Sciandri Is Leader of Daily Pack, but Indurain Stays First Overall

British rider Max Sciandri got his first Tour de France stage victory Thursday, and Spain’s Miguel Indurain retained the yellow jersey as the second half of the three-week event took the race out of the Alps.

Sciandri was part of an eight-rider group that built up a nine-minute advantage during an 80-mile-long breakaway.

But none of the riders in that group were a threat in the overall standings, and the race leaders, tired after two grueling days in the Alps, did not give serious chase.

Indurain held the overall lead, with an advantage of 2 minutes 27 seconds over Swiss Alex Zuelle.

Despite searing heat, the 11th stage over 124 miles from Bourg d’Oisans was raced at a blistering pace of 4 hours 43 minutes 15 seconds by Sciandri. Colombian Hernan Buenahora finished second after riding almost 93 miles alongside Sciandri.

Today’s 12th stage runs 138 miles to Mende.