Abrahamsen wins stage 11 as Pogacar Crashes

In a stunning turn of events at the Tour de France, Norwegian cyclist Jonas Abrahamsen of Uno-X Mobility surged to victory in the 11th stage on Wednesday, while race favorite Tadej Pogacar faced a dramatic crash just 6 kilometers from the finish line

This unexpected twist has intensified the competition as the race progresses toward its climax.

From the outset of the stage, Abrahamsen displayed remarkable tenacity, launching an early attack that set the tone for an exhilarating race. His relentless pace paid off as he crossed the finish line just ahead of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid, with the two engaged in a nail-biting photo finish. Belgian cyclist Mathieu van der Poel made a valiant late push but ultimately fell short, finishing 7 seconds behind in third place.

“I can’t believe it! Winning my first stage at the Tour de France is a dream come true,” said Abrahamsen after his victory. “I knew I had to take a chance early, and I’m grateful for the support of my team. This win is for all of us at Uno-X Mobility.”

Pogacar, a three-time Tour champion and the current yellow jersey holder, faced a setback when he crashed just before the finish line. The UAE rider Pogacar struggled to put his chain on after sliding across several metres of tarmac and had looked as if he would lose 30 to 40 seconds.

His rivals, aware of the stakes involved, slowed down to allow him to regain his footing and rejoin the race. Despite the crash, Pogacar finished with the general classification group, which included yellow jersey holder Ben Healy, 3 minutes and 28 seconds behind Abrahamsen.

Healy continues to lead the general classification, maintaining a 29-second advantage over Pogacar. “It was a tough day for everyone, and I’m just relieved to still be in the yellow jersey,” Healy commented. “The support from my team has been incredible, and we’ll continue to push forward.”

Pogacar said aferwards "I'm quite OK, a bit beaten up, but we've been through worse days," he said in a post-race interview. "It's been a hectic day from start to finish. In the end I had a little bit of a crash, thanks to the peloton in front they actually waited. The race was more or less over back there, but still they could take time. Maybe not take too much time, but I would need to go really deep to come back".

VIDEO: Pogacar Crash

"Luckily my skin is tough and stopped me before the sidewalk. Tomorrow is a big day coming. Let's hope. We'll see how I recover," he concluded. "Normally the day after crash you're never at the best. But I will give my best tomorrow and we'll see. I think we are ready as a team for Hautacam".

As the race heads into the final stages, the tension among the competitors is palpable. Abrahamsen’s victory not only marks a significant achievement for him personally but also represents the first stage win for Uno-X Mobility in this prestigious event. The team is eager to build on this momentum as they gear up for the upcoming challenges.

VIDEO: 2025 Tour de France Stage 11 Highlights

2025 Tour de France Stage 11 Top 10

01  Abrahamsen Jonas Uno-X Mobility 03:15:56
02  Schmid Mauro Team Jayco-AlUla + 00
03  van der Poel Mathieu Alpecin-Deceuninck + 07
04  De Lie Arnaud Lotto + 53
05  van Aert Wout Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 53
06  Laurance Axel INEOS Grenadiers + 53
07  Wright Fred Bahrain Victorious + 53
08  Burgaudeau Mathieu Team TotalEnergies + 53
09  Simmons Quinn Lidl-Trek + 53
10  Ballerini Davide XDS Astana Team + 01:11

2025 Tour de France GC after Stage 11

01  Healy Ben EF Education-EasyPost 41:01:13
02  Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 29
03  Evenepoel Remco Soudal Quick-Step + 01:29
04  Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 01:46
05  Jorgenson Matteo Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 02:06
06  Vauquelin Kévin ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 02:26
07  Onley Oscar Team Picnic PostNL + 03:24
08  Lipowitz Florian Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 03:34
09  Roglic Primoz Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 03:41
10  Johannessen Tobias Halland Uno-X Mobility + 05:03