As it happened: Philipsen leaves Groenewegen behind in Tour de France stage 11 sprint

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 11 of the 2023 Tour de France!

After yesterday's hot and hectic stage 10, it's looking likely to be a bunch sprint today in Moulins.

Here's the profile of today's stage. Three fourth-category climbs but nothing to worry about for the fastmen.

The stage is classified as among the lowest difficulty by Tour organisers, so if the sprint squads get to work then expect the likes of Philipsen, Ewan, Pedersen, Coquard, Girmay, Jakobsen, Groenewegen and co to feature at the end of 180km.

Around 40 minutes to go until the riders roll out in the neutral zone today.

Some news from a couple of the fastmen ahead of today's stage...

Jasper Philipsen says Tour de France hate messages 'don't throw me off balance'

Belgian's lead-out man Mathieu van der Poel recovering from illness ahead of expected stage 11 sprint

Tom Dumoulin criticises Wout van Aert for Tour de France stage 10 tactics

Former teammate 'didn't understand' why Belgian 'wasted energy' in attack with Van der Poel

A select few quotes put out by the Tour organisers ahead of today's stage...

Cees Bol: "Mark Cavendish was our sprinter and I was the pilot fish. Today, I will be the team's sprinter."

Fabio Jakobsen: "The sprint is quite similar to the one in Bordeaux. The final will be very lively."

Bryan Coquard: "We'll do our maximum to be well-positioned and do a great sprint today."

Sam Welsford: "The level is very high, the sprinters present are so strong, and Jasper is in incredible shape."

Biniam Girmay: "It's not easy to stay together in the last kilometres. Today's stage is a good opprtunity for the team to fight in the final, and to win.

20 minutes to go until stage 11 begins!

Then there's a 20-minute roll-out through the neutral zone.

Ewan and Jakobsen join forces in battle at back of scorching Tour de France stage

Common aim ties Lotto-Dstny, Soudal-QuickStep riders into cohesive group of six to fight time cut

A look at the map of today's stage. Heading north-east from Clermont-Ferrand as the race slowly makes its way towards the Alps.

All sign-ons now complete and riders are lining up to start the day.

Sam Welsford sets sights on Tour de France sprint stage in Moulins

Australian hopes to take road form to Track Worlds as he works toward once again making Olympic team

And they're off. It's time for the neutral zone, just over 10km to the real start of today's stage.

Philpsen and Pogačar chat at the front of the peloton as they ride out of Clermont-Ferrand.

The jersey holders – Powless, Pogačar, Vingegaard, Philipsen – line up with stage 10 winner Pello Bilbao at the start.

4km to go on this long roll-out before the flag drops.

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty reminding their riders over the radio to stay alert at the start in case it's another fast one.

The longest roll-out since stage 1 in Bilbao continues as Yevgeniy Fedorov (Astana Qazaqstan) is held up by a puncture.

Federov is back and now the flag is dropped!

178km to go

No big attacks from the get-go.

Andrey Amador (EF Education-EasyPost) rolls off the front but nobody is going with him.

The Costa Rican now pushes on once more. He's hanging a few metres ahead of the massed peloton.

He looks around but still nobody comes.

Now some moves – riders from Uno-X, Arkéa-Samsic, TotalEnergies all active.

Lidl-Trek send a man up but he drops back.

Matis Louvel (Arkéa-Samsic) is with Amador off the front.

Gallopin was the Lidl-Trek man. 

Daniel Oss (TotalEnergies) is up there with Louvel and Amador.

175km to go

Now the peloton looks to be slowing down.

25 seconds for the trio up front.

Soudal-QuickStep DS Tom Steels tells his team over the radio that "if it's only three riders then it's no problem."

172km to g

Amador, Louvel, Oss now have a minute. This is the break of the day.

Now the peloton is letting the gap to the break expand slowly.

166km to go

1:50 now for the break.

'It was all in bits' on Tour de France stage 10 as Vingegaard, Pogacar battle sizzles

No post-rest-day respite for peloton on intense day in the Massif Central

Soudal-QuickStep up front in the peloton alongside UAE Team Emirates at the moment.

159km to go

Eurosport on-bike reporter Jens Voigt reporting that it's a lot cooler out on the road than it was yesterday. He adds that it's quite windy, too – something to watch for later.

2:45 for the breakaway trio now.

The gap is only growing here – 3:40 now with the sprint teams happy with the makeup of the break.

154km to go

Alpecin-Deceuninck now at the head of the peloton along with some riders from Soudal-QuickStep and Jumbo-Visma as they seek to control the gap to the break.

A cryptic radio message from UAE Team Emirates...

"Now we do Plan C. Everybody jump the tiger. When the crocodiles have to swim, you jump."

148km to go

The break passes over the top of today's first climb, the fourth-category Côte de Chaptuzat-Haut.

Only one point on offer and Louvel takes it.

2:15 for the trio now with the gap going down since Alpecin-Deceuninck took over.

It looks like it'll be a quiet day for the most part here.

The gap to the break continues to come down. It's 1:50 now.

