 100 kilometers.
Despite their efforts, the breakaway was eventually reeled in. Alaphilippe dropped back with about 38 kilometers remaining, while the other three were caught approximately 6 kilometers from Nevers. The peloton’s relentless pace ensured that the breakaway’s advantage remained limited, a common theme in this year’s Tour.
The final approach to Nevers saw a tentative run-in despite the overall high average speed. Teams with sprinters held back until the final 2 kilometers. Decathlon attempted to organize a lead-out for Olav Kooij, with Cees Bol launching early at 600 meters to go. Wærenskjold capitalized on an opening on the right side of the road, moving into Bol’s slipstream before powering past.
Jasper Philipsen and Kooij closed in towards the finish line, but Wærenskjold held on for the win. Philipsen was initially relegated from third place due to deviating from his line but was later reinstated. This marks only Uno-X’s second stage victory in the Tour de France.
General Classification and rider reactions
The general classification after Stage 11 sees Tadej Pogacar maintaining his lead. Jonas Vingegaard is in second place, 3 minutes and 36 seconds behind Pogacar, followed by Remco Evenepoel at 4 minutes and 6 seconds. Juan Ayuso and Paul Seixas complete the top five, at 4 minutes and 22 seconds and 4 minutes and 35 seconds respectively.
Pogacar’s dominance has been a frequent topic among competitors. Marc Reef, sport director for Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma–Lease a Bike team, acknowledged Pogacar as the strongest rider currently. Kévin Vauquelin of the Netcompany Ineos team expressed frustration at Pogacar’s consistent victories, stating it makes it tough for other riders to compete for stage wins.
Tom Pidcock, a double Olympic gold medallist, finished with the peloton in Nevers despite a crash on Bastille Day. He attributed his fall on the descent of the Puy Mary to slippery road conditions. Mads Pedersen, the leader in the points classification, finished 11th in the stage and remains in the green jersey with 317 points.
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Source: theguardian.com
