TdF 2010 Stage 18 graphics and previews are up!
Click the 'To' option to go to the start of the Stage 18 posts.
The Stage starts at 13:00 local time CEST (6 hrs ahead of US EDT).
velonews.com - "The sprinters who survived the mountains will be set free once again in stage 18, a dead-flat affair from Salies-de-Béarn to Bordeaux. The most challenging aspect of this stage could be the weather, with heat-wave conditions common in the region this time of year.
Bordeaux is hosting a stage finish for the first time in seven years, the longest break since an eight-year absence during World War II. The last bunch finish in Bordeaux, in 1999, was won by Tom Steels ahead of Robbie McEwen and Erik Zabel."
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~7 minutes to go...
12:53 - Sprint Finish Not Certain...
The consensus is that today’s course is one for the sprinters but LeTour.fr spoke with a couple of key people about the stage earlier today and both Allan Peiper, the directeur sportif of HTC-Columbia, and Robbie McEwen, the winner of 12 sprint stage of the Tour over the years, both said it’s going to be an interesting tactical battle. Lampre and Cervelo will be the teams with the most to win or lose as the green jersey could be decided on a day like this...
12:56 - The Two Intermediate Sprints
Points for the green jersey will be awarded in Castelnau-Chalosse (29.5km), Hostels (150.5km) and at the finish in Bordeaux. There are 6, 4 and 2 for the first three over the line at the intermediate primes. And at the end, points go down to the first 25 over the finish line. The allocation of points in Bordeaux is: 35pts for first, then 30, 26, 24, 22, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.