This 167.5 km stage from Blaye les Mines to Lavaur was mostly flat with some short, steep hills

Mark Cavendish wins Stage 11, and slips into the Green Jersey lead. Photo ASO Pool

in the last hour, followed by a mostly flat final 15 km,  suitable for a mass sprint at the finish.

Would the rivalry we saw between Greipel and Cavendish in stage 10 play out again on this course? And if so, who would win in a pure Mano a Mano sprint today?

We had the answer in a triumphant Mark Cavendish, as he beat Andre Greipel to the line. But it was the getting there that made the story.

Remember on yesterday’s stage the HTC Highroad team had planned early on for a sprint by Matt Goss which backfired when Goss was dropped in the final climb at the finish by a push at the front and acceleration started by Phillipe Gilbert of the Omega Pharma Lotto team.

Though Gilbert himself did not win the final sprint, his aggressive moves shed Goss and Mark Renshaw, two of Cavendish’s main lead out men.

Cavendish also found himself out in front, taking the lead out on the sprint, which allowed Greipel to not only take his wheel but to use the Manx man’s draft.

Greipel was triumphant, and his win added fuel to the media theme revolving around that there was a major rivalry between the two that was now vindicated by Greipel’s win.

But not today, and in a final sprint to the finish, even drafting behind the fastest man on earth, Greipel could not get the better of his previous team mate.

One thing we predicted, the Cav’ doesn’t have to be taught the same lesson twice: one humiliation and mistake is enough for him to correct his move the second time.

For one, he wasn’t going to pull along his former teammate on the HTC-Columbia team: the German allegedly left the team because he wasn’t given enough opportunities to sprint in major finishes.

In a tweet after the race he said, “WOW! @TheDPate and Lars Bak held 6 strong guys at 3mins! How could I not win after that? @mark_renshaw super cool in last km. Super happy.”

In other words, he got his famous lead out, especially with Mark Renshaw–and it worked.

Later Cavendish learned the Green Jersey had switched to his hands, thanks to a win in the intermediate sprint as well. “Also, finally got my grubby little Manx mitts on the Green Jersey. We will try & keep it until Paris. 2 more sprints.. Montpellier & Paris!”

Despite his 18 stage wins, this is the first time that Cavendish has held the Green Jersey in this year’s Tour. The last time he wore the Green Jersey in the Tour was in 2009.

But it is clear that the race director of HTC Highroads made the right decision: there is only one Cav’ the Manxman, fastest man on earth.  Cavendish’s wheels seemed to say as he crossed the finish line, “So there!, griping Greipel!”

Among the top contenders, Thomas Voeckler, Luis Leon Sanchez, and Cadel Evans retained their top three positions. Frank and Andy Schleck stayed in fifth and sixth positions.

Alberto Contador who started this year’s Tour as the favorite to win the overall was still in 16th position. The Spaniard has been complaining of a hurt knee since his last fall in Stage 9.

Yesterday he issued a statement that he had hurt his knee and would be undergoing acupuncture in an effort to resolve the pain.

“1:30de bici y descansando con acupuntura pa la rodilla.Today1:30riding&relax,acupuncture for my kneehttp://yfrog.com/kjfh8fj,” he wrote on his Twitter account in both Spanish and English.

Acupuncture needles in the famous knee of Alberto Contador who has been complaining of knee problems since a fall in Stage 9t

A drenching rain falling towards the finish threatened to ruin the final sprint: At 15 km to go, a break was ahead of the peloton by 49 seconds, but the pack behind was traveling at 75 km per hour, and a sprint finish was almost assured.

At 7.2 km to the finish the break was still ahead by 29 seconds, and despite a spectacular speed, the peloton was not gaining as fast on the break riders as they should have.

Soaking with pouring rain, the HTC Highroads and BMC teams controlled the pace at the front, the first team looking for a win for Cavendish, and the latter looking to retain the advantage of their third place overall contender, Cadel Evans.

Headed by Fabian Cancellara of Leopard Trek followed behind those riders to protect the positions of the fifth and sixth overall riders Frank and Andy Schleck.

Alessandro Pettachi’s team, Lampre were also looking for a win for their favorite rider and came to the front 5.5 km from the finish.

Ahead of them and about to be absorbed was a six man breakaway that was 29 seconds ahead of the pack.

Soon that gap narrowed to nine seconds, and at 2.3 km the peloton overtook the final Rabobank break rider.

Garmin Cervelo and Sky Team came to the front with less than 1 km to go, Julian Dean, Thor Hushovd, and Andre Greipel were in the mix, and Tyler Farrar wasn’t far behind. But it was the Manx Missile that held off his competitors to the end, besting Greipel to the line.

