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The 166 km eighteenth stage contained three minor cols. Everyone expected a breakaway group and that was indeed what happened. After about 10 km eight riders attacked and six of them managed to stay away until the finish. Two Spaniards sprinted for the stage victory and Juan Miguel Mercado was the fastest of the two. The breakaway group had an advantage of 11 minutes but Lance Armstrong kept the yellow jersey.
In the game, there was a third stage victory for Barbara Hoffellner (Austria). The last time anyone won three stages with a team that consisted mainly of sprinters was in 1997 (Jack Habets). Hoffellner has one more chance to make it four next Sunday. Rob Spaans (The Netherlands) was second and Storcky Lejo of Germany shared third place with game leader Arthur Denneman (The Netherlands). After today, Denneman's prospects for winning this edition of the game are excellent. Runner-up Jan Matheeuwwsen is nine points behind. He might claim the first place on Saturday but then Denneman is expected to do better in the traditional sprint finish on Sunday. Michael Botzet (Germany) lost the third place to fellow countryman Storcky Lejo.
After Saturday's stage the top five will probably consist of these four together with eight-placed John Hamill (USA), all perhaps within a space of less than ten points. Sunday's stage results will determine who will become the winner of the game.
1. 54 Barbara Hoffellner (Austria)
2. 50 Rob Spaans (The Netherlands)
3. 49 Arthur Denneman (The Netherlands)
49 Storcky Lejo (Germany)
5. 47 Akke Vellinga (Belgium)
47 Dave Blito (UK)
47 Gerard Voorintholt (The Netherlands)
47 Reno van Dael (The Netherlands)
9. 46 Billy Corgan (Norway)
46 Effie Cozijnsen (Australia)
46 Johan van Ommen (The Netherlands)
46 Nathalie Mulder (The Netherlands)
46 Olli Bama (Germany)
46 Wicher Otten (The Netherlands)
15. 45 Dimitri van Agterveld (The Netherlands)
45 Jos Droste (The Netherlands)
45 Marc d'Ancona (The Netherlands)
45 Rick Szabo (Australia)
45 Tom Cone (USA)
20. 44 Björn De Neve (Belgium)
44 Claude Flasque (France)
44 Danique van Lunteren (The Netherlands)
44 Guus van Zadelhoff (The Netherlands)
44 Jack Crombag (The Netherlands)
44 Karolina Szulc (Poland)
44 Noppie S. (The Netherlands)
27. 43 Brian DeRouen (USA)
43 Chiara Tosi (Italy)
43 Geraint Parry (USA)
43 Henry Sorst (Germany)
43 Karolina Tobiasson (Sweden)
43 Lydia Beerkens (The Netherlands)
43 Matthew Crommen (Belgium)
43 Michael Botzet (Germany)
43 Reinier van Olderen (The Netherlands)
43 Sapna Sanagavarapu (USA)
37. 42 Jenni Collingwood (New Zealand)
42 Matthijs Otten (The Netherlands)
42 Mayo Litjens (The Netherlands)
42 Nathaniel Szabo (UK)
42 Norbert Schmelzer (The Netherlands)
42 Randall Lee (USA)
42 Rien Post (The Netherlands)
44. 41 E.R. Huygen (The Netherlands)
41 Jan Matheeuwwsen (The Netherlands)
41 John Hamill (USA)
41 Joris van den Berg (The Netherlands)
41 Julian Martin (Spain)
41 Marcel Yoda (The Netherlands)
50. 40 B. Weaver (Belgium)
40 Bravo Juliett (Germany)
40 John Lanson (USA)
40 Julien Legall (France)
40 Nagrom Skubidi (Norway)
40 Rens Jan Piket (The Netherlands)
40 Robert van Lunteren (The Netherlands)
57. 39 Anton Reidt (The Netherlands)
39 Brian Roth (USA)
39 Eise Buschi (Germany)
39 Erik-Jan Meles (The Netherlands)
39 Erix Schokker (The Netherlands)
39 G. Duster (The Netherlands)
39 Ike Simoncini (The Netherlands)
39 Mickael Vasquez (France)
39 Ronnie VanHemert (USA)
39 Tim Callaghan (UK)
39 Wil Gommans (The Netherlands)
68. 38 Alexander Martin (The Netherlands)
38 Clesiemo Yahoo (USA)
38 Eugene Daemen (The Netherlands)
38 Hernando Uribe O. (Colombia)
38 J. Herben (The Netherlands)
38 Joke Ledesma (Phillippines)
38 Laurens Hitman (The Netherlands)
38 Linette Willemsen (The Netherlands)
38 Steve Tester (Australia)
77. 37 Alex Malzer (UK)
37 Amanda Callen (UK)
37 Bastin Verweij (The Netherlands)
37 Chris Minns (Canada/Ireland)
37 Craig Kessler (USA)
37 Davide Tosi (Italy)
37 Domingo Connor (UK/England)
37 Ellen van Overeem (The Netherlands)
37 Erik Bäcklund (Sweden)
37 Jolanda Prins (The Netherlands)
37 Mali Litjens (The Netherlands)
37 Martin Smits (The Netherlands)
37 Norbert Sorst (Germany)
37 Owen Sicily (USA)
37 Robin van Koert (UK)
37 Russell Halley (Australia)
37 Stefano Heyer (Switzerland)
94. 36 Anton Krijgsman (The Netherlands)
36 Balazs Barna (Hungary)
36 Baptiste de Morsang (France)
36 Beatrice Selkirk (Australia)
36 Brian Setchell (Australia)
36 Jean Van Damme (Belgium)
36 Jeff Fountain (USA)
36 Jouni Koivuranta (Finland)
36 Michael McQuillen (USA)
36 Michal Barla (Slovakia)
36 Nicholas Murphy (Australia)
36 Richard Somerset (UK/England)
36 Ryder Yahoo (Norway)
36 Theo Middelkamp (The Netherlands)
36 Torsten Spindler (Switzerland)
36 Wim Mertens (Belgium)