Spaniard Serrano steals stage win as Armstrong maintains lead
Spaniard Marcos Serrano claimed victory on the 189km 18th stage of the Tour de France between Albi and Mende after holding off a strong challenge from Cedric Vasseur and Axel Merckx on Thursday.
The Liberty-Seguros rider was a member of an initial group of 10 that broke away from the peloton, including race leader Lance Armstrong, at the 20km mark and stretched their lead throughout the race.
However, Armstrong remains firmly in charge of the overall standings and, barring unforeseen circumstances, will now arrive in Paris on Sunday in the yellow jersey to claim his seventh consecutive Tour de France title.
Serrano’s win, the fifth of his career and his first Tour success, came in a time of 4:37:36 after he overcame a horrific ascent over the final summit to reach the finish line.
“I’d like to dedicate this victory to everyone who has supported me,” the 33-year-old Serrano told Eurosport.
The 18th stage, a tricky affair featuring five climbs, including two second category peaks near the finish.
It begun after a minute’s silence was held in memory of Australian road cyclist Amy Gillett, who was killed in an accident while on a training run in Germany on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, T-Mobile rider Andreas Kloden has quit the Tour after breaking his right wrist in a crash on Tuesday.
The German, who finished runner-up to Armstrong in 2004, lasted just 18km of the subsequent 17th day.
The Tour resumes in Issoire on Friday for the 189km trek to Le Puy en Velay.