Men from Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lotto-Dstny, Jayco-AlUla, Soudal-QuickStep all up there ahead of Jumbo-Visma.

Jens Voigt heads to the UAE team car to ask about that radio message from earlier.

"It was just a joke between the riders, nothing special," one of the team's directors says. 

138km to go

1:40 for the break now.

Next climb of the day now, another fourth-category hill. It's the Côte du Mercurol.

Tim Declercq (Soudal-QuickStep) stops at the side of the road. He's on the grass bent over his bike so hopefully just a mechanical issue.

And now he's back in the cars chasing on again.

The break of the day – Oss leads Amador and Louvel.

131km to go

Now Louvel stops for a bike change. He was kicking his rear derailleur and his mechanic couldn't fix the issue on the move, either. Back up and running now, though.

Oss leads the way over the summit of the climb. And now Amador is back at his car with a chain problem.

1:35 for the break as the continue climbing following the KOM point.

The Tour de France peloton racing through sunflower country.

Jens Voigt talks to Jumbo-Visma DS Grischa Niermann about Wout van Aert potentially sprinting today and the chances of crosswind chaos.

"We'll see. If he feels good he will try for the sprint. If it comes down to the sprint, but it looks like it eh?

"I don't think there's enough wind. There are some open bits but it's not a real crosswind stage, so we'll see."

120km to go

The break's advantage continues to hang at around 1:40. They're on a short leash today.

Just under 10km to go until the riders hit the intermediate sprint. Fourth place up for grabs behind the breakaway.

13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 points there after the breakaway riders scoop up the 20-17-15 first.

Now the riders tackle a descent towards the sprint. 5km to go.

A Jens Voigt on-bike interview with Jayco-AlUla DS Matt White...

"Pretty simple – it's just position. We're confident that Dylan has the speed to beat anyone here, but he has to have a good run at the line. It's been complicated so far but the boys are getting better."

Coming up to the sprint in Lapeyrouse now. Will the break contest it?

109km to go

Louvel leads the break over the line, no sprint contest there.

Cofidis lead the peloton towards the line.

Philipsen, Meeus, Girmay in the line behind them.

It's Coquard vs Philipsen on the uphill rise to the line!

It's very close at the line. It looks like Philipsen has just edged it.

13 points for Philipsen, 11 for Coquard. Meeus, Girmay, Danny van Poppel cross the line next.

105km to go

1:30 for the break after that upping of the pace in the peloton.

The breakaway trio still all together as they approach the 100km to go mark.

100km to go

It's a long, flat/rolling run to the finish now. One climb left to tackle.

1:20 for the breakaway now.

Smiles in the peloton between former world champions Peter Sagan and Julian Alaphilippe.

An update on the points classification standings after the intermediate sprint...

Philipsen leads on 273 points, Coquard is second on 160 points, Pedersen is third on 143 points.

The breakaway's advantage drops under a minute for the first time.

Soudal-QuickStep, Jayco-AlUla, Alpecin-Deceuninck still in charge in the peloton.

82km to go

Down on the flat roads now and the peloton is still closing in on the break. 40 seconds now.

Wet roads as the race heads through Montluçon.

A bit nervy in the peloton as there's talk of a threat of wind. The gap tightens further to 35 seconds.

70km to go

Quite heavy rain falling now but no sign of any strong wind yet.

Sprint teams and GC teams mixed at the front.

The three breakaway riders continue on out front. It's too early for the peloton to bring them back, so they're riding along with around 35 seconds between the two groups.

63km to go

Now the breakaway trio reach the final climb of the day, the fourth-category Côte de la Croix Blanche.

Oss leads the way up the climb.

The Italian leads the way over the top and takes the final KOM point of the day.

UAE and Jumbo up front in the peloton.

The wind blowing across the peloton on the road at the top of the hill.

Now the speed rises to over 60kph as Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers hit the front.

57km to go

There's some wind but is it enough to break things apart in the peloton?

They've taken some time on the break but no change in the wind. Still all together.

The break still hanging on out front.

Up a rise and now Louvel is dropping from the breakaway.

Oss and Amador continue to push on.

Almost at the 50km mark and now just 18 seconds from the peloton to the break.

Ineos, Jumbo, QuickStep, Alpecin all up front.

50km to go

Edging closer to the end of the stage and the riders are still flying along at high speeds.

Now Amador drops back from the break as Oss continues on.

The peloton are letting Oss have more time out front alone here.

It's still a high speed but the high winds haven't yet come.

40km to go

22 seconds for Oss. QuickStep, UAE, Jumbo, Alpecin all up front in the peloton.

Groupama-FDJ, Bora-Hansgrohe, Jayco-AlUla also at the front.

The pace has gone down in the peloton now and Oss has gained some time.

33km to go

45 seconds for Oss.

There's no real chance of Oss hanging on to win today – the peloton is just making he's not caught too early.

It's still the same mix of teams on the front – the sprint squads and a few GC teams.

Very heavy rain falling on the peloton now.

26km to go

Down to 35 seconds for Oss now.

