Graham Watson

Making the break: Erik Dekker outmaneuvers Santiago Botero for the stage win

Dekker, who also won the eighth stage, claimed the 218.5-kilometer Bagneres-de-Bigore to Revel stage in 5 hours, 5 minutes and 47 seconds. With Botero, the two riders finished nearly five minutes ahead of their seven closest pursuers. Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto) of Belgium was third, trailing the two leaders by 4 minutes and 51 seconds

Race leader and reigning titlist Lance Armstrong (U.S. Postal Service) finished in the next group, in 24th position, one spot behind Germany's Jan Ullrich (Telekom), his closest challenger, 5:10 behind the stage winner.

Armstrong, who assumed the race lead with his strong, runner-up finish in the first mountain stage Monday, retained his 4:14 cushion over Ullrich. Christophe Moreau (Festina) of France, remained third overall, trailing Armstrong by 5:10. There were no changes in the top 10 general classification.

"It was a rainy, windy day, so it was best for me to stay near the front of my group, which I did most of the day," said Armstrong, who has two second-place finishes but no stages wins in the Tour's 87th edition. "I didn't sleep particularly well last night for several reasons, but I felt pretty good today."

The 11th stage included six climbs, but none more difficult than a category 3 ascent. Dekker, who has had several long breaks during the first 11 days of the Tour, broke again after 15 kilometers. He flatted after 127 kilometers, but after Botero waited, the duo built as much as a 14:45 cushion.

Tyler Hamilton, Armstrong's teammate who finished 13th overall last year, remains the next-highest U.S. rider, 29th overall, and trailing by 12:14.

Fred Rodriguez (Mapei), who suffered during the 10th stage and drastically fell from 11th place as the then highest American, rallied in the 11th stage. He finished 15th, the highest U.S. rider of the day, and improved 13 places to 85th overall in his first Tour de France.

Jonathan Vaughters (Credit Agricole), who crashed into a signpost in the 10th stage and was taken via ambulance to a local hospital, was diagnosed with a concussion and left the race for the second straight year.

Following the first of two rest days in the 23-day event on Wednesday, the Tour continues Thursday with the 149- kilometer 12th stage from Carpentras to Le Mont Ventoux. The finishing climb is a 21-kilometer, beyond category ascent, a conclusion held only 11 previous times in the Tour's history.

"I don't have a strategy, really," said Armstrong. "It's the toughest stage of the Tour, I believe. I've trained on it many times and in a few races. It has a certain mystic. It's unusual that at 1900 meters, there is no air and no vegetation. There is nothing like it. It's like the moon."