SPOILER - Overall Standings After Stage 11

George is in 57th and there is not a ton of shuffling in the overall classification.

Here's the list...

1. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 46h 42' 13"
2. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 46h 42' 14" + 00' 01"
3. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 46h 42' 51" + 00' 38"
4. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 46h 42' 59" + 00' 46"
5. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 46h 43' 10" + 00' 57"
6. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 46h 43' 41" + 01' 28"
7. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 46h 44' 09" + 01' 56"
8. COBO ACEBO Juan Jose 173 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 46h 44' 23" + 02' 10"
9. RICCO Riccardo 171 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 46h 44' 42" + 02' 29"
10. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 46h 44' 45" + 02' 32"
11. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 46h 46' 04" + 03' 51"
12. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 46h 46' 31" + 04' 18"
13. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 46h 46' 39" + 04' 26"
14. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 46h 46' 54" + 04' 41"
15. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 46h 47' 36" + 05' 23"
16. CUNEGO Damiano 71 LAMPRE 46h 47' 50" + 05' 37"
17. PEREIRO SIO Oscar 37 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 46h 48' 14" + 06' 01"
18. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 46h 48' 20" + 06' 07"
19. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 46h 48' 24" + 06' 11"
20. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 46h 49' 00" + 06' 47"
21. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 46h 49' 13" + 07' 00"
22. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 46h 50' 47" + 08' 34"
23. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 46h 51' 01" + 08' 48"
24. PIEPOLI Leonardo 179 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 46h 53' 40" + 11' 27"
25. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 46h 54' 02" + 11' 49"
26. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 46h 54' 12" + 11' 59"
27. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 46h 55' 13" + 13' 00"
28. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 46h 55' 37" + 13' 24"
29. DEVOLDER Stijn 91 QUICK STEP 46h 55' 49" + 13' 36"
30. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 46h 56' 17" + 14' 04"
31. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 46h 58' 15" + 16' 02"
32. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 46h 58' 52" + 16' 39"
33. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 47h 00' 21" + 18' 08"
34. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 47h 00' 22" + 18' 09"
35. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 47h 00' 28" + 18' 15"
36. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 47h 02' 23" + 20' 10"
37. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 47h 03' 51" + 21' 38"
38. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 47h 04' 03" + 21' 50"
39. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 47h 04' 56" + 22' 43"
40. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 47h 07' 55" + 25' 42"
41. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 47h 09' 13" + 27' 00"
42. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 47h 10' 18" + 28' 05"
43. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 47h 10' 49" + 28' 36"
44. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 47h 12' 07" + 29' 54"
45. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 47h 12' 51" + 30' 38"
46. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 47h 13' 02" + 30' 49"
47. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 47h 14' 22" + 32' 09"
48. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 47h 16' 05" + 33' 52"
49. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 47h 17' 02" + 34' 49"
50. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 47h 17' 35" + 35' 22"
51. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 47h 17' 54" + 35' 41"
52. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 47h 18' 40" + 36' 27"
53. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 47h 19' 01" + 36' 48"
54. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 47h 19' 23" + 37' 10"
55. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 47h 20' 23" + 38' 10"
56. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 47h 21' 28" + 39' 15"
57. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 47h 22' 04" + 39' 51"
58. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 47h 22' 22" + 40' 09"
59. DEL NERO Jesus 175 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 47h 22' 57" + 40' 44"
60. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 47h 24' 25" + 42' 12"
61. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 47h 24' 57" + 42' 44"
62. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 47h 26' 07" + 43' 54"
63. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 47h 29' 22" + 47' 09"
64. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 47h 29' 53" + 47' 40"
65. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 47h 31' 26" + 49' 13"
66. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 47h 31' 55" + 49' 42"
67. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 47h 33' 07" + 50' 54"
68. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 47h 33' 19" + 51' 06"
69. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 47h 35' 25" + 53' 12"
70. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 47h 35' 41" + 53' 28"
71. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 47h 37' 20" + 55' 07"
72. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 47h 37' 24" + 55' 11"
73. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 47h 37' 52" + 55' 39"
74. WEGMANN Fabian 119 GEROLSTEINER 47h 38' 12" + 55' 59"
75. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 47h 38' 31" + 56' 18"
76. JUFRE POU Josep 177 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 47h 39' 42" + 57' 29"
77. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 47h 39' 46" + 57' 33"
78. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 47h 41' 04" + 58' 51"
79. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 47h 41' 09" + 58' 56"
80. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 47h 41' 48" + 59' 35"
81. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 47h 42' 50" + 1h 00' 37"
82. DE LA FUENTE David 174 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 47h 43' 23" + 1h 01' 10"
83. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 47h 48' 51" + 1h 06' 38"
84. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 47h 49' 10" + 1h 06' 57"
85. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 47h 49' 41" + 1h 07' 28"
86. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 47h 50' 25" + 1h 08' 12"
87. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 47h 51' 55" + 1h 09' 42"
88. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 47h 51' 55" + 1h 09' 42"
89. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 47h 51' 58" + 1h 09' 45"
90. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 47h 52' 45" + 1h 10' 32"
91. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 47h 52' 45" + 1h 10' 32"
92. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 47h 53' 35" + 1h 11' 22"
93. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 47h 53' 37" + 1h 11' 24"
94. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 47h 54' 12" + 1h 11' 59"
95. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 47h 55' 02" + 1h 12' 49"
96. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 47h 55' 31" + 1h 13' 18"
97. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 47h 55' 53" + 1h 13' 40"
98. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 47h 56' 19" + 1h 14' 06"
99. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 47h 57' 24" + 1h 15' 11"
100. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 47h 57' 51" + 1h 15' 38"
101. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 47h 58' 32" + 1h 16' 19"
102. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 47h 58' 34" + 1h 16' 21"
103. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 47h 58' 34" + 1h 16' 21"
104. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 47h 58' 35" + 1h 16' 22"
105. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 47h 59' 08" + 1h 16' 55"
106. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 48h 00' 15" + 1h 18' 02"
107. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 48h 01' 15" + 1h 19' 02"
108. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 48h 01' 57" + 1h 19' 44"
109. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 48h 03' 21" + 1h 21' 08"
110. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 48h 03' 29" + 1h 21' 16"
111. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 48h 06' 06" + 1h 23' 53"
112. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 48h 09' 18" + 1h 27' 05"
113. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 48h 10' 26" + 1h 28' 13"
114. COOKE Baden 55 BARLOWORLD 48h 11' 10" + 1h 28' 57"
115. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 48h 11' 58" + 1h 29' 45"
116. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 48h 13' 02" + 1h 30' 49"
117. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 48h 13' 16" + 1h 31' 03"
118. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 48h 14' 44" + 1h 32' 31"
119. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 48h 14' 55" + 1h 32' 42"
120. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 48h 14' 56" + 1h 32' 43"
121. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 48h 15' 12" + 1h 32' 59"
122. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 48h 15' 51" + 1h 33' 38"
123. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 48h 16' 24" + 1h 34' 11"
124. BERTOGLIATI Rubens 172 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 48h 17' 29" + 1h 35' 16"
125. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 48h 17' 35" + 1h 35' 22"
126. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 48h 17' 45" + 1h 35' 32"
127. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 48h 18' 05" + 1h 35' 52"
128. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 48h 18' 20" + 1h 36' 07"
129. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 48h 18' 20" + 1h 36' 07"
130. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 48h 18' 55" + 1h 36' 42"
131. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 48h 21' 22" + 1h 39' 09"
132. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 48h 21' 32" + 1h 39' 19"
133. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 48h 22' 32" + 1h 40' 19"
134. JALABERT Nicolas 126 AGRITUBEL 48h 22' 45" + 1h 40' 32"
135. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 48h 23' 33" + 1h 41' 20"
136. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 48h 23' 35" + 1h 41' 22"
137. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 48h 24' 03" + 1h 41' 50"
138. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 48h 24' 33" + 1h 42' 20"
139. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 48h 24' 34" + 1h 42' 21"
140. BRANDT Christophe 3 SILENCE - LOTTO 48h 25' 22" + 1h 43' 09"
141. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 48h 26' 21" + 1h 44' 08"
142. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 48h 27' 23" + 1h 45' 10"
143. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 48h 27' 39" + 1h 45' 26"
144. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 48h 28' 54" + 1h 46' 41"
145. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 48h 29' 45" + 1h 47' 32"
146. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 48h 29' 59" + 1h 47' 46"
147. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 48h 30' 29" + 1h 48' 16"
148. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 48h 31' 14" + 1h 49' 01"
149. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 48h 31' 26" + 1h 49' 13"
150. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 48h 31' 28" + 1h 49' 15"
151. RENSHAW Mark 89 CREDIT AGRICOLE 48h 32' 38" + 1h 50' 25"
152. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 48h 32' 54" + 1h 50' 41"
153. CHAVANEL Sébastien 162 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 48h 33' 07" + 1h 50' 54"
154. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 48h 33' 34" + 1h 51' 21"
155. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 48h 33' 42" + 1h 51' 29"
156. CAVENDISH Mark 43 TEAM COLUMBIA 48h 34' 17" + 1h 52' 04"
157. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 48h 35' 11" + 1h 52' 58"
158. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 48h 35' 34" + 1h 53' 21"
159. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 48h 35' 59" + 1h 53' 46"
160. CHICCHI Francesco 63 LIQUIGAS 48h 37' 38" + 1h 55' 25"
161. CASPER Jimmy 123 AGRITUBEL 48h 37' 48" + 1h 55' 35"
162. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 48h 38' 09" + 1h 55' 56"
163. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 48h 39' 23" + 1h 57' 10"
164. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 48h 42' 46" + 2h 00' 33"
165. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 48h 44' 33" + 2h 02' 20"
166. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 48h 46' 15" + 2h 04' 02"

