CYCLING
ST ETIENNE, FRANCE : German rider Marcus Burghardt beat Spain's Carlos Barredo in a sprint finish to win the 18th stage of the Tour de France, as Carlos Sastre retained the race's overall lead. The 25-year-old Burghardt was part of every escape group from the beginning of the 196.5km course from Le Bourg-d'Oisans to the city of Saint-Etienne, eager to score a stage win.
He finally hooked up with Carlos Barredo at the 65km mark, and then outsprinted the Spaniard to the finish line. It was Burghardt's first-ever Tour de France victory, and the fifth win for his Team Columbia on this year's Tour.
Sastre keeps his 1min 24sec lead over Frank Schleck in the race for the leader's yellow jersey. Bernhard Kohl is 1:33 behind Sastre, with Cadel Evans a second further back.
There are only three stages remaining before the three-week race ends in Paris on July 27. BLOOMBERG, dpa
RESULTS & STANDINGS
Stage results: 1. Marcus Burghardt, Germany, Team Columbia, 4 hours 30 minutes 21 seconds 2. Carlos Barredo, Spain, Quick Step, same time (st) 3. Romain Feillu, France, Agritubel, 3 minutes 33 seconds behind 4. Christophe Le Mevel, France, Credit Agricole, st 5. Mikel Astarloza, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskati, st 6. Samuel Dumoulin, France, Cofidis, 6:39 7. Cyril Dessel, France, AG2R, st 8. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, st 9. Leif Hoste, Belgium, Silence-Lotto, st 10. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team CSC, st
Overall standings: 1. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Team CSC, 79 hours 16 minutes 14 seconds 2. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team CSC, 1 minute 24 seconds behind 3. Bernhard Kohl, Austria, Gerolsteiner, 1:33 4. Cadel Evans, Australia, Silence-Lotto, 1:34 5. Denis Menchov, Russia, Rabobank, 2:39 6. Christian Vandevelde, United States, Garmin Chipotle, 4:41 7. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 5:35 8. Samuel Sanchez, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 5:52 9. Tadej Valjavec, Slovenia, AG2R, 8:10 10. Vladimir Efimkin, Russia, AG2R, 8:24
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