Tour de France: Stage 11 as it happened

I think we'll call it a day there because we still have a gremlin or two in the system. Thanks for all the texts, tweets and general company today and apologies for the problems late on. We should have them ironed out for the morning. A bit of an easier day tomorrow with just a couple of category one climbs. I'll see you around mid-day for the next instalment of this year's fascinating race.

Stage 11 classification:

1. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Europcar 4:43:54"

2. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ @55"

3. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky

4. Jurgen van den Broeck (Bel) Lotto @57"

5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

6. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky

7. Chris Sorensen (Den) Saxo Bank @1'08"

8. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana @1'58"

9. Vasil Kiryienka (Bel) Movistar @2'13"

10. Fraenk Schleck (Lux) RadioShack @2:23"

11. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing

Chris Froome rightly getting plenty of plaudits on text and twitter for his ride today. He almost forgot he had a job to do in getting Wiggins up the mountain as he went on the attack. He looked fried several kilometres from the finish but he somehow managed to find the energy to get back on the front and take Wiggins to the summit.

The next question is where is Evans? Here's Brajkovic and Kiryienka, still ahead of Evans. The defending champion appears round the corner in Van Garderen's shadow and he's losing a little more than one minute on Wiggins. That should see Froome up to second overall. Official confirmation coming up.

That's consecutive victories for Team Europcar, to the delight of the French fans. Who's that coming up the mountain second? Chris Froome is going for it but here comes Pinot and it's a French one-two. Froome takes third and that's nice. Wiggo and Nibali give each other a little pat as they cross the line together.

The yellow jersey is only 1'24" behind Rolland. Evans continuing to struggle up behind Van Garderen, sweat pouring off his chin like a dripping tap. And there's a smile on Rolland's face, he knows that this is going to be his day as he enters the final couple of hundred metres.

So, we have Rolland up front on his own. Sorenson chasing, with Pinot trying to chase them down. Froome back pacing Wiggins with Nibali and Van den Broeck in behind. Evans is looking like losing more than a minute. Inside last 1.5km.

This is incredible riding. Froome's burst of speed left Wiggins briefly riding up the mountain on his own. Wiggo looked unfazed and continued to tap out his steady rhythm but Froome obviously got a flea in his ear and immediately sat up to wait. Rolland continues to push on 3.3km from the finish. Pinot is in pursuit but he can't have enough time left can he?

Rolland is head down and receiving tremendous support from a partisan crowd as he ploughs a lone furrow up La Toussuire. Nibali sitting pretty with Van den Broeck - he could be taking second from Cadel Evans this evening.

The leaders are inside the final 7km. Nibali is a couple of minutes behind them but has 20 seconds on Wiggins. Froome is back. He's had a wee breather on a slightly flatter section and returned to pace Wiggins. Froome is gone again! Wiggo back to pacing himself. Frank Schleck sitting in his wheel with Cadel Evans behind him. Cracking racing.

You all wanted it. It's happening. Froome is cooked and Wiggo is on his own. Does Wiggins have what it takes? We're about to find out. Nibali is several seconds up the road with Van den Broeck, Brajkovic and Pinot, so he has help.

Nibali had a long look at Wiggins in the few moments he spent back with the yellow jersey group before deciding to attack again. Still no response from Team Sky though, will they leave him hanging out there with a few seconds lead? Remember Wiggins has more than two minutes lead over Nibali.

Rolland is left on his own up front as Kiserlovski hits the wall. Can the Frenchman last the final 10km on his own? Nibali's break is over as quickly as it begun. Great riding by Froome to pull that back. Froome has blown the rest of the peloton apart and only Wiggo, Evans and a couple of other riders are with him. And here goes Nibali again.

No movement from Team Sky - Porte keeping his head at the front of the peloton. At the front of the race, Rolland, perhaps hearing of events further down the mountain, takes off. Kiserlovski immediately jumps on his wheel, leaving the other two behind.

Great shots from the race helicopter, reminding us that the riders are high in the Alpine mountains. The riders have around 12km to travel and the vertical incline over that distance is about 700m. Astana's Brajkovic decides enough is enough and he catapults himself out of the Wiggins group. He is 6'26" down on Wiggo so Team Sky won't be chasing him. Van den Broeck and Pinot follow. It's starting to heat up.

The high tempo being set by Porte is helping bring the time difference to the leaders down to under three minutes. Porte looking incredibly small on his bike with Froome stepping out of his saddle just behind. Nibali shadowing Evans but all is quiet as the main race contenders continue to size each other up.

There is just 15km of today's stage remaining but it's going to be slow going. Sorenson again gets on the back of the wheel of the leading group. Back in the yellow jersey group and Evans is out of the saddle, dancing in his pedals and looking a little fresher than he did on the climb of Croix der Fer - is he limbering up to go again?