Play by Play

There was rain at the start of Stage 11 from Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur, and would include two categorized climbs, the category 3 cote de Tonnac (at 28.5km) and the category 4 cote de Puylaurens (135.5km). The intermediate sprint was in Gaillac (at 85km).

An early break of six riders began at the 13.5km mark and included
Delage (FDJ) again, followed by Perez Moreno (EUS), Boom (RAB), Grivko (AST), Valentin (COF) and Engoulvent (SAU).

Boom was first over the initial climb when the break had a lead over the pack by four minutes and 15 seconds.

Back in the peloton, two HTC riders rode at the front, with the Europcar team following. 
It was a risky bet that the team would not tire too much before the final sprint.

Delage’s early initiative meant that he would become the rider who has spent more time in breaks than any other in the 2011 Tour, or for 392 km out of the 1,749 km cycling in the Tour so far.

Delage lead the escape over the line for the intermediate sprint in Gaillac, and behind them HTC led out the sprint for Cavendish. Four HTC riders also took points behind the sprinter.

The wind picked up and a tailwind pushed the peloton along at a rapid pace after the sprint in Gaillac.

With 40k m to go, rain started to belt the riders. Though the break was 2 minutes and 30 seconds ahead, their advantage dropped quickly with the HTC team at the helm, as well as Lang (OLO), Hejsdal (GRM) and, later, Gerrans (SKY) pedaling at the front.

With 35km to go, the advantage had narrowed to one minute and 35 seconds. Delage took on points on the Puylarense climb: With 10km to go, the peloton had HTC and BMC at the front just 30 seconds behind the break.

Then with 4.8 km to go, Boom attacked the lead group. But with the peloton behind by just 11 seconds, first the remaining five riders were swallowed up, and then Boom was eclipsed at 2.8 km to the finish.

OVERALL STANDING AT THE END OF STAGE 11: Source: ASO

1.	VOECKLER Thomas	181	TEAM EUROPCAR	45h 52′ 39″
2.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	47	RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM	45h 54′ 28″	+ 01′ 49″
3.	EVANS Cadel	141	BMC RACING TEAM	45h 55′ 05″	+ 02′ 26″
4.	SCHLECK Frank	18	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	45h 55′ 08″	+ 02′ 29″
5.	SCHLECK Andy	11	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	45h 55′ 16″	+ 02′ 37″
6.	MARTIN Tony	175	HTC – HIGHROAD	45h 55′ 17″	+ 02′ 38″
7.	VELITS Peter	179	HTC – HIGHROAD	45h 55′ 17″	+ 02′ 38″
8.	KLÖDEN Andréas	74	TEAM RADIOSHACK	45h 55′ 22″	+ 02′ 43″
9.	GILBERT Philippe	32	OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO	45h 55′ 34″	+ 02′ 55″
10.	FUGLSANG Jakob	13	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	45h 55′ 47″	+ 03′ 08″
11.	BASSO Ivan	91	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	45h 56′ 15″	+ 03′ 36″
12.	CUNEGO Damiano	161	LAMPRE – ISD	45h 56′ 16″	+ 03′ 37″
13.	ROCHE Nicolas	101	AG2R LA MONDIALE	45h 56′ 24″	+ 03′ 45″
14.	DE WEERT Kevin	124	QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM	45h 56′ 26″	+ 03′ 47″
15.	GESINK Robert	41	RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM	45h 56′ 40″	+ 04′ 01″
16.	CONTADOR Alberto	1	SAXO BANK SUNGARD	45h 56′ 46″	+ 04′ 07″
17.	DANIELSON Tom	52	TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO	45h 57′ 01″	+ 04′ 22″
18.	TAARAMAE Rein	151	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	45h 57′ 31″	+ 04′ 52″
19.	VANDE VELDE Christian	58	TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO	45h 57′ 32″	+ 04′ 53″
20.	SANCHEZ Samuel	21	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	45h 57′ 40″	+ 05′ 01″
21.	BARREDO Carlos	42	RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM	45h 57′ 43″	+ 05′ 04″
22.	KARPETS Vladimir	191	KATUSHA TEAM	45h 57′ 44″	+ 05′ 05″
23.	MONFORT Maxime	15	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	45h 57′ 46″	+ 05′ 07″
24.	HUSHOVD Thor	51	TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO	45h 57′ 52″	+ 05′ 13″
25.	ZUBELDIA Haimar	79	TEAM RADIOSHACK	45h 57′ 53″	+ 05′ 14″
26.	JEANNESSON Arnold	134	FDJ	45h 58′ 00″	+ 05′ 21″
27.	PERAUD Jean-Christophe	108	AG2R LA MONDIALE	45h 58′ 11″	+ 05′ 32″
28.	MILLAR David	56	TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO	45h 58′ 11″	+ 05′ 32″
29.	RUIJGH Rob	208	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	45h 58′ 22″	+ 05′ 43″
30.	CASAR Sandy	131	FDJ	45h 58′ 22″	+ 05′ 43″
31.	THOMAS Geraint	117	SKY PROCYCLING	45h 58′ 30″	+ 05′ 51″
32.	LEUKEMANS Bjorn	205	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	45h 59′ 05″	+ 06′ 26″
33.	COPPEL Jérôme	211	SAUR-SOJASUN	45h 59′ 14″	+ 06′ 35″
34.	GERDEMANN Linus	14	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	45h 59′ 19″	+ 06′ 40″
35.	LEIPHEIMER Levi	75	TEAM RADIOSHACK	45h 59′ 55″	+ 07′ 16″
36.	URAN Rigoberto	118	SKY PROCYCLING	45h 59′ 59″	+ 07′ 20″
37.	HAGEN Edvald Boasson	114	SKY PROCYCLING	46h 00′ 24″	+ 07′ 45″
38.	DEVENYNS Dries	125	QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM	46h 00′ 55″	+ 08′ 16″
39.	GUSEV Vladimir	194	KATUSHA TEAM	46h 01′ 24″	+ 08′ 45″
40.	GAUTIER Cyril	183	TEAM EUROPCAR	46h 01′ 51″	+ 09′ 12″
41.	ROLLAND Pierre	188	TEAM EUROPCAR	46h 01′ 59″	+ 09′ 20″
42.	VERDUGO Gorka	29	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	46h 03′ 11″	+ 10′ 32″
43.	TROFIMOV Yury	199	KATUSHA TEAM	46h 04′ 01″	+ 11′ 22″
44.	PATERSKI Maciej	96	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	46h 04′ 49″	+ 12′ 10″
45.	MARTINEZ Egoi	23	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	46h 05′ 45″	+ 13′ 06″
46.	VANENDERT Jelle	38	OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO	46h 06′ 16″	+ 13′ 37″
47.	TEN DAM Laurens	48	RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM	46h 07′ 20″	+ 14′ 41″
48.	HINCAPIE George	144	BMC RACING TEAM	46h 07′ 32″	+ 14′ 53″

