Burghardt was part of the first attacking group which was caught, then immediately joined Quickstep rider’s Carlos Barredo’s attack, and the pair rode the final 120 km several minutes ahead of the peloton. The pair battled for position in the final kilometer, and in the final sprint, Burghardt had the legs, and took the stage win.
“It’s amazing because we have had such success already in this team and now I can’t believe it that I have also taken a victory in the Tour de France,” Burghardt told reporters. “I’m very happy to have contributed to success in the early stages and to get a win for myself is something I’ll remember for a long time.
The first attack came at kilometer zero and I was in the first group with seven riders that was caught after the first hour of racing. I didn’t give up and attacked again and was pleased to be able to make the selection
Near the end of the stage, Carlos [Barredo] and I exchanged a few words and he said that he wouldn’t work anymore because he thought that I am faster in the sprint and it turns out that I had better legs in the end.”
The General Classification remained undisturbed; Sastre keeps the yellow jersey, with Frank Schleck, Bernhard Kohl and Cadel Evans all about 1:30 behind.
A Good Stage for Sprinters or Attacks
The long Croix do Montvieux came at 150 km and with final peak coming only eight km from the finish; these would be tailor-made launching pads for attackers to try to break free from the pack. The final five km were fairly flat, so if a breakaway didn’t get free, the sprinters would have another chance to shine.
Uncatchable Escape
A group of seven riders attacked right at the starting line but were run down in the first hour. Then at the 65 km mark, Carlos Barredo made his break.
Burghardt and Roman Feillu took up the chase Burghardt crossed the gap to join Barredo, while Feillu fell off.
Astarloza and Le Mevel also attacked, catching up the Feillu just after the first categorized climb, but the lead breakaway was uncatchable.
Sadly, Lampre rider Damiano Cunego, who was considered a possible overall winner, crashed heavily early in the stage. He was eventually able to rejoin, but was so far behind he was in danger of not meeting the cut-off time and being dropped from the Tour.
Team Supreme
There are no domestiques and prima donnas; the Schlecks would be as apt to drop beck to get food and water for the team as one of the lesser know riders. Jens Voigt and Stuart O’Grady have sacrificed themselves on stage after stage, pushing an almost superhuman pace, knowing that they were sacrificing their own chances to win a stage.
Time trial champion Fabian Cancellara rode to set up Frank Schleck and Carlos Sastre, when he himself could be an overall contender. Kurt-Asle Arvesen took a stage win, showing that he too, could be a team leader, yet he was content to pass up his chances to work for the team.
The Battle at the Front
Through the last kilometer, the pair were hardly pedaling, watching each other, trying to get the other to commit too soon. Through the final 500 meters, Burghardt was coasting, looking back over his shoulder, waiting for Barredo’s move.
Finally, with 200 meters to go, Burghardt decided he was close enough, and he set off on his sprint. Barredo kept close but simply could not catch Burghardt at the line.
On to Paris
At this stage of the Tour it is unlikely that any of the top contenders will gain or lose a lot of time. Stage Nineteen, 165.5 km from Roanne to Montluçon, has a pair of categorized climbs early in the stage, but the rest of the stage is rolling hills with a flat finish. No one will be able to make a dramatic move here, the stage, like Eighteen, is well-tailored for a successful breakaway or a group sprint, but none of the leaders will be able to escape.
Also, all the GC contenders will be looking ahead to the time trial, which is the last chance for the GC leaders to improve their positions.
Can Cadel Evans make up a minute-and-a-half over Sastre on the time trial? Will Frank Schleck turn in an amazing time trial and hold second place? Bernhard Kohl is not know as a time trialer, but perhaps, motivated by the thought of winning the Tour de France, he will turn in a surprising ride?
Cadel Evans lost the Tour last year by a handful of seconds. Certainly he will not want to end up second again.
Will the Tour come into Paris with multiple possible winners?
After three weeks of grueling competition, the Tour is undecided three days from the end.
Despite the drug scandals, despite some popular teams withdrawing or dissolving, despite last year’s winner being denied the right to ride this year, it is still clear why the Tour de France is the premier bicycle race in the world.
| Stage Eighteen Results | ||||
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1. | Marcus Burghardt | Columbia | 4h 30' 21" | 0 |
| 2. | Carlos Barredo | Quick Step | 4h 30' 21" | + 00' 00" |
| 3. | Romain Feillu | Agritubel | 4h 33' 54" | + 03' 33" |
| 4. | Christophe Le Mevel | Credit Agricole | 4h 33' 54" | + 03' 33" |
| 5. | Mikel Astarloza | Euskatel-Euskadi | 4h 33' 56" | + 03' 35" |
| 6. | Samuel Dumoulin | Cofidis | 4h 37' 00" | + 06' 39" |
| 7. | Cyril Dessel | AG2R La Mondiale | 4h 37' 00" | + 06' 39" |
| 8. | Roman Kreuziger | Liquigas | 4h 37' 00" | + 06' 39" |
| 9. | Leif Hoste | Silence-Lotto | 4h 37' 00" | + 06' 39" |
| 10. | Andy Schleck | CSC Saxo Bank | 4h 37' 00" | + 06' 39" |
| General Classification | ||||
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1. | Carlos Sastre | CSC Saxo Bank | 79h 16' 14" |
|
| 2. | Frank Schleck | CSC Saxo Bank | 79h 17' 38" | + 01' 24" |
| 3. | Bernhard Kohl | Gerolsteiner | 79h 17' 47" | + 01' 33" |
| 4. | Cadel Evans | Silence-Lotto | 79h 17' 48" | + 01' 34" |
| 5. | Denis Menchov | Rabobank | 79h 18' 53" | + 02' 39" |
| 6. | Christian Vande Velde | Garmin Chipotle | 79h 20' 55" | + 04' 41" |
| 7. | Alejandro Valverde | Caisse D’Epargne | 79h 21' 49" | + 05' 35" |
| 8. | Samuel Sanchez | Euskaltel-Euskadi | 79h 22' 06" | + 05' 52" |
| 9. | Tadej Valjavec | AG2R La Mondiale | 79h 24' 24" | + 08' 10" |
| 10. | Vladimir Efimkin | AG2R La Mondiale | 79h 24' 38" | + 08' 24" |
