Stage 18

Salies de Béarn – Bordeaux

Distance: 198 kilometers.

Back on the flat with a couple of sprints. Tomorrow will be time-trials and then it’s the parade to Paris, so this is the last stage for the sprinters and non-climbers to make a move.

Mark Cavendish made his move and won his fourth stage, but a withdrawal is the only reason he moved up. The finish involved the bottom of the list from 149 down at the front of the pack, but no real change in their overall standings. Alberto Contador hasn’t won a single stage but he is wearing Yellow.

Alberto Contador ( Esp – AST – 001 ) [Yellow] 88h 09m 48s
Alessandro Petacchi ( Ita – LAM – 208 ) [Green] 213 points
Anthony Charteau ( Fra – BBO – 153 ) [Polka Dot] 143 points
Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 ) 2 [White]
Team: Radio Shack RSH ( 021-029 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 111 )
Combative: Daniel Oss ( Ita – LIQ – 046 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 3,487.4 kilometers [2,167.0 miles] at an average speed of 39.6 kph [24.6 mph].

OVERALL STANDINGS:

Alberto Contador ( Esp – AST – 001 ) [Yellow]
2 Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 ) [White]
3 Samuel Sanchez ( Esp – EUS – 181 )
4 Denis Menchov ( Rus – RAB – 191 )
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – OLO – 101 )
6 Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 195 )
7 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( Esp – KAT – 077 )
8 Ryder Hesjedal ( Can – GRM – 054 )
9 Roman Kreuziger ( Cze – LIQ – 044 )
10 Christopher Horner ( USA – RSH – 023 )
11 Luis-Leon Sanchez ( Esp – GCE – 161 )
12 Ruben Plaza Molina ( Esp – GCE – 168 )
13 Levi Leipheimer ( USA – RSH – 025 )
14 Andréas Klöden ( Ger – RSH – 024 )
15 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 081 )
16 Alexandre Vinokourov ( Kaz – AST – 009 )
17 John Gadret ( Fra – ALM – 085 )
18 Thomas Lövkvist ( Swe – SKY – 037 )
19 Kevin De Weert ( Bel – QST – 133 )
20 Daniel Moreno Fernandez ( Esp – OLO – 107 )

23 Lance Armstrong ( USA – RSH – 021 )
24 Bradley Wiggins ( GBr – SKY – 031 )
26 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 121 )
42 Anthony Charteau ( Fra – BBO – 153 ) [Polka Dot]
66 Jérôme Pineau ( Fra – QST – 135 )
68 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 039 )
111 Thor Hushovd ( Nor – CTT – 095 )
127 Daniel Oss ( Ita – LIQ – 046 ) [Red numbers]
149 Alessandro Petacchi ( Ita – LAM – 208 ) [Green]
154 Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 111 ) [Stage winner]
156 Julian Dean ( NZl – GRM – 052 )
160 David Millar ( GBr – GRM – 057 )
165 Robbie McEwen ( Aus – KAT – 075 )