MARCUS BURGHARDT — best remembered for being knocked off his bike by a dog in last year’s event — profited from a transitional day in the Tour de France to escape to victory on the 18th stage from Bourg d’Oisans to St Etienne.

Lance Armstrong moved another step towards a third straight Tour de France victory after rival Jan Ullrich failed to make any inroads into his comfortable lead.

German rider Jens Voigt won his first Tour de France stage in Sarran today.