Czech sprint specialist Jan Svorada won the 194.5-kilometre 11th stage of the Tour of Spain to Plasencia as Alex Zulle, bidding for a second successive triumph in the race, held on to the overall leader's yellow jersey. Svorada, who won two stages of the Tour of Catalonia and a stage in the Tour of Portugal earlier in the summer, beat 1988 world champion Maurizio Fondriest of Italy by about a length, with France's world number one Laurent Jalabert third.

The overall picture remained unchanged with reigning world time-trial champion Zulle leading compatriot Laurent Dufaux, who was runner-up to Zulle last year in this race, by just over 30 seconds and Spaniard Fernando Escartin in third over two minutes behind.