How Soren Waerenskjold stunned top sprinters on fastest-ever Tour de France stage - despite 'feeling s***'

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Soren Waerenskjold sprinted his way to victory in Stage 11 of the Tour de France for Uno-X Mobility on a day when history was made in Nevers at the end of 163.1km of hard racing. Tadej Pogacar remains in yellow for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

‘One of the most incredible wins’ - Waerenskjold triumphs in fastest-ever Tour de France stage

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stage 11 has been classified as the fastest stage in the history of the Tour, excluding time trials.

The peloton managed an average speed of 50.9km/h as they rode their way from Vichy to Nevers in central France, beating a record that has stood since 1999.

And it was Waerenskjold who out-sprinted his rivals on another sunny day to take his maiden Tour de France stage win - and the biggest victory of his career.

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The fact he was even in contention for the win was something of a surprise, considering he crashed in Stage 10 - and also needed treatment early in Stage 11 on his right hand - but as the kilometres wore on, the Norwegian admitted that he began to "feel better".

"Sometimes, I have good confidence, and believe in myself. Sometimes, I feel super tired, and like, 'it’s impossible to win here'," Waerenskjold said.

"I felt really s*** in the start [of the day], but then I felt better in the final, with adrenaline and everything. It’s incredible, I have to let it sink in, then I will probably be happier than I look now."

Waerenskjold’s previous best result was his win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last season - which he said unfolded in a similar manner.

"I thought I was too far back," he said. "Then it opened up on the right, like it usually doesn’t do, [like] my first big win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, when I was too far back, then suddenly at the front. It’s unbelievable.

"It means everything. It’s my biggest win so far. When I came here, I said, 'if I’m lucky, and have a good sprint, it’s possible".

Waerenskjold’s Uno-X team-mates were quick to praise the sprinter, who is having a good Tour having already finished second on Stage 7 behind Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step).

"He is the master of these chaotic sprints… it’s amazing," Magnus Cort said.

"It’s incredible," Anders Halland Johannesen added. "We knew he was a bit injured [yesterday], but he was the fastest today."

Highlights: Waerenskjold wins fastest-ever Tour de France stage

Video credit: TNT Sports

Tobias Halland Johannessen called the result "a crazy feeling", before adding that the team "really didn’t believe we were going to win today".

Waerenskjold's victory comes after Uno-X have already spent time in yellow courtesy of Torstein Traeen, ensuring that this Tour will go down in history for the team.

He initially beat Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) across the line, although the latter was then relegated for an infringement in the sprint, before later being reinstated.

The decision to initially relegate Philipsen, who is still hunting a first win at this year’s Tour, proved somewhat controversial.

"There shouldn’t be somebody who decides this who hasn’t been a sprinter, there should be somebody who says this is right and this is wrong - this is just ridiculous," Tom Boonen said in the TNT Sports studio.

"None of us even mentioned anything [when watching], which is quite telling," added Matt Stevens. "From what I’ve seen, that is wrong."

Cort hails ‘amazing’ Waerenskjold after Stage 11 victory: ‘He's the master of these chaotic sprints'

Video credit: TNT Sports

It appeared the race jury agreed, and reinstated the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider shortly after the stage.

Pogacar remains in yellow for UAE, having finished safely in the bunch along with his GC rivals.

The Slovenian holds a 3’36’’ lead over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), with the GC battle set for another quiet day tomorrow, as Stage 12 looks like one for the sprinters.

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