Peter Sagan edges ahead of Chris Froome to secure stage 11 win at Tour de France

Peter Sagan has clinched stage 11 of the Tour de France but Chris Froome remains on course to retain the yellow jersey after finishing second in Montpellier. Sagan, 28, edged over the finishing line ahead of overall leader Froome with Geraint Thomas and Maciej Bodnar also breaking away in a four-strong pack for the final 10 km.

Tinkoff rider Sagan sprinted clear of Froome to close in on winning the green journey with his teammate Bodnar crossing the line in third.

2015 champion Froome secured a six second bonus for his second place finish. He will hold a 28-second lead heading into stage 12 on Thursday (14 July) at Mont Ventoux.

He leads fellow Briton Adam Yates on the overall leaderboard with Daniel Martin of Etixx–Quick-Step 31 seconds adrift in third.

Mark Cavendish, who was chasing his fourth Tour stage win this year, meanwhile found himself lost among the pack after suffering mechanical problems.

While Sagan finished first, Froome took the plaudits after taking advantage of the powerful cross winds hammering down on the peloton. As Sagan broke clear with teammate Bodnar, Froome and Thomas joined them, forming an unlikely quartet that swiftly burst clear of the chasing pack.

With each man working alongside a teammate, the four worked together to maintain their lead, keeping Sagan on course for second place and Froome extending his lead at the top.

Sagan said: "It was something crazy that happened. I didn't believe we could go and after Froomey and Geraint Thomas came with us, I said 'We're too strong, they're never going to catch us'. They just pulled very hard and it happened. It's unbelievable.

"Today everybody was like 'it's crazy wind, it's crazy wind'. Crazy wind was the last 15km or 12km - I don't know how much."