Australia's Caleb Ewan won stage 11 of the Tour de France on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins after a frantic bunch sprint was decided on a photo-finish, as Primoz Roglic retained the overall lead.

Ewan won three stages in 2019 and now says he will go for a third on this Tour too.

"Once you get one you want two, and now I have two I want a third on the Champs Elysees in Paris," the 26-year-old said.

The Lotto-Soudal rider threw his bike forward over the line to narrowly beat triple world champion Peter Sagan, who was judged to have leaned into Belgian Wout van Aert in the final stretch and was relegated to last place in the sprinting group.

"We accept the jury decision. We always aim to win, but in a respectable way, even when the adrenaline is high in a Tour sprint finish," Sagan's Bora-Hansgrohe team said.

Ireland's Sam Bennett, who won Tuesday's 10th stage, took second place.

Slovenian Primoz Roglic retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after a quiet day in the main bunch.

He leads defending champion Egan Bernal and France's Guillaume Martin at the end of a dull stage in which France's Matthieu Ladagnous was the only breakaway rider.

Thursday's 12th stage is a 218 kilometer ride from Chauvigny to Sarran. 

(With input from agencies)