Stage 11 of the 2023 Tour de France saw Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck secure his fourth win of the race in a thrilling sprint finish in Moulins.
The stage, stretching from Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins over 179.8 kilometers, was a relatively flat affair, making it a prime opportunity for the sprinters to shine.
The day started under heavy cloud cover with a three-man breakaway initiated by Andrey Amador of EF Education-EasyPost, Matis Louvel of Arkéa-Samsic, and Daniel Oss from TotalEnergies.
However, the peloton kept the breakaway group on a tight leash, with the gap never expanding beyond three and a half minutes.
Despite the looming threat of crosswinds, the race remained relatively calm throughout the day.
The breakaway trio were eventually reeled in by the peloton with just over 13 kilometers to go, setting the stage for a fast and furious sprint finish.
“I can also win without Van der Poel”
After the race, Jasper Philipsen was understandably ecstatic about his fourth stage win.
“It’s been an incredible Tour so far. I can’t realize how good it is all going, so, I’m super proud and really happy with my shape.”
He acknowledged the challenge of navigating the chaotic final sprint, especially without his usual lead-out man, Mathieu van der Poel, who had been suffering from illness.
The Belgian sprinter had to find the right wheel to follow in the final rush to the finish line.
“I can also win without Mathieu, but of course, he makes it more easy. I had to find my wheel a little bit, and it’s also finding the space, and it’s hectic and dangerous for crashing, but I’m happy I could find a good wheel with Groenewegen.
He opened up early, and I could go over.”
The Long Ride of Daniel Oss
Despite the breakaway’s ultimate futility, one narrative that stood out from the day was the relentless effort from Italian rider Daniel Oss of TotalEnergies.
As one of the three breakaway riders, Oss showcased his determination and stamina, pushing on even as the peloton steadily closed the gap.
Oss, a seasoned pro known for his strong riding in breakaways, spent much of the stage ahead of the main group, enduring rain and wind as he and his breakaway companions worked together to hold off the pursuing peloton.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, Oss and his companions held the lead for a large portion of the race.
However, their efforts were not enough to stave off the inevitable as the sprinters’ teams ramped up the pace, eventually swallowing the breakaway with only a handful of kilometers remaining.
Oss’s efforts, while ultimately futile in the face of the sprinting powerhouses, provided a gripping subplot to the stage.
The Race for Yellow
As the sprinters took center stage, the general classification remained relatively unchanged.
Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma retained the yellow jersey, navigating the flat stage without incident.
Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates remains in close pursuit, setting the stage for what promises to be a tense battle in the mountain stages to come.
The next stage, a breakaway day, is followed by the entry into the mountains, which could shake up the GC standings.
The sprinters, including Philipsen, will have to wait until Stages 18, 19, and 21 for their next opportunities to shine.
Tour de France 2023: Stage 11 Results
1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck): 04 Hours, 01 Minute, 07 Seconds
2. Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla): + 0 secs
3. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious): + 0 secs
4. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis): + 0 secs
5. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek): + 0 secs
6. Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team): + 0 secs
7. Luca Mozzato (Arkea-Samsic): + 0 secs
8. Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies): + 0 secs
9. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma): + 0 secs
10. Sam Welsford (DSM-Firmenich): + 0 secs
Tour de France 2023 General Classification Standings After Stage 11
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma/DEN): 46 Hours, 34 Minutes, 27 Seconds
2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Emirates/SLO): + 17 secs
3. Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe/AUS): + 2 min, 40 secs
4. Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers/SPA): + 4 mins, 22 secs
5. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious/SPA): + 4 mins, 34 secs
6. Adam Yates (UAE-Emirates/GB): + 4 mins, 39 secs
7. Simon Yates (Team Jayco-AlUla/GB): + 4 mins, 44 secs
8. Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers/GB): + 5 mins, 26 secs
9. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ/FRA): + 6 mins, 01 secs
10. Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma/USA): + 6 mins, 45 secs
