MONT-SAINT-MICHEL, France — German rider Tony Martin won the 11th stage of the Tour de France and second-placed Chris Froome finished way ahead of his main rivals to significantly improve his overall lead on Wednesday.
As the two-time world time trial champion, Martin did not disappoint over the 20.5-mile route in Normandy from Avranches to the medieval walled city of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Froome was faster over the first two time splits but slowed down in the last section and rolled in 12 seconds slower than Martin, who won in just over 36 minutes.
“My biggest race today was with the other GC riders,” Froome said. “I’ve extended my lead today so I’m very happy with that. Hats off to Tony Martin for winning that stage, it just goes to show what class he has.”
Froome was the only rider to get within a minute of Martin, with Belgian Thomas De Gendt 1:01 behind in third.
While Martin is not a Tour challenger, others who are supposed to be slipped further behind.
Alejandro Valverde and two-time former champion Alberto Contador were two minutes or more behind Froome, and 2010 champ Andy Schleck and 2011 champ Cadel Evans lost massive time.
Valverde remained in second place overall but is 3:25 back. Contador improved to fourth but is 3:54 behind.
“I’m happy with my shape,” Froome said. “I think I’ve shown in the mountains that I can hold my own, and time trial also.
Contador looked stern-faced and tense when he prepared to start. The Spaniard finished in 15th place, 2:15 behind Martin; Evans was 2:30 slower and Schleck finished 4:44 behind Martin.
“No one’s won the Tour de France yet and no one’s lost it. We have to get to Paris yet,” Contador said. “It’s true that Chris Froome is in impressive form and is a great climber, but there are still many stages left.”
Even though Evans is 6:54 behind Froome in 14th place, he has not given up.
“I couldn’t get the best out of myself,” the Australian said. “I think we will get a few chances, and in the last four days (of the race) we will give everything.”
Martin was lucky to still be in the race after losing consciousness on his team bus after his crash in the opening stage. It was so bad that his left lung was bruised and layers of skin were shredded off his back, preventing him from sleeping properly for several nights.
“It’s pretty much OK. There are still some deeper wounds that are left to heal, but it’s not that painful anymore like directly after the crash,” Martin said. “(Today) the feeling was good. I was just focused on the race. It was more or less like every time trial.”
Martin won the penultimate stage of the 2011 Tour, an undulating time trail in Grenoble. He also finished second behind Bradley Wiggins in the time trial at the Olympic Games last year in London.
The ride Wednesday started in Avranches, whose website dates the town’s origins to Celts in the 9th century B.C. It ended at the breathtaking island citadel of Mont-Saint-Michel, a World Heritage site because of the Gothic-style Benedictine abbey erected between the 11th and 16th centuries.
However, riding at an average speed of 34 mph in humid conditions, there was little time for Martin to take in the sights.
Mark Cavendish had an eventful day — but for the wrong reasons.
Cavendish’s team said it believes someone threw urine at the British rider.
“Yes, that’s true I think. I was behind him. I didn’t see it, but I think it’s true,” the team press officer Alessandro Tegner said.
Tegner said the liquid smelled like urine and it was “all over him.” He added Cavendish talked about it after the time trial.
“That’s really disappointing to hear,” Froome said. “To do something disrespectful like that is really sad and ruins the whole atmosphere.”
The 12th stage Thursday is one of two consecutive flat days for sprinters, taking the riders on a 135.5-mile route from Fougeres to Tours in the Loire valley.
The climbers will face a medium mountain stage on Saturday and daunting ascent of Mont Ventoux on Sunday.
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