Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold Wins Fastest Tour de France Stage in History

Norwegian rider Soren Waerenskjold won the 11th stage of the 113th Tour de France on 15 July 2026. The 26-year-old launched a long-range sprint to finish first on the 161 km route from Vichy to Nevers at an average speed of 50.91 km/h, the fastest road stage in the race’s 113 editions. Dutch rider Olav Kooij placed second.

Belgian Milan Fretin was promoted to third after Jasper Philipsen was demoted. Waerenskjold had finished second in the seventh stage to Bordeaux and won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad one-day classic in 2025. A four-man breakaway of Julian Alaphilippe, Anthon Charmig, Mathis Le Berre and Nelson Oliveira started the stage.

Their maximum lead reached one minute and 40 seconds before the group was caught with 5.5 km left. Alaphilippe was dropped on the day’s second climb. Uno-X Mobility recorded its second stage victory of the 2026 Tour.

The team’s Jonas Abrahamsen won a stage in 2025, and Torstein Traeen held the yellow jersey for two stages this year before crashing out. Tadej Pogacar retained the overall lead, more than three and a half minutes ahead of Jonas Vingegaard. Mads Pedersen finished 10th, trimming his lead in the sprinters’ green jersey competition to 43 points.

Eritrean Biniam Girmay took fifth and Belgian Tim Merlier placed 14th.