Saab Fly to the finish sweepstakes - Stage 18 and 19

Saab has been really forgiving this year and is allowing us to put in codes even after a day has passed.

The word for yesterday (really two words) is "Green Jersey". That's for stage 18.

The word for today is "Saddle".

Good luck.

SPOILER - Overall Standings After Stage 18

Even though Burghardt finished about six minutes ahead of the pack, the standings didn't change much. Oh, around Burghardt they did. He moved from 134th all the way up to 123rd. OK. He didn't do much damage to Carlos Sastre or the others because they all finished together.

As for poor Cunego, he only dropped to 20th position. But so close to top 10 and now NOT.

Here's how they stand after 18 stages of the 2008 Tour de France.

1. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 79h 16' 14"
2. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 79h 17' 38" + 01' 24"
3. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 79h 17' 47" + 01' 33"
4. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 79h 17' 48" + 01' 34"
5. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 79h 18' 53" + 02' 39"
6. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 79h 20' 55" + 04' 41"
7. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 79h 21' 49" + 05' 35"
8. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 79h 22' 06" + 05' 52"
9. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 79h 24' 24" + 08' 10"
10. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 79h 24' 38" + 08' 24"
11. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 79h 24' 49" + 08' 35"
12. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 79h 26' 18" + 10' 04"
13. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 79h 28' 16" + 12' 02"
14. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 79h 33' 22" + 17' 08"
15. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 79h 36' 21" + 20' 07"
16. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 79h 39' 13" + 22' 59"
17. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 79h 39' 15" + 23' 01"
18. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 79h 40' 43" + 24' 29"
19. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 79h 41' 53" + 25' 39"
20. CUNEGO Damiano 71 LAMPRE 79h 42' 02" + 25' 48"
21. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 79h 42' 03" + 25' 49"
22. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 79h 44' 19" + 28' 05"
23. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 79h 45' 41" + 29' 27"
24. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 79h 51' 02" + 34' 48"
25. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 79h 51' 21" + 35' 07"
26. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 79h 56' 22" + 40' 08"
27. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 79h 58' 46" + 42' 32"
28. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 79h 58' 47" + 42' 33"
29. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 79h 59' 54" + 43' 40"
30. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 80h 00' 02" + 43' 48"
31. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 80h 00' 08" + 43' 54"
32. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 80h 00' 48" + 44' 34"
33. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 80h 05' 40" + 49' 26"
34. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 80h 14' 58" + 58' 44"
35. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 80h 18' 43" + 1h 02' 29"
36. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 80h 19' 32" + 1h 03' 18"
37. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 80h 24' 42" + 1h 08' 28"
38. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 80h 25' 54" + 1h 09' 40"
39. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 80h 27' 45" + 1h 11' 31"
40. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 80h 31' 05" + 1h 14' 51"
41. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 80h 31' 51" + 1h 15' 37"
42. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 80h 37' 22" + 1h 21' 08"
43. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 80h 39' 28" + 1h 23' 14"
44. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 80h 40' 03" + 1h 23' 49"
45. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 80h 40' 12" + 1h 23' 58"
46. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 80h 40' 29" + 1h 24' 15"
47. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 80h 41' 46" + 1h 25' 32"
48. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 80h 46' 27" + 1h 30' 13"
49. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 80h 47' 41" + 1h 31' 27"
50. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 80h 48' 45" + 1h 32' 31"
51. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 80h 49' 15" + 1h 33' 01"
52. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 80h 49' 24" + 1h 33' 10"
53. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 80h 49' 38" + 1h 33' 24"
54. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 80h 49' 39" + 1h 33' 25"
55. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 80h 53' 38" + 1h 37' 24"
56. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 80h 54' 43" + 1h 38' 29"
57. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 80h 55' 08" + 1h 38' 54"
58. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 80h 55' 40" + 1h 39' 26"
59. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 81h 00' 09" + 1h 43' 55"
60. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 81h 01' 21" + 1h 45' 07"
61. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 81h 02' 41" + 1h 46' 27"
62. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 81h 03' 35" + 1h 47' 21"
63. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 81h 03' 50" + 1h 47' 36"
64. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 81h 06' 49" + 1h 50' 35"
65. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 81h 10' 04" + 1h 53' 50"
66. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 81h 10' 32" + 1h 54' 18"
67. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 81h 11' 02" + 1h 54' 48"
68. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 81h 11' 06" + 1h 54' 52"
69. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 81h 13' 28" + 1h 57' 14"
70. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 81h 15' 21" + 1h 59' 07"
71. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 81h 16' 30" + 2h 00' 16"
72. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 81h 17' 11" + 2h 00' 57"
73. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 81h 18' 46" + 2h 02' 32"
74. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 81h 19' 47" + 2h 03' 33"
75. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 81h 20' 45" + 2h 04' 31"
76. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 81h 21' 22" + 2h 05' 08"
77. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 81h 22' 17" + 2h 06' 03"
78. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 81h 23' 21" + 2h 07' 07"
79. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 81h 24' 51" + 2h 08' 37"
80. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 81h 25' 52" + 2h 09' 38"
81. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 81h 26' 21" + 2h 10' 07"
82. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 81h 27' 27" + 2h 11' 13"
83. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 81h 27' 40" + 2h 11' 26"
84. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 81h 29' 15" + 2h 13' 01"
85. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 81h 30' 48" + 2h 14' 34"
86. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 81h 33' 37" + 2h 17' 23"
87. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 81h 34' 38" + 2h 18' 24"
88. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 81h 35' 03" + 2h 18' 49"
89. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 81h 37' 22" + 2h 21' 08"
90. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 81h 38' 59" + 2h 22' 45"
91. WEGMANN Fabian 119 GEROLSTEINER 81h 39' 57" + 2h 23' 43"
92. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 81h 41' 28" + 2h 25' 14"
93. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 81h 45' 12" + 2h 28' 58"
94. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 81h 45' 19" + 2h 29' 05"
95. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 81h 45' 32" + 2h 29' 18"
96. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 81h 45' 44" + 2h 29' 30"
97. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 81h 46' 08" + 2h 29' 54"
98. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 81h 46' 26" + 2h 30' 12"
99. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 81h 48' 17" + 2h 32' 03"
100. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 81h 52' 13" + 2h 35' 59"
101. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 81h 55' 16" + 2h 39' 02"
102. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 81h 55' 29" + 2h 39' 15"
103. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 82h 01' 48" + 2h 45' 34"
104. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 82h 05' 52" + 2h 49' 38"
105. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 82h 08' 26" + 2h 52' 12"
106. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 82h 08' 27" + 2h 52' 13"
107. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 82h 08' 37" + 2h 52' 23"
108. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 82h 08' 38" + 2h 52' 24"
109. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 82h 10' 07" + 2h 53' 53"
110. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 82h 15' 30" + 2h 59' 16"
111. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 82h 17' 25" + 3h 01' 11"
112. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 82h 17' 55" + 3h 01' 41"
113. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 82h 18' 02" + 3h 01' 48"
114. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 82h 19' 22" + 3h 03' 08"
115. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 82h 21' 13" + 3h 04' 59"
116. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 82h 22' 22" + 3h 06' 08"
117. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 82h 24' 07" + 3h 07' 53"
118. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 82h 24' 46" + 3h 08' 32"
119. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 82h 25' 26" + 3h 09' 12"
120. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 82h 26' 17" + 3h 10' 03"
121. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 82h 27' 29" + 3h 11' 15"
122. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 82h 28' 02" + 3h 11' 48"
123. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 82h 28' 12" + 3h 11' 58"
124. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 82h 28' 31" + 3h 12' 17"
125. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 82h 28' 59" + 3h 12' 45"
126. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 82h 29' 32" + 3h 13' 18"
127. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 82h 30' 27" + 3h 14' 13"
128. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 82h 33' 23" + 3h 17' 09"
129. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 82h 33' 23" + 3h 17' 09"
130. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 82h 33' 23" + 3h 17' 09"
131. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 82h 33' 56" + 3h 17' 42"
132. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 82h 34' 02" + 3h 17' 48"
133. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 82h 34' 25" + 3h 18' 11"
134. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 82h 37' 48" + 3h 21' 34"
135. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 82h 38' 21" + 3h 22' 07"
136. BRANDT Christophe 3 SILENCE - LOTTO 82h 38' 25" + 3h 22' 11"
137. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 82h 38' 41" + 3h 22' 27"
138. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 82h 40' 35" + 3h 24' 21"
139. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 82h 40' 58" + 3h 24' 44"
140. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 82h 41' 17" + 3h 25' 03"
141. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 82h 42' 21" + 3h 26' 07"
142. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 82h 43' 14" + 3h 27' 00"
143. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 82h 45' 40" + 3h 29' 26"
144. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 82h 47' 35" + 3h 31' 21"
145. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 82h 47' 47" + 3h 31' 33"
146. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 82h 47' 59" + 3h 31' 45"
147. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 82h 49' 52" + 3h 33' 38"
148. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 82h 49' 53" + 3h 33' 39"
149. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 82h 55' 54" + 3h 39' 40"
150. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 83h 02' 02" + 3h 45' 48"

George Hincapie is still 37th.

