World time trial champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) won his second Tour de France stage against the clock this afternoon, but the day belonged to race leader Chris Froome as he extended his lead to over three minutes on his nearest challenger.
Early-starter Martin set a benchmark for the 33-kilometre stage from Avranches to Mont Saint-Michel that only Froome looked like challenging. The Briton and last-man off went quicker than the German at the two intermediate splits along the course, but ended up finishing 12 seconds down on the stage winner.
Despite missing out on the victory, Froome finished comfortably ahead of his GC rivals, with Bauke Mollema (Belkin) the next best of the overall contenders in 11th.
As a result, the Sky rider extended his lead over Alejandro Valverde to 3-25, with Mollema a further 12 seconds in arrears. 2007 and 2009 Tour winner Alberto Contador moved up to fourth overall, but is nearly four minutes down on the Briton.
Froome's Sky team-mate Richie Porte finished fourth, suggesting his troubles on Sunday's stage are behind him.
Earlier in the day, Mark Cavendish was jeered at and had a bottle of urine thrown at him by a spectator in what is believed to be retaliation for his part in the crash that felled Argos-Shimano rider Tom Veelers in yesterday's stage finish. Cavendish refused to comment on the issue when asked about it by journalists.
Results
Tour de France 2013 stage 11: Avranches to Mont Saint-Michel, individual time trial
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1. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 33km in 36-29
2. Chris Froome (Gbr) Sky at 0-12
3. Thomas De Gendt (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 1-01
4. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky at 1-21
5. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 1-31
6. Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdge at 1-35
7. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 1-37
8. Jeremy Roy (Fra) FDJ at 1-43
9. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Argos-Shimano at 1-45
10. Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar at 1-52
General classification after stage 11
1. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky 42-29-24
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 3-25
3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin at 3-37
4. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Tinkoff at 3-54
5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Saxo-Tinkoff at 3-57
6. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin at 4-10
7. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 4-44
8. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at 5-18
9. Rui Costa (Por) Movistar at 5-37
10. Jean Christophe Péraud (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 5-39
Thomas De Gendt
Chris Froome
Tony Martin
Tour de France 2013: Stage reports
Stage 10: Kittel takes second stage win
Stage nine: Martin wins stage as Froome fights to keep lead
Stage eight: Froome wins Tour mountains stage to take overall lead
Stage seven: Sagan scores first win of 2013 Tour
Stage six: Greipel wins as Impey moves into lead
Stage five: Cavendish wins; Gerrans keeps lead
Stage four: Orica win Tour's team time trial to put Gerrans in yellow
Stage three: Gerrans outpaces Sagan to take win
Stage two: Millar denied yellow as Bakelants takes spoils
Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.
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