July 25, 2003 – A 16-man breakaway finished well over twenty minutes clear today, with Pablo Lastras (ibanesto.com) taking the win over Carlos Da Cruz (fdj.com) and Daniele Nardello (Telekom). The Tour de France however, will certainly be decided tomorrow during the 49k TT. Lance Armstrong (USPS) and Jan Ullrich have only a little over a minute between them, and the pair were even sprinting for early time bonuses today. The big German stole two seconds from Armstrong, taking second in the first time bonus with the American taking third. The green jersey promises to come to the wire too, with Aussie Robbie McEwen (Lotto) taking a few points from Baden Cooke (fdj.com) in the bunch sprint today, and Erik Zabel (Telekom) proving his fight is not over. Tomorrow just might be the most exciting Tour TT since Greg LeMond's exciting win in 1989….
Stage 18 – Friday, July 25: Bordeaux – Saint-Maixent-l'Ecole, 203.5 k1. Pablo Lastras (Spa) iBanesto.com 4.03.18
2. Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) FDJeux.com
3. Daniele Nardello (Ita) Team Telekom
4. David Canada (Spa) Quick.Step-Davitamon 0.04
5. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 0.19
6. Andy Flickinger (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance
7. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere
8. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Saeco
9. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Bianchi 0.35
10. Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Alessio
Overall
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor 79.07.49
2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Bianchi 1.05
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team Telekom 2.47
4. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 5.18
5. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 5.27
6. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC 6.37
7. Ivan Basso (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 8.10
8. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 11.14
9. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) iBanesto.com 16.07
10. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 16.14