Burghardt vs Barredo: A Bout Between Two

The Progress Report _ The 18th stage of the 2008 Tour de France, a 196.5km journey from Bourg d’Oisans to St-Etienne, began at 12.28pm. There were 150 riders in the race. The final Thursday of the 95th edition featured three climbs: the cat-3 col de Parmenie (at 78km), the cat-2 Croix de Montvieux (163km) and the cat-4 cote de Sorbiers (188km). The intermediate sprints were in Grenoble (at 43km) and St-Chamond (181.5km). The conditions were warm with a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius at the start and over 30 degrees by the second hour of racing. The sun was shining over the Isere and Loire departments. _ _ Fastest First Hour This Year _ Burghardt (COL), Pozzato (LIQ), Lang (GST), Bichot (AGR), Schroder (MRM), Auge and Monfort (COF) attacked at the 2km mark. They reached a maximum gain of 55” at the 18km mark. Quickstep and Bouygues insisted on chasing them down. Bichot, Schroder and Auge claimed the sprint points in Grenoble and the four others were caught by the bunch. At the 48.5km mark, the other three were also gobbled up by the bunch. Cunego (LAM) crashed at the 28km mark. By the site of the sprint, he was 7’30” behind the bunch. The average speed for the first hour was the fastest so far this year at 55.7km/h! _ _ Two Escapees; Three Counter-Attackers… _ Barredo (QST) attacked at the 68km mark. Two riders – Burghardt and Feillu (AGR) – also escaped the bunch and pursued the Spaniard. At the Col de Parmenie, Barredo led Burghardt by 10” and Feillu by 1’30”. Astarloza (EUS) and Le Mevel (C.A) attacked the peloton on the approach to the first climb and the Frenchman was fourth at the summit, 3’40” behind Barredo. The peloton was 7’45” behind at the 78km mark. Feillu was caught by Astarloza and Le Mevel at 83km. The average speed for the second hour was 41.5km/h. At 96km, the peloton was 10’20” behind the two stage leaders – this was the maximum advantage for the escapees. Caisse d’Epargne had led the peloton but at the 100km CSC took control. _ At 133km, the two led three by 4’20”, the peloton by 10’20” and Cunego by 23’20”. The average speed for the third hour was 43.7km/h. At the top of the Croix de Montvieux, the two leaders were 4’15” ahead of Astarloza’s trio and 10’10” ahead of the CSC-led peloton. _ _ Burghardt Wins The Sprinting Game _ The two escapees knew they had the chance to contest the stage. The first to attack was Barredo, who tried a little surge with 18km to go but it was easily accounted for by Burghardt. From there until the finish they did enough to maintain a decent advantage on the chase and, in the final kilometers eased off the gas and started toying with each others like sprinters on the velodrome. Burghardt drew the front position for the final sprint and stomped on the accelerator 200m from the line to hold off a frustrated Barredo. They finished 3’33” ahead of the counter-attackers, 6’39” ahead of a group containing the two leaders of the youth classification – Andy Schleck and Roman Kreuziger – and 6’50” ahead of the peloton. _ Carlos Sastre finished 37th in the stage and will wear the yellow jersey in stage 19.