Movistar Team rode at the fore thanks to Iván Gutiérrez's breakaway and Rojas's quest for the green jersey -two points further behind Cavendish and three more over Gilbert- One more day, Movistar Team left their jersey shine on the roads of the 2011 Tour de France. Even though the lads directed by Yvon Ledanois and José Luis Arrieta could not be with the top contenders at the final climb of the first Pirenaic test -more than 200k with one Cat. 1 climb and two HC ascents: Tourmalet and Luz-Ardiden (finish) in the final 80k-, they took a leading role during the first half of the race.
Iván Gutiérrez filtered in the break of the day for the third time in this year’s Grande Boucle and, despite stomach troubles suffered all over the stage making him reach the finish line with a complete blackout, he kept the front for the first 170 kilometers. With the Spaniard up-front, his teammates prepared behind the supersprint for José Joaquín Rojas, into a never-ending fight by the Spanish champion to take the green points leader jersey. The Murcian was 3rd into the bunch and saw Cavendish (1º) open the gap into the lead to 18 points, but Rojas opened the gap on his nearest follower as the other ace into the contest, Belgian Philippe Gilbert, is now eight points behind the 26-year-old. Ahead, David Arroyo was the main rider from the telephone squad as he went until the final climb with the GC riders -from which Samuel Sánchez (EUS) jumped out to take the win as Voeckler kept yellow-. Behind, the other six survivors from Movistar Team, including Andrey Amador and his sprain left ankle -12 stages done already-, completed the stage with no problems.