ST ETIENNE (France), July 25: Marcus Burghardt of Germany won the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, 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-kilometer (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 4 hours, 30 minutes, 21 seconds for the ride through minor mountains.

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

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

Barredo came into the stage more than 2 hours behind Sastre, and Burghardt was more than three hours back. The two riders consistently attacked each other in the last 10 kilometres (6 miles), and at times chatted.

Sastre leads his CSC team-mate 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.

Friday’s stage takes riders through the plains along 165.5 kilometres (102.8 miles) from Roanne to Montlucon. The final shakeout is expected in Saturday’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.

Television images showed Cunego having a bandage attached by a medic to his chin. His jersey was ripped and torn.

Results:

1. Markus Burghardt (Germany / Columbia) 4 hrs 30 min 21 sec; 2. Carlos Barredo (Spain / Quick-Step) same time; 3. Romain Feillu (France / Agritubel) +3:33 ”; 4. Christophe Le Mevel (France / Credit Agricole) same time; 5. Mikel Astarloza (Spain / Euskaltel) +3:35 ”; 6. Samuel Dumoulin (France / Cofidis) +6:39 ”; 7. Cyril Dessel (France / AG2R) ”; 8. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Liquigas) ”; 9. Leif Hoste (Belgium / Silence - Lotto) ”; 10. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Team CSC) all the same time; 11. Oscar Freire (Spain / Rabobank) +6:50 ”; 12. Erik Zabel (Germany / Milram) ”; 13. Thor Hushovd (Norway / Credit Agricole) ”; 14. Leonardo Duque (Colombia / Cofidis) ”; 15. Filippo Pozzato (Italy / Liquigas) ”; 16. Robert Hunter (South Africa / Barloworld) ”; 17. Steven de Jongh (Netherlands / Quick-Step) ”; 18. Alessandro Ballan (Italy / Lampre) ”; 19. Christophe Riblon (France / AG2R) ”; 20. Sven Krauss (Germany / Gerolsteiner) ”; 21. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine / Silence - Lotto) ”; 22. Cadel Evans (Australia / Silence - Lotto) ”; 23. Adam Hansen (Australia / Columbia) ”; 24. Heinrich Haussler (Germany / Gerolsteiner) ”; 25. Martin Mueller (Germany / Milram) ”; 26. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kazakhstan / Credit Agricole) ”; 27. Sylvain Chavanel (France / Cofidis) ”; 28. Sebastian Langeveld (Netherlands / Rabobank) ”; 29. Julian Dean (New Zealand / Garmin - Chipotle) ”; 30. Martin Elmiger (Switzerland / AG2R).—Agencies