Tour de France 2012: stage 11 – in pictures

An entertainer balances on top of his bicycle atop a lamp post prior to the start of the stage Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP

Today's stage is 148km long stretching from Albertville to Les Sybelles Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Bradley Wiggins, in the yellow jersey, sits among the peloton, headed by his Team Sky colleagues Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

Chris Froome and Michael Rogers are helping the front-runner to climb the Col de la Madeleine Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP

Thomas Voeckler, wearing the best climber's polka dot jersey, sits among the pack, with Cadel Evans behind him (in black and red) Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

The Col de la Madeleine is an 8% climb Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Making the downhill sections of the stage all the more welcome Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Scantily clad Australian fans wave national flags in support of Cadel Evans, who has launched an attack with 62km remaining Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Pierre Rolland gets some encouragement as he climbs towards La Toussuire. He was among a pack of riders which Team Sky allowed to race into the lead early on in the race as none of them were contenders in the overall standings Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP

Froome leads Wiggins up the climb, with Frank Shcleck of Radioshack-Nissan in tow Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The pack is cheered on is they cycle high into the Alps Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

Cadel Evans can't handle the pace of his direct rivals onn the final climb and falls away Photograph: Laurent Rebours/AP

Rolland, who has crashed earlier in the stage, crosses the line first and lifts his bicycle in celebration Photograph: Nathalie Magniez/AFP/Getty Images

Froome finishes third with Wiggins marginally behind him. Wiggins has therefore extended his lead over Evans, while Froome has jumped to second in the general classification, just over two minutes behind his team-mate Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images