A powerful acceleration gave Marcus Burghardt his first victory of the 2008 season and Columbia’s fifth stage win in the 2008 Tour de France. At the end of a long break, the German comfortably outpowered Spaniard Carlos Barredo in a two-way battle for a convincing stage victory at St. Etienne. For Burghardt the win had particular importance following a tough spring where knee injuries left him out of one of his other big objecitves, the Belgian Classics.

"I’ve done some track riding in the past and in a finish like today’s that was specially important.” Burghardt said. “I never imagined it could come in useful in the Tour de France!"

"I went in one move early on, then in another after Carlos had gone because I really wanted to get in a break today. We both went for the sprint at the same time and I turned out to be the strongest."

Already the winner of Ghent-Wevelgem in 2007, Burghardt said “My team said I had to help Mark [Cavendish] and Kim [Kirchen] in the first week, but that I would have a chance to go in the breaks in the third. And that's what's happened."

"My spring was very difficult because I had problems training in California [at the pre-season training camp] because of my knee injuries. it became inevitable that I would have an operation. Things got betterafterwards  and thanks to my team giving me lots of support here I am."

During the break "Barredo said he wouldn’t work because he wasn’t as good as me in the finall sprints and he tried to attack from behind. But I was always very focussed on him so he couldn’t get away."

Asked if he had lifted his arms in victory too early, Burghardt said "I was sure that I had enough of an advantage and I was very happy to have won a Tour stage considering it’s just the second time I’ve taken part in the race."

Asked why Columbia was so successful in this season, Burghardt said "it’s all down to great team spirit and supporting each other as much as possible."

It took him a while to find his rhythm after a fast start but Carlos Sastre (CSC - Saxo Bank) enjoyed his first day in yellow, insisting that the compliments from his peers helped his realize that he was no longer dreaming of being in the yellow jersey.

Sastre said: "It was a nice day. It’s the first time I’ve worn the yellow jersey in the Tour de France and I spent the day where I want to be: in a race with my team-mates. They controlled the pace very well and there were no problems. I have once worn the leader’s jersey in the Vuelta a Espana and that was a nice time but the Tour de France is special, it’s different. I’m happy. I got a lot of congratulations from the guys in the peloton and it was something that helped make it seem real. No longer is leading the Tour just part of my dreams."

Sastre continued "The beginning of the stage was really fast and it was not easy because my legs were a bit heavy after the last couple of days in the mountain but later it was okay."

Sastre is already thinking about Saturday's time trial :"I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I’ll think about the time trial on Saturday. We’ll see the course and I’ll do what I can. All I can do is to be my best. That’s what I have and I’ll try with what I’ve got."

Riders in the pack gradually started to consider a new trick by tactician Bjarne Riis to be among the possibilities, but in the end it failed to materialize in the stage to Saint Etienne. Erik Breukink: "Beforehand, it looked like the biggest climb of the day would supply the necessary ingredients for a stunt, but it was not stunning. You could not inflict damage on each other." Bram Tankink also expected another CSC attack, because according to many the one and a half minute gap with Evans is too slim. "But, that second-category climb was simply not difficult enough."

In the morning, Rabobank's sports director Erik Breukink had warned his men that it could turn out to be an arduous stage. "On paper the finale looked fierce, but in the end it was okay. It was simply not selective enough for the favorites to try something. We were not afraid of CSC, even though of all favorites it was Menchov who used up most of his energy yesterday. But, the climb was not spectacular; you could not hurt each other."

Breukink suspects that the favorites benefited from the fact that some men went on the attack yet again. "We knew that it was going to be a controlled race if attackers were to be successful. Burghardt was absolutely the strongest in the front. We also really tried to be represented in an attack in the first hour, but some of our guys were completely exhausted after the Alps. Flecha, Posthuma and Tankink. Additionally, the latter also has a serious cold. A day like this has now turned out to be good for them."

Tankink indicated that he still had to put out all the stops. "Mentally, it was a heavy day. We have just left the Alps and an entire Tour is already behind us. The stage to Alpe d’Huez has seriously left its marks." Making it to Paris is not going to be a problem according to him. "It went better than on Wednesday, but my throat still is not in perfect condition. But do not worry, I can make it to Paris."

