In the eighteenth stage over 184 km 13 cyclists have managed to escape and stay away from the pack until the finish. From this group Gianpaolo Mondini from Italy escaped in the final part of the race and won the stage. Frenchman Jean-Cyril Robin finished second. Today's stage seemed to have been the final chance for one of the French cyclists to win a stage in the Tour. They have not been able to win a stage in this edition yet. The last time a Tour ended without a French stage victory was in 1926. Today Armstrong retained his yellow jersey.
Another difficult stage to predict. Koos van Son (The Netherlands) was the best in the game today. His team included Jaksche, Bourguignon and Robin. Fellow countrymen Jack Horst and Roland van Peppen finished on second and third spot. There were no changes in the top three of the overall rankings. Michael Botzet's lead over Christian Hoffellner remains only seven points. It seems that this edition of the game will be decided on the final day.
1. 37 Koos van Son (The Netherlands)
2. 27 Jack Horst (The Netherlands)
3. 26 Roland van Peppen (The Netherlands)
4. 25 R. van Berkel (The Netherlands)
5. 24 Jasper Altena (The Netherlands)
24 Pia Harbers (Belgium)
7. 23 Pokey (The Netherlands)
8. 22 Marten Boerema (The Netherlands)
9. 21 Robert van Lunteren (The Netherlands)
21 Tuffin (France/USA)
11. 20 Jeroen Van Koert (Australia)
20 Marco Pianca (Switzerland)
20 Mark Lecher (USA)
14. 19 Gaas (The Netherlands)
19 Hans Splinter (The Netherlands)
19 Petra Nijhuis (The Netherlands)
17. 18 Ellen van Overeem (The Netherlands)
18. 17 F. Martens (The Netherlands)
17 Jack Crombag (The Netherlands)
17 Jaime Garcia (Spain)
17 Lia Verhage (The Netherlands)
17 Michael Pierce (USA)
23. 16 Dancher (USA)
16 Dwarshuis (The Netherlands)
16 Gijs van Leeuwen (The Netherlands)
16 M.F. Armani (USA)
16 Rik Altena (The Netherlands)
16 Rob Hiddinga (The Netherlands)
16 Stefan Bus (The Netherlands)
16 The Vans (South Africa)
16 Tony Coleman (UK)
16 Wapdoo (France)
33. 15 Aalbers (The Netherlands)
15 Arie Altena (The Netherlands)
15 Arjen Eggink (The Netherlands)
15 Bart Ronsyn (Belgium)
15 Hans Wilbrink (The Netherlands)
15 Laura Ohrndorf (Germany)
15 Mark N. (Taiwan)
15 Marleen Klis (The Netherlands)
15 Paulissen (Belgium)
15 Rob Spaans (The Netherlands)
15 Saskia Lamkin (The Netherlands)
15 Xander Wiardi (The Netherlands)
45. 14 Chris & Carla (The Netherlands)
14 Danny Cohn (Belgium)
14 Daphne Kouretas (UK/USA)
14 Henk Bloemberg (The Netherlands)
14 P. Krummel (The Netherlands)
14 Rutger Haitink (The Netherlands)
51. 13 Julie Warren (UK)
13 Michel C. Journaille (The Netherlands)
13 P.M.M. Domburg (The Netherlands)
13 Pascal Arts (The Netherlands)
13 Sander Bos (The Netherlands)
13 Scott Smith (USA)
57. 12 Arthur Denneman (The Netherlands)
12 Dimitri van Agterveld (The Netherlands)
12 Edwin Baarslag (The Netherlands)
12 Erik Bruinsma (The Netherlands)
12 Erik Raeymaekers (Belgium)
12 Freddie de Vries (The Netherlands)
12 Freek Burger (The Netherlands)
12 Henk Koolen (The Netherlands)
12 Henk ten Have (The Netherlands)
12 J. Machielsen (The Netherlands)
12 Jan Alberts (The Netherlands)
12 Jeremy Smith (USA)
12 Lester Lindell (USA)
12 Maaikel Meijners (The Netherlands)
12 Marc Pelzer (The Netherlands)
12 Marten de Blecourt (The Netherlands)
12 Mike Johanson (USA)
12 P. Vanhauwermeiren (Belgium)
12 Ron Birckhead (USA)
12 Rosemarie Kibitlewski (USA)
12 William Westendorp (The Netherlands)
12 Wim Reidt (Germany)
79. 11 Bjorn-Viggo Hagan (Norway)
11 Boet Kokke (The Netherlands)
11 Carlos Girao (Portugal)
11 Don Kinsey (USA)
11 Eeuwe Zijlstra (The Netherlands)
11 Eric Anderson (USA)
11 Esther Keightley (UK/England)
11 Geert Schoenmakers (The Netherlands)
11 J. Plaschke (USA)
11 Jan Buiten (The Netherlands)
11 Jan Hoogweg (The Netherlands)
11 Johan de Zeeuw (The Netherlands)
11 Matz Venga (The Netherlands)
11 Michael van der Poorten (The Netherlands)
11 R. vd Ende (The Netherlands)
11 Reinier van Olderen (The Netherlands)
11 Rene van der Vlies (The Netherlands)
11 Robert Rieden (USA)
11 T. Stapleton (USA)
11 ViVi Martini (The Netherlands)
99. 10 Eddy B. (The Netherlands)
10 Erik Carlberg (Sweden)