Nocentini defends yellow jersey as 11th stage of Tour de France begins; Armstrong still in 3rd

VATAN, France — Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy was wearing the yellow jersey as riders headed out on the 11th stage of the Tour de France, a largely flat route again favoring sprinters.

Nocentini held a lead of six seconds over Alberto Contador and was eight seconds clear of seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong at the start of Wednesday’s 119.3-mile trek from Vatan to Saint-Fargeau.

Mark Cavendish, the British sprinter who won Tuesday’s 10th stage, was expected to challenge for a fourth stage win.