FOIX, July 16, 2008 (AFP) - Kurt-Asle Arvesen of Norway, riding for CSC, won the 11th stage of the Tour de France here Wednesday, 167.5km of racing between Lannemezan and here, crossing the line in 3hr 58min 13sec in a sprint finish.

Arvesen edged out Swiss rider Martin Elmiger and Alessandro Ballan as the 33-year-old gave his team their first triumph of this year's edition.

The race for the yellow jersey was still on as Australian Cadel Evans, wearing it at the start, was some 20km, around 15 minutes, behind the leading group.

Evans, riding in the jersey for the first time in his career, was happy to sit at the front of the bunch surrounded by his Silence team as Arvesen, junior world champion in 1997, scored his first stage win in the event, having previously netted two Giro stages in Italy.