This time, the new emperor of the sprint did not even need his luxury pilot fish Mathieu van der Poel, sick and distanced in the final, to raise his arms in Moulins on roads soaked by the storm.

Stuck in the wake of Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen, a competitor, the Belgian settled the massive sprint with a huge margin over the rest of the pack at the end of a day for once peaceful for the favorites.

"Yes, I can also win without Mathieu. It makes things easier for me. There, I had to find the right wheel. I took Groenewegen's, he started the sprint, it was perfect," said the 26-year-old Belgian.

Step by step, from Bayonne to Moulins via Nogaro and Bordeaux, Philipsen erases from the shelves its nickname of "Jasper Disaster" to join in the line of the greatest sprinters in the recent history of the Tour, Mark Cavendish, Alessandro Petacchi, Marcel Kittel and André Greipel.

Belgian cyclist Jasper Philipsen (2nd from right) at the finish of the 11th stage of the Tour de France in Moulins, July 12, 2023 © Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

"It's really a dream Tour for me. Everything works like clockwork," says the Alpecin rider who, after also winning the intermediate sprint, flies to the top of the points classification of the green jersey.

Grand Slam in sight?

"He's the fastest man in the world," manager Christoph Roodhooft concluded. He did everything like a big one today. This second week of the Tour is already successful for us too."

Behind, the competition cashes. Fabio Jakobsen who announced himself as his main rival? Far behind, still bruised by his fall in Nogaro. Wout Van Aert, the superstar of cycling? Always empty-handed despite all his efforts. Bryan Coquard? Deserving but subscribed to the places of honor (still 4th Wednesday).

Belgian cyclist Wout Van Aert (centre) before the start of the 11th stage of the Tour de France in Clermont-Ferrand, July 12, 2023 © Thomas SAMSON / AFP

"Jasper is just super fast, and also very fresh. He passes the bumps well. He is the sprinter who survives best in the mountains, an advantage for him," said his teammate Jonas Rickaert.

What to consider the Grand Slam, when there are still perhaps three opportunities for the sprinters next weekend? And join or even surpass the great Mark Cavendish, winner of six stages in 2009?

"Jasper is climbing well but there is still a lot of mountain. Let's go to Paris already," said Ramon Sinkeldam, another lieutenant of the Belgian thoroughbred.

In fact, serious things resume on Thursday with a stage of leapfrogging in the vineyards of Beaujolais before the ascent Friday of the Grand Colombier.

Above all, the Alps are already at the foot of the door, for an of passes from Saturday.

"Keep it under the pedal"

It is easy to understand in these circumstances that the peloton chose, before the inevitable final fury, to take it easy on Wednesday.

The sight of a deer scrambling close to the road, in the yellowed fields of the Allier, sent a very slight shiver through the peloton. The possibility of a border in a windy finale raised some eyebrows.

For the rest, it was a languorous procession through the Allier, chasing behind the escape of the day (Amador, Louvel and Oss) to arrive under downpours - almost a blessing after the furnace of the day before - in Moulins.

Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard at the finish of the 11th stage of the Tour de France in Moulins, July 12, 2023 © Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

"It was a bit stressful though, but my team has done another very good job," said yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard.

Actor of a completely crazy stage the day before to Issoire, the Dane thinks that there will be "no crazy attack" Thursday, because everyone will want to "keep under the pedal for this weekend in the Alps. Especially on Saturday and Sunday, which are really tough stages."

In the meantime, Jasper continues his reign.

© 2023 AFP