No rain reported at the finish, meanwhile.

22km to go

It's still Tim Declercq on the front for Soudal-QuickStep. UAE Team Emirates and Jumbo-Visma up there alongside the Belgian team.

Groupama-FDJ, Bora-Hansgrohe, Uno-X also on the front.

Up a rise in the road and Oss's advantage falls to 15 seconds.

18km to go

Oss still battling on. Just 10 seconds up.

It's still going very fast here. The moto ahead of Oss shows a 65kph speed. 

Not long left for the Italian.

Oss fights on into the final 15km.

13km to go

Oss is finally brought back at just over 13km to go.

Peloton all together now.

QuickStep, Jayco, Uno-X at the front.

11km to go

A high speed run to Moulins now.

dsm-firmenich now move to the front.

Lidl-Trek also visible just behind, while Bahrain Victorious have also moved up.

Philipsen, Jakobsen, Welsford, Girmay, Ewan, Pedersen, Bauhaus, Groenewegen, Mozzato, Coquard, Kristoff, Van Poppel, Strong, Sagan, Meeus – all in the mix today...

9km to go

The rain has started falling again.

Oss drifts out the back of the peloton after his day out front.

6km to go

Alpecin-Deceuninck now the most prominent team up front.

Israel-Premier Tech and Intermarché-Circus-Wanty up there too.

Alpecin and Bahrain almost with their full squads at the front.

Now Jumbo-Visma move up with Soudal-QuickStep just behind.

5km to go

Alaphilippe pulls Vingegaard into place just in front of him.

One roundabout in the final down, all through OK.

Jumbo-Visma really pushing it here. Over 70kph!

4km to go

Lotto-Dstny and Groupama-FDJ no back up front.

Another roundabout and everyone again through upright.

3km to go

All safe for the GC men.

Vingegaard still second wheel here.

Philipsen with a few men but Van der Poel isn't there. He's been suffering from illness in recent days and has been dropped.

2km to go

Uno-X now with man up front.

QuickStep, Alpecin, Jayco, Jumbo, Lotto all there. No one train dominating.

The sprinters all lined up in the top positions. Van Aert in third wheel.

1km to go

Philipsen on Ewan's wheel a few riders back.

Here we go. Lotto and Lidl lead it out.

Jayco to the front at 700m!

Uno-X pull through now for Kristoff.

Kristoff launches but Groenewegen is coming from behind.

Philipsen on his wheel.

Philipsen vs Groenewegen!

It's Philipsen again! He edges past Groenewegen in the final 50 metres.

Finish

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) wins stage 11 of the Tour de France

Mezgec dropped Groenewegen onto Kristoff's wheel but he had Philipsen and Bauhaus behind him.

Philipsen with a clear win in the end. He passed Groenewegen late while Bauhaus couldn't match the acceleration from behind.

Philipsen celebrates his win.

Philipsen - Groenewegen - Bauhaus at the line.

There's a breakaway day tomorrow and then the race heads into the mountains. Stages 18, 19 and 21 are set to for bunch sprints, so Philipsen's rivals face a bit of a wait for their next chance to beat him.

Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen flies to fourth sprint victory on stage 11

Perfectly-timed acceleration to the line in Moulins by Belgian leaves Groenewegen in second, Bauhaus in third

Here's what Jasper Philipsen had to say after the finish...

"It's been an incredible Tour so far. I can't realise how good it is all going, so, I'm super proud and really happy with my shape, and also to get through the final without problems is also a big challenge, and we managed to do it four times, so I'm super happy.

"I can also win without [Van der Poel], 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 – [Dylan] Groenewegen – in the end, he opened up early, and I could go over.

"Maybe I see three more sprint opportunities, but there will be guys going for a break, but I'm already so happy so far, to take four, and hopefully, looking toward Paris, also, in this [green] jersey.

"I think I've made a good gap now [in the points classification] and that gives me a bit of comfort going into the Alps."

A look back at the final kilometre of today's stage...

Philipsen takes to the podium for the fourth time this Tour.

His green jersey total is now up to 323 points. Bryan Coquard is second on 178 points. Only two other riders have over 100.

Philipsen in green once again tonight.

Vingegaard remains in yellow with no change at the top of the overall standings.

Neilson Powless is still the mountain classification leader.

And finally, Pogačar is in white as best young rider.

Before rounding off our live coverage, here's what race leader Jonas Vingegaard had to say after today's stage...

"It's a day you can lose the Tour as a GC rider, so you have to be up there, you have to be careful. So like all the other days, the team did amazing and kept me safe.

"I came on the inside of the 3km, and as a GC rider, you are safe, of course, but from there you still have to, kind of, stay safe and not lose any time. So, I think today we did a good job as a team and I want to thank my teammates again.

"Tomorrow is a tricky stage, we have to be careful. I don't know what our tactics will be but at least we will just try to keep the jersey tomorrow."

The current GC standings at the 2023 Tour de France after stage 11

GC contenders defend positions in despite echelon threat

That's all from us today. Be sure to check back through the evening for plenty of news from the ground in Moulins.