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Daily stages of the Tour de France.  Click on any day for a complete report.  Other Tour links will also be added as they become available.  Other Racing News

Stage 18

Mondini gives Italy seventh Tour stage win

By Francois Thomazeau

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Italian Gianpaolo Mondini celebrates as he wins the 187km 18th stage of the Tour de France cycling race from Jonzac to Futuroscope July 23. Lance Armstrong of the USA retains his Yellow jersey. jna/Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier REUTERS 

FUTUROSCOPE, France, July 23 - Gianpaolo Mondini gave Italy their seventh stage victory in the Tour de France on Friday, virtually ending the host country's hopes of winning a stage this year.

The Cantina-Tollo rider, who took part in the Tour only because another Italian team -- Vini Caldirola -- were excluded after their leader was suspended for failing a blood test, seized his opportunity three kilometres from the finish.

Mondini parted company with his 12 breakaway companions to win in four hours 17 minutes and 43 seconds.

"I'd like to dedicate this victory to my fiancée, who has been very patient since I've been away for 40 days," said Mondini, who turned 27 a week ago.

Lance Armstrong of the United States easily retained his race leader's yellow jersey after finishing within the main bunch, 3:07 behind Mondini.

Armstrong will also be the favorite to win his third time trial in Saturday's 57 kms test around the Futuroscope theme park near the western town of Poitiers.

The last rider to win all three time trials in the Tour was five-times race winner Miguel Indurain of Spain in 1992.

Winner of the Tour of Sweden two years ago and of the Santander Classic last year, the towering Mondini was a virtual unknown before this 187-kms 18th stage from Jonzac to the Futuroscope theme park.

France, who have won at least one stage in every Tour since 1926, had great hopes of a first victory in this flat and sunny ride with five home riders among the 13 in the decisive breakaway.

The leading group took shape in one of the rare climbs of the day, the Pamproux hill 55 kms before the finish, and rapidly took a lead of over two minutes over the following pack.

French champion Francois Simon, La Francaise des Jeux's leader Jean-Cyril Robin, veteran Thierry Bourguignon, Claude Lamour and Frederic Bessy joined forces to lead a compatriot to victory but Mondini took the French guard by surprise.

He attacked while Bessy was throwing a bottle in a ditch, quickly took a hundred yards lead and never looked back.

"I knew Bessy was tired and I tried my luck. I kept my eyes on the meter and I was never under 50 kph," he said.

Robin had to be content with second place while Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov was third, also three seconds behind.

French hopes will be very slim in Saturday's time trial even though Christophe Moreau can hope to challenge the best.

The home country's chances in the last stage to Paris on Sunday are also very slim since sprinters like Belgian Tom Steels or German Erik Zabel should again have the final word.

In Friday's stage, which started with a demonstration by angry brandy makers, Zabel took a big step toward winning his fourth consecutive points standings green jersey as his leading rival, Australian Stuart O'Grady, crashed again.

Tour de France 18th stage placings/overall standings 

FUTUROSCOPE, France, July 23 - Leading placings in the 18th stage of the Tour de France over 184.5 kms from Jonzac on Friday: 

1. Gianpaolo Mondini (Italy) Cantina Tollo 4 hours 17 minutes 43 seconds 
2. Jean-Cyril Robin (France) La Francaise de Jeux 3 seconds behind 
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) Casino 
4. Mariano Piccoli (Italy) Lampre 
5. Claude Lamour (France) Cofidis 

6. Francois Simon (France) Credit Agricole 
7. Stefano Garzelli (Italy) Mercatone Uno 
8. Jorg Jaksche (Germany) Telekom 
9. Elio Aggiano (Italy) Vitalicio Seguros 
10. Thierry Bourguignon (France) Big Mat 

11. Cesar Solaun (Spain) Banesto 
12. Vicente Garcia-Acosta (Spain) Banesto all same time 
13. Frederic Bessy (France) Casino 14 
14. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Rabobank 3:07 
15. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom 

16. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole 
17. Carlos da Cruz (France) Big Mat 
18. Christophe Capelle (France) Big Mat 
19. Jaime Hernandez (Spain) Festina 
20. Ludovic Auger (France) Big Mat all same time 

Leading overall standings: 

1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal 86 hours 46 minutes 20 seconds 
2. Fernando Escartin (Spain) Kelme 6 minutes 15 seconds behind 
3. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto 7:28 
4. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Saeco 10:30 
5. Richard Virenque (France) Polti 11:40 

6. Daniele Nardello (Italy) Mapei 13:27 
7. Angel Casero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 13:34 
8. Abraham Olano (Spain) ONCE 14:29 
9. Wladimir Belli (Italy) Festina 15:14 
10. Kurt van de Wouwer (Belgium) Lotto 18:35 

11. David Etxebarria (Spain) ONCE 19:31 
12. Andrea Peron (Italy) ONCE 20:17 
13. Benoit Salmon (France) Casino 22:55 
14. Roland Meier (Switzerland) Cofidis 23:37 
15. Stephane Heulot (France) La Francaise de Jeux 24:15 

16. Tyler Hamilton (France) U.S. Postal 25:24 
17. Paolo Lanfranchi (Italy) Mapei 26:03 
18. Carlos Contreras (Colombia) Kelme 26:46 
19. Alberto Elli (Italy) Telekom 28:06 
20. George Totschnig (Austria) Telekom 31:58