SPOILER - Stage 18 Winner and Standings

Nice finish overall by the two breakaway riders and Cunego. Cunego found a way to pull back a little time, but he's still back a lot further than he was at the beginning of the day.

How horrible it must be to stand in 14th position with three or four days to go in the Tour and now be somewhere down in the middle of the pack.

Here's how the top five crossed the line in today's 18th Stage...

1. Marcus Burghardt (GER) COL - 196.5km in 4h30’21" (43.61km/h)
2. Carlos Barredo (ESP) QST - at same time
3. Roman Feillu (FRA) AGR - at 3’33"
4. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA) C.A - at 3’33"
5. Mikel Astarloza (ESP) EUS - at 3’35"

YES, Team Columbia won ANOTHER stage. This might hurt the CSC team lead, but I THINK they measure team points or position based on the cumulative times of all the riders. I don't know what they do if a rider drops out.

Be nice if someone would comment and let me know.

Thanks,

Jeff

Only 15KM To Go

The two leaders are ahead by 10:20 and Cunego is behind the peloton by 12:20. There is 15KM left in the stage from where the leaders are spinning and the peloton is nearly 20KM from the end.

From here on out I'll delay the reports until 9PM EST.

But a ten-minute lead might be able to stand because the final climb of the day is at the 8.5KM to go mark.

GO TEAM COLUMBIA. Where is George?

Not really slip sliding away

Even though the peloton is letting some riders jump clear, the yellow jersey isn't in real jeopardy.

With two leaders - Burghardt and Barredo leading, there is a threesome nearly four minutes behind and the peloton is about 11 minutes back.

Sadly, Cunego is ANOTHER ten minutes behind the peloton. But his teammates are helping pull him back into the pack. We'll see if that works.

Oh, all this is happening 108KM into a stage that's nearly 200KM long (197KM to be exact).

Unfortunate for Cunego

While he may not have had a great chance at getting on the podium, a crash has all but taken Cunego out of the race.

According to a dispatch at letour.fr...

13:38 - Cunego Was 14th Overall...

After 3,000.5km of racing, Damiano Cunego was ranked 14th overall. His deficit to Sastre was 12’26" at the start of the day. He crashed at the 28km mark and is racing again with the help of three Lampre team-mates but the last time check had him 9’40" behind a fast moving peloton.

Supreme BUMMER.

After 63KM - Update

The riders have gone 63KM so far in the 18th stage of the 2008 Tour de France and the peloton is all together.

There was a breakaway early on in the race and seven riders were clear by about 48 seconds.

There were also two major crashes - not in terms of numbers but in terms of severity. In one crash Sandy Casar was knocked out of the lead group and rejoined the peloton.

In the other, Damiano Cunego fell and was slow to get up. It took him nearly six minutes to get rolling again and is off the back of the race by seven minutes at this point.

Just Four Days Left

Today's Stage 18 is going to be a trial for the guys who are in the spots 5-10. They're all about 6+ minutes back and to have a whisper of a hope they must blast the peloton open and race for glory today.

In a second I'll give some info about the racing action today. So hold tight while I get race radio tuned in and Tivo buzzing.

*You could do this too, by the way. I'm just serving as a delivery boy for TDF info. When I've been blogging FROM the Tour de France, the updates have a lot more personal flavor to them because I'm surrounded by people, the weather and the food.

When I'm sitting at my desk with a cup of Earl Grey at my elbow, the recaps probably lack a little umph.

Well, I'm trying. If you have something to say or want to share your own Tour memories, leave them in the comments. Back shortly.

Stage 18 Overview, Picks and Comment

Stage 18 runs back out of Alpe d'Huez country and across a handful of mountains. The stage is a hilly 197KM jaunt and will prove difficult for some who had trouble in the previous mountain stages.

Carlos Sastre has to hang on and ride at the front with such a small lead. He might even entertain thoughts of attacking and putting more time into Schleck and Evans.

George Hincapie is done for the 2008 race - he's still in it but won't win. Bummer.

My thoughts for today's stage are that it's anyone's game. This and stage 19 are the riders' last chances to win a stage and maybe even take home the overall victory.

You won't see Cadel far from the front. You MIGHT see riders like Denis Menchov and Christian Vandevelde team up to blast away from the front.

Like I said, anyone's game.