Stage 11 of the Tour de France provided the most dramatic day’s racing yet at this year’s race.
Pierre Rolland (Europcar) formed part of an early breakaway on the 148km stage and stayed clear until the final category one ascent, from which the Frenchman attacked the remaining escapees to record his second Tour de France stage win after victory on Alpe d’Huez in 2011.
A large crowd waits expectantly in the ski resort of La Toussuire
Rolland digs deep on the final climb to record Europcar’s second stage victory in as many days after Thomas Voeckler’s stage ten triumph
The sun beats down on another hot day in the Alps
Chris Froome (Team Sky) hauls team-mate and race leader Bradley Wiggins to the line
Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing), wearing the white jersey for best young rider, paces Cadel Evans on the climb after the defending champion was dropped; Evans would finish more than two minutes behind Rolland to drop from second to fourth overall
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale, left) attacked twice on the final climb but failed to gain time on Wiggins; mutual respect between the pair as they cross the line
The gruppetto, containing world champion Mark Cavendish (Team Sky), rolls in more than 30 minutes after the stage winner
