Nibali becomes Wiggins's biggest rival

France's Pierre Rolland claimed an exciting 11th stage victory after an epic day of racing in the Alps to claim his second Tour stage, a year after triumphing on the Alpe d'Huez.

But as Rolland handed Europcar its second win in as many days after Thomas Voeckler's Stage 10 victory, the battle for the race's big prize was raging in his wake.

Wiggins (Sky) had come under attack from both Evans (BMC) and Italy's Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) but repelled both to ultimately take 1 minute 26 seconds from last year's champion.

With Evans dropping to fourth overall at 3 minutes 19 seconds and Nibali third at 2 minutes 23 seconds, he said Nibali could now be his biggest threat.

"Vincenzo showed today he's certainly been getting stronger the whole race really, his attacks at the end were pretty severe," said Wiggins, who now leads team-mate Chris Froome (Sky) by 2 minutes 5 seconds in the general classification.

With an overnight deficit of 1 minute 53 seconds and few mountain stages remaining, Evans took a gamble by going on the attack on the Col du Glandon with over 60km and two other climbs still to negotiate.

In the end, it didn't pay off as Wiggins' formidable Sky team brought him to heel.

"I was more surprised he attacked on the Glandon because there was a hell of a long way to go from there and we were riding pretty strong tempo with quite a few guys," added Wiggins.

"To attack and sustain a high tempo and stay away with two climbs still to go, I was surprised. It's not something I would have had the b...s to do."

With just under 6km remaining another acceleration by Froome put Evans in deeper trouble.

He eventually struggled over the finish in 11th, 2 minutes 23 seconds behind Rolland and 1 minute 26 seconds behind Wiggins.

Sky said it expected a "war" on the 'Queen' stage in the Alps.

But for Wiggins, who was often outclassed by Froome, it was a battle the team controlled from start to finish.

"When we got to the last climb, with about 5km to go the relief started to come that we were almost at the finish," said Wiggins.

"Once Cadel had got dropped and we were in that little group the sense of relief was slightly overwhelming that we've actually got through the stage.

"And to have taken more time off Cadel, which I don't think we really expected this morning."

There was a moment of confusion when Froome launched a small attack to leave the yellow jersey isolated. Five days after beating Evans to victory on the first hilltop finish, it was another example of Froome's apparent class.

Order, however, was eventually restored and Wiggins later explained: "I didn't have a radio at that point, my piece had fallen out.

"But this morning we certainly spoke about Chris attacking in the final.

"I mean, we'd already got rid of Cadel, but this morning we were planning on still being there and Chris maybe making up those 20 odd seconds to move into second overall.

"The plan this morning was for me to stay with Vincenzo and those guys, as long as Chris didn't drag those guys away.

"I think today he showed he had the legs. It was another great day for the team."