Basso and Vinokourov labouring up La Toussuire. And Rogers also starts to labour. Porte takes over and keeps the pace high to help prevent attacks off the front of the peloton. Kiryienko takes up the pace at the front and is joined by Rolland and Kiserlovski - we are down to three as Sorenson drops away.

We have four riders out front again. Rolland gets back with Kiserlovski and Kiryienka and a herculean effort by Chris Anker Sorenson to complete the quartet as they hit the climb to La Toussuire and Kiserlovski is immediately out the saddle and attacking. Rolland goes with him - 18km remaining and it's all uphill.

"The road surface is not at its best on this descent. It's not partiularly good," says BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator Graham Jones as the leaders zip under the 25km to go barrier.

The points winners on the Col du Mollard:

1. Rolland (EUC) 5pts

2. Kiserlovksi (AST) 3pts

3. Kiryienka (MOV) 2pts

4. Sorensen (STB) 1pt - at 10"

The leaders are three minutes up the road as they start the downhill section - and this is a precarious descent. A low wall is all that is separating the riders from plunging down the mountain a little quicker than they'd like to.

Nibali is back at the Liquigas team car for a bit of juice and a chat - perhaps plotting the ideal time for an attack. His team-mate Ivan Basso is among the yellow jersey group as well. Van Garderen continuing to ride with Evans. Vasili Kiryienko getting on the wheels of Rolland and Kisierlovski up front, while Chris Anker Sorenson is also attempting to latch on. One kilometre from the summit.

It's all change up front. Rolland and Kisierlovski are off the front and now setting the pace. Back down the road and Mick Rogers continues to pace Porte, Wiggo and Froome. The lead is at 2'46" and we have 37.5k remaining.

The Tour website has given Rolland the 25 points, but I'm sure Kessiakoff took that. Those points will be ammended later. The race continues though and Velits and Chris Anker Sorenson make an immediate move on the Col du Mollard and split the leading group wide open. Chris Horner is stopping - looks like a mechanical for the RadioShack rider.

Metronomic from Team Sky. Rogers, Porte, Wiggins, Froome. Nice steady descending. Up front, the leaders are coming back together. We have 43km remaining and the 5.7km ascent of Col du Mollard is next up. It's a category two cllimb with an average gradient of 6.8%

The yellow jersey group comes over the top a smidge over two minutes down, Nibali is back at the team car, getting his gears fiddled with. Up front Rolland tries to get Kessiakoff to share the descending duties. Wiggins takes the opportunity to shove some food in his mouth as the riders pile down the mountain.

Rolland fancies getting to the summit first and off he goes but Kessiakoff is having none of that and the Swedish rider lunges for the line to take the 25 points. The duo are off on the 14km descent -and it's looking a little hairy on the way down - huge drops off the side of the road.

Evans is taking a long breather in the safety of the bunch of about a dozen riders that are now with the Wiggins group. Wiggins, with a face like he's plying poker, happy at third wheel. Kessiakoff zips up his jersey as he approaches the summit further up the road - he's going to be looking to add to his King of the Mountains points collection.

Is that a smile on Rogers face as he continues to lead Wiggo up the Croix de Fer. Enormous crowds and plenty of Union flags being enthusiastically waved. The group is 2'20" behind the front bunch, which is being led by Chris Horner of RadioShack fame. Ireland's Dan Martin, who looked to be fading, has recovered and is back up and challenging.

We are approaching the top of the Col de la Croix de Fer - around 58km of today's stage remaining and we have one category two hump to get over on the descent before a category one climb to the finish at Les Sybelles. Who will win the Souvenir Henri Desgrange? It's awarded to the first man over the highest point in the Alps and named after the founder of the Tour.

Cadel, puffing hard and he's out of his saddle but Team Sky are coming. Evans goes to the side of the road and lets them through. Trememdous pacing effort by Rogers there. Where is the next move coming from? Nibali and Jurgen van den Broeck both lying in wait.

Evans is desperately trying to keep pace with his younger team-mate as Rogers continues to boss the peloton, which is down to about eight riders. Wiggins, Porte and Froome all present and correct - they are barely a few seconds back now as the leaders go past the 5km to go to the summit barrier.

Frank Schleck finding the pace too hot as Michael Rogers pushes on for Team Sky. And Evans is losing touch with Van Garderen - the youngster is going too quickly for his team leader. Evans has a quick word in his race radio and Van Garderen looks back over his shoulder and sits up to wait. Up at the front Kern gasping for air as he continues to lead team-mate Rolland. Ireland's Dan Martin still in there for Garmin.

