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.

MARK CAVENDISH continued to enhance his reputation as cycling’s new sprint king with a fourth stage win in the 2008 Tour de France yesterday.

LEONARDO PIEPOLI continued Saunier Duval’s domination of the mountains in the Tour de France as the Hautacam summit played havoc with the yellow jersey on stage 10.