SPOILER - Top 30 in Stage 11

George Hincapie is hanging on, but so is Cadel Evans, right behind him in this stage. They finished 26th and 27th respectively.

Here's the top 30 in the stage...

1. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 3h 58' 13"
2. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 3h 58' 13" + 00' 00"
3. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 3h 58' 13" + 00' 00"
4. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 3h 58' 15" + 00' 02"
5. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 3h 58' 24" + 00' 11"
6. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 3h 58' 27" + 00' 14"
7. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 3h 58' 27" + 00' 14"
8. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 3h 58' 27" + 00' 14"
9. WEGMANN Fabian 119 GEROLSTEINER 3h 58' 27" + 00' 14"
10. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 3h 58' 27" + 00' 14"
11. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 3h 58' 27" + 00' 14"
12. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 3h 58' 42" + 00' 29"
13. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
14. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
15. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
16. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
17. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
18. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
19. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
20. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
21. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
22. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
23. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
24. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
25. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
26. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
27. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
28. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
29. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"
30. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 13' 04" + 14' 51"

SPOILER - The Sprint and WINNER

Well, this didn't turn out at all like I had envisioned.

Shortly after Elmiger caught Moinard, Arvesen of team CSC jumped ahead too and then it was just Elmiger and Arvesen at the front battling.

Ballan then jumped ahead and they were joined by a couple more riders within sprint range.

With three of them battling, Arvesen surged ahead and got his first stage win. He is the second Norwegian to win a stage in the 2008 Tour de France.

Coming up are the finishers in the top 12 or so - whoever was in that breakaway.

I'll just post it here because race radio has just given the official results for that group. The peloton is still 15 minutes away.

By the way, Amael Moinard was voted the most aggressive rider of the 11th stage. Small surprise there.

OK. Here is the finishing group. And the shame of it is that Moinard finished 12th out of the top 12. BUMMER!

1. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR) CSC - 167.5km in 3h58’13"
2. Martin Elmiger (SUI) ALM - at same time
3. Alesssandro Ballan (ITA) LAM - at same time
4. Koos Moerenhout (NED) RAB - at 2"
5. Alexandre Botcharov (RUS) C.A - at 11"
6. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) BTL - at 14"
7. Filippo Pozzato (ITA) LIQ - at 14"
8. Benoit Vaugrenard (FRA) FDJ - at 14"
9. Fabian Wegmann (GER) GST - at 14"
10. Marco Velo (ITA) MRM - at 14"
11. Dmitriy Fofonov (KAZ) C.A - at 14"
12. Amael Moinard (FRA) COF - at 29"

SPOILER - 4KM to go

With only 4KM to go in stage 11, Elmiger caught Moinard and now the two of them are frantically trying to pedal away from the remaining ten riders.

It's probably not going to work (although my guess that Moinard would be caught on the climb was wrong, so who knows?).

The two riders are only 11 seconds ahead.

The remaining riders in the breakaway right behind Elmiger and Moinard are...

Arvesen, Ballan, Botcharov, Fofonov, Wegmann, Moerenhout, Velo, Vaugrenard, Pozzato and Fedrigo.

More in seconds!

SPOILER - 20KM to go

With a mere 20KM to go, Moinard still has about a minute advantage over the 11 riders on his tail.

He's crested the Col del Bouich and is pedaling fast.

Oscar Pereiro is still in no-mans-land ahead of the peloton and behind the 12 guys in the lead. His deficit is 14:30.

SPOILER - Col del Bouich

From letour.fr.

The Col del Bouich is a 5.2km climb with an average gradient of 3.8 percent. Its summit is 22.5km from the finish of the 11th stage.

So it's a fairly quick mountain with a moderate grade. I'm thinking the group will gather together on the slopes here and then all 12 of them will rocket into the finish.