How big a move is that by Evans? Rogers is gritting his teeth as he pulls the peloton up the Croix de Fer. Evans now has two team-mates with him - this is getting increasingly interesting. There appears to be no massive panic by the Team Sky riders. Evans is around 20 seconds up the road.

Wiggo gets Michael Rogers to take over at the front of the peloton. No big drama just yet, they can see Evans as the Australian goes past Leiphemer. Another big effort going in from Evans. He is 1'53" behind Wiggins in the standings remember. And Evans has caught up with Van Garderen - can the 23-year-old pace his team leader?

The Team Sky train of Knees, Rogers, Wiggins, Froome, Porte tapping out the peloton's rhythm. The gap to the leading bunch is now at four minutes, the biggest of the day so far. BMC's train following. The sprinters will love this fact - 38km of the remaining 67km of today's stage is uphill.

Scarponi is among a group of six riders, including Leipheimer, Vinokourov, Moinard, Marzano and Feillu, that has dropped away from the leading bunch, leaving 16 riders out front, around 2'25" ahead of Wiggins, Evans, Nibali. No movements from the peloton yet.

At the front, the open-shirted, open-mouthed Kern putting in a big turn on the front to help his Europcar team-mate Rolland. Many riders rocking and rolling on their bikes in the peloton but Wiggins has barely moved his position. Here's Knees, looking a bit like a tortoise with about half a dozen bottles stuffed down the back of his jersey, making his way back through the peloton and up to Wiggins to hand out refreshments. That's the value of good domestiques.

The front bunch is all back together but the extra effort is taking its toll on Scarponi who is losing touch with the front bunch which is being pulled along by Kern. The Lampre rider is out the back of the group, as is Astana's Vinokourov - 18km to go the summit and you feel it's going to be a long, long 18km for them.

Bit of a change on the front of the peloton as Boasson Hagen drops away - his work is done for the day - 80km leading the peloton. Chapeau EBH. Knees takes over at the front for the second climb. Wiggins still looking cool on his wheel.

Nibali's little jaunt back to the team car was for a new bike as he had a mechanical problm. Should Wiggins, Evans et al have waited for him?

Scarponi, Rolland, Valverde, Velits, Kiserlovski, Trofimov, Kessiakoff and Kiryienka are the octet out front. Quick flick back to Vincenzo Nibali, the big cheese of Liquigas, and he is being paced back to the peloton by his race car - not sure why he dropped back in the first place.

Velits and Kessiakoff are back with the rest and there are now 25 riders three minutes clear of Wiggo's group. Rabobank's Kruiswijk has had a bit of a spill on the way down but all seems to be fine.

I know, I know, bit of nepotism creeping in there - have barely seen the wife for a few days and it'll earn me good brownie points. Back on the road and Sagan continuing his crazy descending speed. Team Sky patrolling well and no sign of Nibali or Evans yet.

Anybody from outside London tuning in? This descent will go on for a few minutes more yet and then there's an intermediate sprint at the bottom before our second hors categorie climb of day, the Col de la Croix de Fer, looms into view. Bit higher this one at 2,067m. It's slightly shorter than the Madeleline at 22.4km but the average gradient is slightly tougher at 6.9%.

And wheeeeeeeeeeee....down the Madeleine we free-wheel - at speeds approaching 50 mph, that's more my kind of riding. Christian Knees takes over at the front of the peloton for Team Sky, expertly picking out the right line down the mountain. Velits bombing it down at the front of the race with Kessiakoff in pursuit and they are now 42 seconds ahead of the bunch they climbed with.

Sure I've just seen the polka dots of Tommy Voeckler in the same group as Wiggins. And here we have an attack up the road as the race for King of the Mountains points hots up. Brice Feillu is the first to go but he's snaffled. Lampre's Scarponi and Astana's Kessiakoff well positioned.

Boasson Hagen still pedalling away on the front of the peloton. Huge effort from the Norwegian this. Lead group grows to 28 with the addition of AG2R's Maxime Bouet and Gorka Izaguirre of Euskaltel. Anyone else fancying getting across must be prepared to bridge a two-minute gap now.

Jacqui, via text on 81111: "First year watching the tour and now that someone has explained it I am completely hooked."

Andy from Wilmslow, via text on 81111: "Re Juliet at 13.17 - admiration yes: love, ermm nope."

Beautiful shots of the Alps as the riders move to within five minutes of the summit. Those at the front are all back together after Malcarne's bid for freedom was extinguished. The lead is up to just shy of two minutes. I've inexplicably started humming the theme tune to Heidi. Altogether now...

There is a combined amount of 71.4km of categorised climbing to be done today. I'll write that again. 71.4km of categorised climbing. Ouch. Leaders have around 7km of the Madeleine to go. Davide Malcarne having a little dig off the front of the leading bunch. Lead stagnant at 90 seconds.

