2010 Tour de France Fri 23 July
Stage 18: Salies-de-Béarn Bordeaux 198km

The 198km 18th stage of the 2010 Tour de France, a dead flat sprinters stage from Salies-de-Bearn to Bordeaux had 171 riders in the race With two intermediate sprints, after 29.5km in Castelnau and Hostens after 47.5km in Hostens. The temperatures were mild with no recurrence of the terrible heat in the last week. After 11km mark, the break of the day beat feet off the front with escape in what was a fast start to the stage, broke free. The men involved were four riders, Oss (LIQ), Pineau (QST), Vaugrenard (FDJ) and SRAM RED equipped Matti Breschel (SAXO BANK). After 18km they had a lead of 30” and the sprinters teams of HTC, Lampre and Garmin were vigilant at the front of the peloton.

The break increased their eventually to 3’35” but never gained more. Lampre and HTC-Columbia were up front until 45km to go, when SRAM RED equipped Milram sent two riders to the front to help. As the riders traversed the piney woods of the dead-flat Landes region and Bordeaux loomed ever closer.

On the outskirts of Bordeaux with 15km to go, Pineau made the first move but was brought back. Oss made a powerful counter and left the others behind, who were quickly reeled in, while the Liquigas rider resisted the onslaught until 4km to go mark. Cavendish took his 4th stage win in a sprint, while SRAM RED equipped Maillot Vert Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) got boxed in and ended up 14th and lost the points lead.

2010 Tour de France Fri 23 July
Stage 19: Bordeaux Pauillac 52km
The only time-trial stage of 2010 Tour de France, Stage 19 starts in the streets of Bordeaux for fifteen kilometres, then departs the city, headed north through open countryside among the world famous Bordeaux vineyards and châteaux of the Haut Médoc wine-making region. The roads are mostly flat but the west wind could make the going hard for the time testers. Schleck will challenge Contador as the gap between them is only 8” but no one knows the outcome.

Stage Eighteen Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC -Columbia 4h37’09”
13. Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale (SRAM RED)
14. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team (SRAM RED)
16. Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bbox Bouygues Telecom (SRAM RED) 18. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale (SRAM RED)

2010 Tour de France General Classification
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 88h09’48” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @ :08” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
10. Chris Horner (USA) Team Radioshack @ 10’37”
13. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack @ 14’24” (SRAM RED)
14. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack @ 14’44” (SRAM RED)
15. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale @ 16’00” (SRAM RED)
16. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana @ 17’57” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
17. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale @ 17’59” (SRAM RED)
21. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team @ 25’50” (SRAM RED)