The 18th stage over 218 km resulted in a sprint finish. For the third time this Tour Tom Steels of Belgium was the fastest of the pack. There were no changes in the top of the overall rankings. Marco Pantani remains the leader.
Today another fifteen cyclists have left the race. The largest part of this group consisted of cyclists which refused to start as a continuation of yesterday's protests. The most important dropouts were Jeroen Blijlevens (member of 504 participant teams), Fernando Escartin (291) and Luc Leblanc (138). Apart from Laurent Jalabert the Tour also lost sprinter Nicola Minali (330) yesterday.
Carl Koot from The Netherlands had five of today's top ten in his team and this earned him the stage win. David Marshall (Australia) and Lutz Frommberger (Germany) finished on a joined second place. In the overall rankings Tako Molanus of The Netherlands extended his lead over Lee Rusk (USA) to eighteen points. Rob Spaans (The Netherlands) is the new number three.
1. 54 Carl Koot (The Netherlands)
2. 51 David Marshall (Australia)
51 Lutz Frommberger (Germany)
4. 49 Shane Moore (Ireland)
5. 48 Ronald Prins (The Netherlands)
6. 46 Freek Lotsma (The Netherlands)
7. 45 Howard Hobson (UK)
45 Rob Spaans (The Netherlands)
9. 44 Anton Cozijnsen (Australia)
10. 43 Tako Molanus (The Netherlands)
11. 42 Hans Splinter (The Netherlands)
42 J. Andersen (Denmark)
42 J. Paul Donkervoort (The Netherlands)
42 Jeroen van Koert (Australia)
42 Stuart Passmore (Australia)
16. 41 Gerard Creemers (The Netherlands)
41 Ian Thomson (Australia)
41 Jose Nicolas Glez. Perez (Spain)
41 Marco van Rooijen (The Netherlands)
20. 40 B.G. Van Tuil (The Netherlands)
40 Barbara Hoffellner (Austria)
40 Rien Post (The Netherlands)
40 Stuart Gilchrist (UK)
40 Tato Uribe Ortiz (Colombia)
25. 39 Akke Vel (Belgium)
39 Dimee van den Ende (The Netherlands)
39 Erix Schokker (New Zealand)
39 Hans Bogers (The Netherlands)
39 Hernando Uribe Ortiz (Colombia)
39 Hub Moens (The Netherlands)
39 Hubrala (The Netherlands)
39 Peter Toftsoe (Denmark)
39 Stefano Heyer (Switzerland)
39 Steve Willmott (New Zealand)
35. 38 Huib van Grol (The Netherlands)
38 Jean Onrust (The Netherlands)
38 Jeroen Vanlerberghe (Belgium)
38 John Groen (The Netherlands)
38 John O'Mahony (Ireland)
38 Stuart Dwight (UK)
38 Timo van den Berg (The Netherlands)
42. 37 Chris Minns (UK)
37 Ernest Mendez Jr. (USA)
37 Gaas (The Netherlands)
37 Jens Bulla (Germany)
37 Rene van Oorschot (The Netherlands)
37 Sander Kaspers (The Netherlands)
37 Steve Harrison (Australia)
49. 36 Edwin van den Berg (The Netherlands)
36 Eeuwe Zijlstra (The Netherlands)
36 Giovanni Flamand (Belgium)
36 Joe Fritsch (USA)
36 Marcel van der Helm (The Netherlands)
36 Martijn Staal (The Netherlands)
36 Mike Page-Hanify (Australia)
36 Paul Abbott (UK)
36 Richard Best (UK)
36 Richard Somerset (UK)
36 Robert van Lunteren (The Netherlands)
60. 35 Bert Boetzkes (The Netherlands)
35 Darren Dean (Australia)
35 Francois Hudon (Canada)
35 Jeroen de Bruin (The Netherlands)
35 Klaas Reijne (The Netherlands)
35 Marten de Blecourt (The Netherlands)
35 Migue De (United Nations)
35 Remko Achten (The Netherlands)
35 Ric McCorkell (Australia)
35 Sander Bos (The Netherlands)
35 Wilco Vertegaal (The Netherlands)
71. 34 Erwin Tijms (The Netherlands)
34 Frank Tempelman (The Netherlands)
34 J.Z. Hagen (Denmark)
34 Larry Nolan (United Nations)
34 Mauro Odisio (Italy)
34 Peter Savage (Australia)
34 Philip Huisman Jr. (The Netherlands)
78. 33 Bert Krutzer (The Netherlands)
33 E.J. Meles (The Netherlands)
33 Erwin Losse (The Netherlands)
33 Marco Koenraadt (The Netherlands)
33 Nathan Troia (USA)
33 Peter Trkman (Slovenia)
33 Rob Kuijsten (The Netherlands)
85. 32 Andrea Bibi (Italy)
32 Bjorn Frijns (The Netherlands)
32 Daniel McQuillen (USA)
32 Kevin Shade (USA)
32 Koos Drevijn (The Netherlands)
32 Michael McQuillen (USA)
32 R. van Dijk (The Netherlands)
32 Vanessa Lennon (USA)
93. 31 Arthur Denneman (The Netherlands)
31 Berthold B. Journaille (The Netherlands)
31 Eric Des Rosiers (Canada)
31 Eugene L. Ryser (USA)
31 John Tilroe (The Netherlands)
31 Lee Rusk (USA)
31 Michel Ranzijn (The Netherlands)
31 Robin Malm (Sweden)