For Trek Factory Racing, today's stage was all about survival as the team is waiting for Alps where Frank Schleck and Haimar Zubeldia are expected to shine. The latter was pleased to get through the first stage after a rest day which is traditionally a tricky affair.

Rest day over, it was back to work for the Tour de France.

The 11th stage from Besançon to Oyonnax was a relatively temperate affair until the final 50 kilometers where four categorized climbs were packed in tight, offering a perfect finish for the punchers, or any surviving opportunists from a breakaway.

The danger in the ending climbs was not in the gradients or length - none being overly long or steep - but rather in the extremely narrow and twisty roads that cuased splits in the peloton in the descents.

Both Fränk Schleck and Haimar Zubeldia were attentively in the front positions over the climbs and in the prickly downhills, as dangerous gaps opened each time. 

A succession of punches by Tony Gallopin of Lotto-Belisol over the top of the final uncategorized climb and on the ensuing descent to the finish paid off with an exciting solo win. For Tony Gallopin, the nephew of Trek Factory Racing’s sport director Alain Gallopin, it was sweet redemption after the bitter disappointment of losing yellow the previous stage.

At the finish both Trek Factory Racing’s top climbers effectively navigated the problematic parcours at stage end and finished in the same time as Gallopin. It was a quiet, unassuming day for the two GC leaders of the team - exactly what they wanted.

However, Jens Voigt and Markel Irizar, usually strong antagonists in undulating parcours, missed playing a part of the finale as both suffered untimely punctures in the closing kilometers.

The day after a rest day is never easy, as often riders need time to find their race legs back. However, as soon as the neutral concluded and the race organizer signaled the start for the 187.5-kilometer race, it was game on.

Over and over the rubber band would stretch as breaks formed, but snap back and reabsorb the escapees.

At kilometer 30 the peloton finally released three men and the breakaway established at last; finally the riders were able to catch their breath in a brief moment of respite.

“Always after the rest day is hard because your body has shut down a little," Zubeldia said. "Today we went full gas for the first 30 kilometers and finally some riders made the breakaway and we were able to have a few easy kilometers. 

"But after Cannondale and GreenEdge pulled hard and went full gas into the first GPM climb, breaking apart the peloton. After that the front group was much smaller. They tried to control the bunch but in the last climb Gallopin attacked.

"I think he knew the roads and that they were so small and narrow. It was so fast in the downhill and things split apart, but again Gallopin went and won with a few seconds. Chapeau to him, he showed that other riders can still play even when other teams are controlling.”

The reprieve did not last long as Cannondale and GreenEdge, both teams with riders favored for the stage win, controlled the front with a fierce pace. The breakaway stood little hope; they were caught back on the final ascents, resulting in a few counter attacks that were also rolled over by the fast speeds.

In the end it was the doggedness of one rider that succeeded, a beautiful ending in a race that always surprises.

Tomorrow will see another similar stage ahead of the Tour’s second mountain summit finish on Firday with the hors catégorie Montée de Chamrousse.

“Tomorrow for the GC riders it is a little bit easier, but after that we have two days hard in the mountains," Zubeldia said. "Today I felt down at the start, but better as the race went on - this is a good sign for me after a rest day. So far I am happy with my feeling.”