The team wants to be there when the prizes are distributed in Paris. Winning Oscar Freire's green jersey is almost a fact. Denis Menchov also has the podium within arm's reach. Therefore, the mood in the team is fine. Bram Tankink confirmed that. "Of course we were all a bit down when Denis came up short on the Alpe d’Huez, but he did not break and Sastre was the best." Erik Breukink: "Everyone in the team saw how Menchov fought his way back. Hence, there was admiration as well. The morale is good."

And the time trial? Breukink: "We will see how far we can get. The podium still is a realistic objective and it would be the first time in the history of the Rabo-team. That was the goal beforehand as well. Back then I already said that Evans, Sastre and Menchov are very equally-matched. The differences in the final classification of the Tour will also be small."

Andy Schleck (CSC - Saxo Bank) had to work hard to defend his White Jersey during the final kilometers of the 18th stage of Tour de France and he ended up having to defend Team CSC - Saxo Bank's position in the Team's Competition as well.

Three riders attempted to escape from the peloton on a category-4 climb and one of them was Schleck's closest rival to the jersey, Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas). Schleck reacted promptly by closing the 50-meter gap with one other rider on his wheel and a group of five was formed. In Kreuziger's group was also Cyril Dessel from ag2r – Team CSC Saxo Bank's closest rival in the Team's Competition – so in this way Schleck ended up automatically defending the team's position. But the group's gap to the peloton was only 10 seconds by the time it reached the finish line.

"It was a perfect scenario for us with a small break so we didn't have to work ourselves to the bone all day to reel them in. We were able to take it easy and only needed to send two or three guys up front. So all in all a calm day apart from the final kilometers, where Andy saw some action" said Team CSC Saxo Bank's Bjarne Riis after the stage.

Andy Scleck said: "I have just one guy to really watch out for now and that’s Roman Kreuziger and when he went I was not quite on his wheel. I got close and then had to work because I just don’t want him to take back any time on me now."

Andy Schleck continued by saying: "It wasn’t cheeky; this is a bike race and everybody can take their chance every day. Why shouldn’t he try today? That’s racing and I was concentrating on the job I had to do. I was there, I followed him and did what I had to do".

Andy Schleck said the final was hard: "It was very fast at the beginning but once the break was gone it was relatively easy until the final. And for me, when Kreuziger went, I followed and it was a pretty hard final as well."

During stage 18 French police stopped 2 cars at the 31 km mark in Vizille with Luxembourg license plates on it. One car belonged to a journalist from Luxembourg who was allowed to continue his trip. But the second car was directed away from the off course route and searched by French police. Former pro and father from Andy and Fränk Schleck, Johnny Schleck was driving the car for  Tour sponsor Skoda. Schleck senior drives VIP guests for Skoda at the Tour. French authorities said they found no forbidden substances in the car. Johnny Schleck was interrogated for 3 hours at a police station in Grenoble. 

French police pointed their guns at the car when it was stopped. Johnnny Schleck said: "I was treated like a gangster. They found nothing. They couldn't. My boys are tested so often. They are riding clean. The police spoiled their party."

Andy Schleck was not amused about the incident. First the leader of the young riders classification said:" they are just doing their job," but a little later after yesterday's stage he said: "This is 22th Tour my father does. Now this happends to him. Maybe its because he is often together with us and automaticly around the team bus. I have a tip for the police. Since l'Alpe-d'Huez my mother is also in this country, just like my aunt."

Andy Schleck continued: "Maybe they don't like it in France that we are both doing good. Jealous people are able to do many things. Why didn't they think about searching the CSC car yet?"

Fränk Schleck said: "They are even allowed to destroy all cars and completely strip them. They won't find anything. But they are making life difficult for my father."

Damiano Cunego crashed after 28 kilometres as his tyre came in a rut. His wheel blocked and Cunego hit the road with his face. Accompanied by teammates Mori, Marzano, Righi and Tiralongo, Cunego reched the finish at 20:12" behind stage winner Burghardt.

After the race Cunego was taken to Chpl hospital in Saint Etienne, to examine his injuries. Cunego has no fractures, but many contusions at the chest and the belly, in his face and arms. He received five stitches on the chin and bandages on chest and arms. Cunego feels pain when he breaths. Cunego left the hospital and, after having talked to Dr Andreazzoli (Lampre's team doctor) and the technical staff, he decided not to start today.