Tour de France Team Talk Stage 18

Marcus Burghardt (Team Columbia) outfoxed Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) in a sprint finish for the stage win - report

Marcus Burghardt said - “I’ve done some track riding in the past and in a finish like today’s that was specially important.”. “I never imagined it could come in useful in the Tour de France!”

Marcus Burghardt celebrates - Pic fotoreporter sirotti

“I went in one move early on, then in another after Carlos had gone because I really wanted to get in a break today. We both went for the sprint at the same time and I turned out to be the strongest.”

Already the winner of Ghent-Wevelgem in 2007, Burghardt said “My team said I had to help Mark Cavendish and Kim Kirchen in the first week, but that I would have a chance to go in the breaks in the third. And that's what's happened."

“My spring was very difficult because I had problems training in California (at the pre-season training camp) because of my knee injuries. it became inevitable that I would have an operation. Things got better afterwards and thanks to my team giving me lots of support here I am.”

During the break “Barredo said he wouldn’t work because he wasn’t as good as me in the final sprints and he tried to attack from behind. But I was always very focused on him so he couldn’t get away.” “I was sure that I had enough of an advantage and I was very happy to have won a Tour stage considering it’s just the second time I’ve taken part in the race.”

The team were happy to set the tempo and not set the race alight on stage 18.

Bjarne Riis said - "It was a perfect scenario for us with a small break so we didn't have to work ourselves to the bone all day to reel them in. We were able to take it easy and only needed to send two or three guys up front. So all in all a calm day apart from the final kilometers, where Andy saw some action."

Andy Schleck had to defend his White Jersey during the final kilometres when Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) jumped away from the main pack.

Damiano Cunego is out of the Tour de France, after crashing when his wheel jammed into a rut and he face planted into the road.

A battered Cunego - Pic fotoreporter sirotti

He fell at 30 km and then rode in with team mates Mori, Marzano, Righi and Tiralongo at 20'12.

Cunego went to hospital in Saint Etienne, where he was checked - he has no fractures, but many contusions to the chest, stomach, the the face and arms. He received five stitches on the chin and bandages on chest and arms.

He complained of feeling pain when he breaths. Cunego left the hospital and, after having talked to Dr Andreazzoli (team doctor) and the technical staff, the decision to abandon was taken.

David Millar sums up the Alps on the team website rather poetically - "I experienced a moment of pure happiness today. I got back to our hotel and went straight to Christian’s room. I knew he had ridden a fantastic stage and wanted to congratulate him. He was in great spirits. I then went to my room and opened up my computer and put on some music. Coldplay ‘Viva la Vida’ was the first thing that came to my eye. I sat on my bed and took my shoes off. Then I stood up and looked out the window. It was beautiful. There were mountains as far as the eye could see, framed in a thin yet endless blue only mountain skies possess. And I didn’t have to climb any of them…That made me happy enough to actually feel mild euphoria. It was wonderful. The best part of this Tour to date for me."

A number of people were expecting Team CSC/Saxo Bank to attack on this stage over the few mountains left of this Tour, but they didn't.

Rabobank manager Erik Breukink said - "Beforehand, it looked like the biggest climb of the day would supply the necessary ingredients for a stunt, but it was not stunning. You could not inflict damage on each other."

Rider Bram Tankink said - "That second-category climb was simply not difficult enough."

Breukink - "On paper the finale looked fierce, but in the end it was okay. It was simply not selective enough for the favorites to try something. We were not afraid of CSC, even though of all favorites it was Menchov who used up most of his energy yesterday. But, the climb was not spectacular; you could not hurt each other."

Breukink also suspected that the tiredness of the riders may have led to a quiet stage - 'Some were really exhausted'

Tankink indicated that he still had to put out all the stops. "Mentally, it was a heavy day. We have just left the Alps and an entire Tour is already behind us. The stage to Alpe d’Huez has seriously left its marks." Making it to Paris is not going to be a problem according to him. "It went better than on Wednesday, but my throat still is not in perfect condition. But do not worry, I can make it to Paris."

Erik Breukink looked back on Menchov's recovery on stage 17 - "Everyone in the team saw how Menchov fought his way back. Hence, there was admiration as well. The morale is good."

Herve Duclos Lassalle, Cofidis - stage 1 - crash
Angel Gomez, Saunier Duval - stage 3 - crash
Maurico Soler, Barloworld - stage 5 - injuries from an earlier crash
Aurelien Passeron, Saunier Duval - stage 6 - failed to start (Hit a spectator the previous day)
Magnus Backstedt, Garmin Chipotle - stage 7 - outside time limit
Lilian Jegou, FD Jeux - stage 7 - crash
Christophe Moreau, Agritubel - stage 7, bad back
John Gadret, AG2R - stage 7
Mauro Facci, Quickstep, - stage 7
Manuel Beltran, Liquigas - stage 7 - failed dope test and thrown off race
Yury Trofimov Bouyges Telecom - stage 10 - withdrawn before start
Paulo Longo Borghini, Barloworld - stage 11 - crash
Felix Cardenas, Barloworld - stage 11 - crash
Moises Duenas Nevado, Barloworld - stage 11 - failed dope test and thrown off race
Leonardo Piepoli, Saunier Duval - stage 12 - team withdrew
Josep Jufre, Saunier Duval - stage 12 - team withdrew
Jesus Del Nero, Saunier Duval - stage 12 - team withdrew
David De La Fuente, Saunier Duval - stage 12 - team withdrew
Juan Jose Cobo Acebo, Saunier Duval - stage 12 - team withdrew
Rubens Bertogliati, Saunier Duval - stage 12 - team withdrew
Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval - stage 12 - failed dope test and thrown off race
Baden Cooke, Barloworld - stage 12 - crash
Nicholas Jalabert, Agritubel - stage 14 - abandoned
Stijn Devolder, Quickstep - stage 15 - abandoned
Mark Renshaw, Credit Agricole - stage 15 - abandoned
Mark Cavendish, Team Columbia - stage 15 - didn't start and went home
Oscar Pereiro, Caisse d'Epargne - stage 15 - crash
Sebastien Chavanel, FD Jeux - stage 16 - abandoned
Francesco Chicchi, Liquigas - stage 16 - outside the time limit
Jimmy Caspre, Agritubel - stage 17 - outside the time limit
Damiano Cunego, Lampre - stage 19 failed to start after crashing on 18

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