The Tour de France<\/a> rarely disappoints but this year\u2019s race has been utterly absorbing from the get-go when crosswinds blew apart the peloton on stage 1<\/a>, and there\u2019s every reason to think stage 11 will serve up another thrilling day. <\/p>\n Not many predicted Ireland\u2019s breakaway artist Ben Healy would own the famous yellow jersey<\/a> on the first rest day of this Tour, but that\u2019s exactly what has unfolded after some tactical brilliance on Monday\u2019s stage 10 helped him gain more than three minutes on Tadej Pogacar<\/a> to depose the reigning champion at the top of the GC standings, while Simon Yates<\/a> won the stage itself. <\/p>\n Not that Pogacar \u2013 who enjoyed coffees and a giant burger on Tuesday\u2019s rest day \u2013 plans on lending Healy the maillot jaune for long. <\/p>\n \u201cWe will see if Ben can hold on to the yellow jersey for a couple of stages,\u201d Pogacar said. \u201cI think that he spent a lot of time in the breakaway already, so I hope he feels tired and we can fight again for the yellow in the next coming stages, maybe not [ stage 11 around Toulouse] but Hautacam and then the time trial [at Peyragudes] and Superbagneres \u2013 it’s going to be three really nice climbing days.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s all to come later in the week<\/a> but Healy has a strong chance to still be wearing yellow by the end of the day, as the Tour resumes in Toulouse with a 154km route to and from the city. The stage is officially categorised as \u201cflat\u201d by race organisers, but it is hilly enough to scupper some of the sprinters\u2019 hopes if the pace is high, which it may well be \u2013 stage 9 was the second fastest stage ever recorded, and stage 10 never let up either. <\/p>\n Each had their own unique set of circumstances driving the peloton\u2019s high pace, but there\u2019s every reason to suspect another breakaway will form early here on stage 11, with the sprinters\u2019 teams forced to give chase if they want to set up their rider. Tim Merlier (Soudal\u2013Quick-Step), Kaden Groves (Alpecin\u2013Deceuninck), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Biniam Girmay (Intermarche\u2013Wanty) and Arnaud de Lie (Lotto) will all be hoping for a bunch sprint to the line.<\/p>\n But that is no foregone conclusion, with five categorised climbs to clear including four in the 50km, and power riders might be put off by the finale: a loop around the city with a few short, sharp climbs such as the Cote de Pech David (800m at 12.4%) with 9km to go. <\/p>\n The final 6km is flat, so will we see the sprinters there for a showdown or will it be a puncheur breaking clear over the hills who steals the stage?<\/p>\n Route map and profile<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Tour de France 2025 \u2013 stage 11 map (letour) open image in gallery<\/p>\n Tour de France 2025 \u2013 stage 11 profile (letour)<\/p>\n Start time<\/p>\n Stage 11 starts at 12.45pm BST with an expected finish time of around 4.10pm.<\/p>\n Prediction<\/p>\n This is a tricky stage to predict, with the sprinters\u2019 teams desperate for a calm day followed by a dash to the line, but facing the prospect of having to chase down a determined breakaway looking for the stage win themselves. It could even be a day for a solo artist to escape clear, just as Ben Healy so expertly triumphed on stage 6<\/a>. <\/p>\n![\"Tour](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/stage-11-map-2025.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Tour](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/stage-11-profile-2025.jpeg\")
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