Marcus Burghardt of Germany reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the 18th stage of the Tour de France between Bourg-d'Oisans and Saint -Etienne, France, yesterday. - AP

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP):

MARCUS BURGHARDT of Germany won the 18th stage of the Tour de France yesterday, leading a two-rider breakaway as the race left the Alps. Carlos Sastre of Spain retained the yellow jersey.

Burghardt, a 25-year-old Team Columbia rider, and Carlos Barredo of Spain finished far ahead of the main pack at the end of the 196.5-kilometre (122.1-mile) ride from Bourg-d'Oisans to Saint-Etienne. The German raised his fists in the air and clapped as he crossed the finish, while Barredo banged his handlebars in frustration. They finished in four hours, 30 minutes, 21 seconds for the ride through minor mountains.

Sastre and his main rivals in the title finished 6:53 behind.

Constant sparring

The aspirants for final victory were content to let the breakaway riders go yesterday: Neither is a threat for overall victory when the three-week race ends on Sunday in Paris.

Barredo came into the stage more than two hours behind Sastre, and Burghardt was more than three hours back. The two riders consistently attacked each other in the last 10km (six miles), and at times chatted.

Sastre leads his CSC teammate Frank Schleck of Luxembourg by 1:24, and Bernhard Kohl of Austria is third, 1:33 behind. Cadel Evans of Australia is fourth, 1:34 back.

Today's stage takes riders through the plains along 165.5km (102.8 miles) from Roanne to Montlucon. The final shakeout is expected in tomorrow's time trial from Cerilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond.

Evans is seen as perhaps the man to beat because he is considered the best time-trial rider among the remaining contenders.

Italian rider Damiano Cunego crashed during the stage, resuming racing a long way behind the main pack after getting treatment from the race doctor.