Wiggo's group is 90 seconds further down the mountain but no huge dramas for the yellow jersey wearer. Michele Scarponi is the best-placed rider in the overall standings in the leading group but he is more than seven minutes behind Wiggins. The only slight concern is two Liquigas riders in the front bunch, perhaps positioning themselves to help Nibali a little later should the Italian go on the attack.

We have 22 riders in our front bunch - deep breath - Michele Scarponi, Pierre Rolland, Ivan Basso, Chris Horner, Alejandro Valverde, Chris Anker Sorenson, Peter Velits, Robert Kiserlovski, Alexadre Vinokourov, Steven Kruijswik, Davide Malcarne, Christophe Riblon, Yury, Trofimov, Dan Martin, Fredrik Kessiakoff, Johnny Hoogerland, Pieter Weening, Vasili Kiryienka, Christophe Kern, Kristijan Koren, Blel Kadri and Brice Feillu. Four more, Levi Leipheimer, Laurens Ten Dam, Amael Moinard and Marco Marzano are trying to latch on the back.

Just the 10 miles or so to go the summit of the Madeleine. Peter Velits of Omega Pharma and Ivan Basso of Liquigas take up the pace-setting at the front of the leaders. Boasson Hagen, followed by Christian Knees dragging the peloton up. Wiggo fourth wheel, calm as you like. Lead at 50 seconds.

More riders shooting off the front of the peloton. Riders from BMC and Lotto look to bridge the gap to the front bunch which has grown again to around 20 riders. Europcar duo Pierre Rolland and Christophe Kern among those getting across. Team Sky unmoved so far with Edvald Boasson Hagen setting the pace for Wiggins.

There are seven out front. Johnny Hoogerland of Vaconsoleil, Astana's Robert Kieserlovski and Alexandre Vinokourov, AG2R's Chistophe Riblon, Koren of Liquigas, Saxo Bank's Chris Anker Sorensen and Garmin's Dan Martin. Lead not great though - only 20 seconds or so.

The sprinters are exiting the back of the peloton at their usual speedy pace as the road goes seriously uphill. Jerseys are already unzipped as the 31 riders who made the initial break also break up. Gesink is back in the main bunch where four Team Sky riders are with Wiggo - about 30 seconds behind the leaders.

France's Tommy Voeckler leads the King of the Mountain standings at present after a terrific win on Wednesday - was a tough call who to cheer on in that finish, part of me wanted Jens Voigt to come through but you've got to love Tommy V. Let's hope for something similar later. There are a maximum of 65 points up for grabs today in the mountains race, so that jersey may well be changing hands.

The riders are on the lower slopes of the Col de la Madeleine and the leading bunch are almost one minute clear of the Team Sky-led peloton. Just the 25km to the summit with an average gradient of 6.2% then.

Bernie Eisel and Mark Cavendish on the front of the peloton for Team Sky - bet they won't be there for too much longer - but they are keeping the breakaway close. A massive 31 riders are off the front but will it stick? They are around 30 seconds clear. BMC's Philippe Gilbert is among the front runners.

Rabobank's Robert Gesink and Marcus Berghardt, team-mate of Cadel Evans at BMC Racing is also among the leaders - there's about a dozen riders trying to establish a break.

Right then, back to today's race. Expect early attacks with the race spending its solitary full day in the Alps. It's a fairly short race at just 148km but we've got two hors categorie climbs to look forward to. First up is the Col de le Madeleine, with its summit at 2,000m, followed by the Col de la Croix de Fer at 2,067m. A wee category two climb interrupts the descent before the final category one climb to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles.

The other news is that two-time Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso will lead Team Liquigas - Cannondale at this September's Tour of Britain. In case you need the dates for your diary, the race starts on Sunday 9 September in Ipswich and finishes and Sunday 16 in Guildford.

Before we get into the details of today's race, which starts at about 12:20 BST, a couple of newsy bits to bring you. Fabian Cancellara has abandoned the race. The RadioShack rider, who won the prologue and wore yellow for the first week, is off back to Switzerland to be with his preganant wife. Spartacus tweeted: "Goodbye ‪#TDF12‬. I am not only bike rider. I am a husband as well. My family needs me to be close and to assist."

Hello and welcome to stage 11 of the 2012 Tour de France. Hope you've got your climbing legs on today because we are in for one tough day in the Alps. Britain's Team Sky rider Wiggins continues to lead the race while fending off repeated questions about doping.

Tour de France race leader Bradley Wiggins: "There's one reason why I'm in this position and that's because I've worked hard. I deserve every minute of what I've been through this last week or so. I shouldn't have to justify it."