STAGE STANDING AT END OF STAGE 11: Source: ASO

1.	CAVENDISH Mark	171	HTC – HIGHROAD	3h 46′ 07″
2.	GREIPEL André	33	OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
3.	FARRAR Tyler	54	TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
4.	GALIMZYANOV Denis	193	KATUSHA TEAM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
5.	HAGEN Edvald Boasson	114	SKY PROCYCLING	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
6.	FEILLU Romain	201	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
7.	ROJAS Jose Joaquin	88	MOVISTAR TEAM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
8.	TURGOT Sébastien	189	TEAM EUROPCAR	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
9.	VENTOSO Francisco	89	MOVISTAR TEAM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
10.	BONNET William	132	FDJ	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
11.	JEANNESSON Arnold	134	FDJ	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
12.	CIOLEK Gerald	123	QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
13.	DELAPLACE Anthony	213	SAUR-SOJASUN	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
14.	HINAULT Sébastien	105	AG2R LA MONDIALE	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
15.	MEERSMAN Gianni	135	FDJ	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
16.	ROELANDTS Jurgen	35	OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
17.	URTASUN PEREZ Pablo	27	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
18.	RENSHAW Mark	177	HTC – HIGHROAD	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
19.	RUIJGH Rob	208	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
20.	VAITKUS Tomas	68	PRO TEAM ASTANA	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
21.	DUMOULIN Samuel	153	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
22.	DE WEERT Kevin	124	QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
23.	BOZIC Borut	202	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
24.	THOMAS Geraint	117	SKY PROCYCLING	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
25.	COYOT Arnaud	212	SAUR-SOJASUN	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
26.	CANCELLARA Fabian	12	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
27.	MARCATO Marco	206	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
28.	PETACCHI Alessandro	169	LAMPRE – ISD	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
29.	SCHLECK Andy	11	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
30.	LANG Sebastian	34	OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
31.	VANENDERT Jelle	38	OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
32.	DUQUE Leonardo	154	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
33.	CUNEGO Damiano	161	LAMPRE – ISD	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
34.	GUSEV Vladimir	194	KATUSHA TEAM	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
35.	VANDE VELDE Christian	58	TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
36.	MARTIN Tony	175	HTC – HIGHROAD	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″
37.	TAARAMAE Rein	151	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	3h 46′ 07″	+ 00′ 00″

Tags: Andre Greipel, Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans, Frank Schleck, HTC Highroads, Luis Leon Sanchez, Mark Cavendish, Mark Renshaw, Matt Goss, Omega Pharma Lotto, Phillipe Gilbert, Stage 11, Thomas Voeckler, Tour de France 2011