It's 10:20AM locally, so I don't know what's about to happen. I'm watching and writing. SOOOO COOL!

SPOILER - Less than 30KM to go

Amael Moinard’s lead is down to 1:45 and the pack behind him is gaining. In that group are Arvesen, Ballan, Botcharov, Fofonov, Elmiger, Wegmann, Moerenhout, Velo, Vaugrenard, Pozzato and Fedrigo.

Then, Oscar Pereiro is the lone rider in no-man's land about a minute and a half ahead of the peloton - which is at 16:30.

Moinard has started the category 3 Col del Bouich.

SPOILER - Situation at Col de Portel

Now we get into spoilers.

At the top of the Col de Portel, the peloton is 16 minutes plus behind the leader, Amael Moinard.

Between Moinard and the peloton is a chase group of 11 who are two minutes back and then a lone rider at about 14 minutes back.

The chasing group will probably catch Moinard, but there is little chance the peloton will catch him.

There are 37KM to go in the race.

Barloworld loses another

There are now only 166 riders in the race. Team Barloworld had Felix Cardenas abandon the race.

Category 1 Climb

The category 1 climb in stage 11 is the second of the stage and happens at about 110KM.

The breakaway group has just hit the base of the col de Portel and are climbing it. The peloton is still about 14 minutes behind and will lose even more time once the leaders blast over the top.

Facts on the col de Portel: it's 12.6KM long with an average gradient of 6.8%. The mountain is 1,432 meters high.

St-Girons

When this town last hosted a stage start of the Tour de France it was 1995, stage 15.

During that stage there was a crash on the road and Fabio Casartelli died.

Each year when the riders pass through this town they remember Casartelli. He was the Olympic road race champion in 1992.

Into the race

Here we go with some info, now that we've got the housekeeping out of the way.

Ten stages are done. Eleven to go and we're in stage 11.

The situation so far today:

It's Miguel Indurain's 44th birthday.

Barloworld lost another rider today - this one was Longo Borghini and he left the race because of a broken collarbone.

Teams get money for winning stages and the top three teams in money at this year's race are Saunier Duval-Scott, Team Columbia and Ciasse d'Espargne. Stage wins by racers on these three squads has led to them each having more than 30,000Euros in prize money so far.

12 riders were clear at the 60KM mark of the 11th stage. They had a lead of just over eight minutes at that point but it grew rapidly.

Stage 11 passes through St-Girons today at 84KM. More on that in a second.

The peloton is now about to arrive in St-Girons and the 12 breakaway riders have a 12:45 lead on them.

A couple toughies today

On Monday I told you that today's stage 11 was 167.5KM and went from Lannemezan to Foix. I chose Cadel Evans and Christian Vandevelde to take the stage. What I didn't tell you was that there is a category 1 climb during the day.

There is also a cat 3 mountain and some moderate rises throughout the journey.

With only one second separating the leader from the rest of the pack (leader is Cadel Evans), today could see another yellow jersey swap.

Isn't this great? I get all tingly just watching the Tour. You read it here first the other day, but I'm reaffirming my plan to spend July 2009 AT the Tour. And I'll blog about it from the sidelines.

Stage 11 is underway

The rest day is done and the riders are back on their bikes. It's only about 8AM here in Boston, but the cyclists have been pedaling for more than an hour and are at the 60KM mark.

It's been a few days since I gave you the abandon totals. With a field that began at 180 riders (as opposed to the usual 189 riders of most other years), we're down to 167 in the race.

Many drop out due to injury. Broken wrists and collarbones account for the most abandons. Then some are forced out because they didn't finish within the time allowed. And finally some riders just feel unable to continue.

Imagine your hottest, weakest moment and how nice it would be to get off your bike or out of the field or away from your current task and sit in a comfy air-conditioned team car. Free snacks. The Tour is on the race radio. You get to wave at your teammates while driving past.

You get the picture.

Well, it's time to put fingers to plastic and tap out today's stage review and recap. If you're just joining me for this journey, I won't put SPOILER info up before 9PM. That way you can get a feel for the stage and still enjoy the surprise of the result when you watch or read about it at night.

Until those bits of info go up, you will get info about the stage right here at TDF08.com.

I'm Jeff Cutler, your faithful reporter.

Rest Day

By the way, if you were looking for stage 11 info today, you're out of luck. Today is a rest day in the Tour.

See you on Wednesday for stage 11.

Stage 11 Overview, Picks and Comment

Stage 11

Lannemezan to Foix

167.5KM

Smaller climbs, but still some tough riding.

I choose Cadel Evans and Christian Vandevelde to take this one.