Marcus Burghardt endured a protracted cat-and-mouse struggle with Carlos Barredo and panted to victory in the Tour de France on the 18th stage from Bourg d'Oisans to St Etienne.

Burghardt crept up and caught solo escapee Barredo 58 miles (94km) into the 122 mile (197km) stage and resisted the Spaniard's late dash in the closing metres to secure Team Columbia's fifth stage win of the Tour.

The 25-year-old German is best remembered for being knocked off his bike by a dog in last year's event, but he had the chance to change all that with the freedom granted to him on an otherwise uneventful day.

Burghardt's win put the gloss on a fine Tour for the Columbia team, who won four perfectly-executed bunch sprints courtesy of Mark Cavendish earlier in the race.

After three tough days in the Alps, the main contenders were content to conserve their energy for the crucial time-trial from Cerilly to St Amand Montrond.

Carlos Sastre came through unscathed to retain his 84-second lead over CSC colleague Frank Schleck.