Norwegian cyclist Soren Wærenskjold secured his first Tour de France stage victory on Wednesday, winning the fastest road stage in the race’s history. The 23-year-old, riding for Uno X-Mobility, launched an early sprint finish on the 161.3-kilometer flat course from Vichy to Nevers, ultimately crossing the line ahead of Decathlon CMA CGM’s Olav Kooij and Alpecin-PremierTech’s Jasper Philipsen by nearly a bike length.

The stage’s average speed of 50.9 kilometers per hour set a new record for Tour de France road stages, surpassing the previous mark of 50.3 kilometers per hour set during a sprint stage in the 1999 race. Despite the overall general classification standings remaining relatively stable, the pace remained intense throughout the flat course, underscoring the competitive nature of this year’s race.

Wærenskjold’s victory continues his recent string of impressive performances. Last season, he won the Classic Omloop Nieuwsblad by edging out Philipsen and other top sprinters, signaling his emergence as a formidable contender in sprint finishes.

Following Wednesday’s stage, the Tour de France will continue with a 179.1-kilometer course from the Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saone. The route features an undulating profile, offering a different challenge from the pure sprint terrain of stage 11.