In 2011, Kennaugh was a last minute replacement for Serge Pauwels in the Giro d'Italia, and finished 86th in his first Giro. Kennaugh finished third overall in the Route du Sud, but was not selected for the 2011 Tour de France. He came in third behind teammates Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas in the national road race championships. In August, he finished fifth overall in the Tour de Pologne.
