Norway's Kurt-Asle Arvesen won by a tyre's width in a three-man sprint on stage 11 of the Tour de France.

Arvesen held off AG2R's Martin Elmiger and Alessandro Ballan of Lampre to give CSC Live: Tour de France stage 11 ...
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Australian Cadel Evans held on to the yellow jersey after staying with his main rivals in the peloton.

The stage was overshadowed by Spaniard Moises Duenas Nevado's positive test for banned blood booster EPO.

Duenas Nevado, who tested positive after the time trial in Cholet on stage 4, was immediately suspended by his Barloworld team and removed from the race.

The team suffered a further blow during stage 11, a 167.5km trek from Lannemezan to Foix, when Felix Cardenas and Paolo Longo Borghini had to abandon the race, leaving Barloworld with five riders.

Arvesen, the champion of Norway, went on to clinch his first stage win in three hours 58 minutes and 13 seconds, to add to countryman Thor Hushovd's win on stage 2.

In searing temperatures, an 11-man group broke away after 45km, and established a 15-minute gap before Frenchman Amael Moinard attacked on the day's only major climb - the category one Col de Portel.

However, he was overhauled by the breakaway group with 8km remaining before Arvesen, Elmiger and Ballan escaped 2km out.

Silence-Lotto's Evans finished with the peloton just under 15 minutes behind.

Stage 11 results, Lannemezan to Foix (167.5km):

1. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor/Team CSC) 3 hours, 58 minutes, 13 seconds.
2. Martin Elmiger (Swi/AG2R) same time.
3. Alessandro Ballan (Ita/ Lampre) same time.
4. Koos Moerenhout (Ned/Rabobank) 2 seconds behind.
5. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus/Credit Agricole) 11 seconds behind.
6. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra/Bouygues Telecom) 14 seconds behind.
7. Filippo Pozzato (Ita/ Liquigas) same time.
8. Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra/Francaise des Jeux) same time.
9. Fabian Wegmann (Ger/ Gerolsteiner) same time.
10. Marco Velo (Ita/Milram) same time.

Overall standings (after 11 stages):

1. Cadel Evans (Aus/Silence-Lotto) 46 hours, 42 minutes, 13 seconds.
2. Frank Schleck (Lux/Team CSC) :01.
3. Christian Vande Velde (US) Garmin Chipotle, :38.
4. Bernhard Kohl (Aut/Gerolsteiner) :46.
5. Denis Menchov (Rus/Rabobank) :57.

(BBC)

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