No "crazy" attacks, conserve energy, and hope for the best in the time trial: Tour de France leader Carlos Sastre is tipping his strategy as the race creeps toward its finish in Paris on Sunday. The Spanish veteran didn't see the chance he was looking for to expand his lead against his top rivals in Thursday's 18th stage out of the Alps, which Germany's Marcus Burghardt won by heading a two-man...

A brief look at Thursday's 18th stage of the Tour de France: Stage: Riders set out on a 122-mile trek from Bourg-d'Oisans to Saint-Etienne in the medium mountains. Winner: Marcus Burghardt of Germany won in a sprint finish after an early breakway, beating Carlos Barredo of Spain. Both clocked 4 hours, 30 minutes, 21 seconds.

French customs agents looking for doping products stopped, searched and released a car driven by the father of Tour de France riders Frank and Andy Schleck on Thursday, officials said. The agents carried out the random search near the city of Grenoble along the route of the 18th stage and didn't find any doping products or other illegal products, a customs spokesman said.

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A car driven by the father of Tour de France stars Andy and Frank Schleck (CSC-Saxo Bank) was searched by French customs during the 18th stage, which began in Bourg d'Oisans on Thursday. An official source in Grenoble later said that "no doping products or banned substances" were found during the long search, which took place at Vizille in the Isere region of the Alps. Andy Schleck suggested "jealousy" may have been behind the search. When told of the news, Andy ? who is wearing ...

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The past week has been quite a busy one. First, Taylor finished up with the UCI junior track world championships by racing in the points race last Monday. There were two qualifying heats in the afternoon that were used to field the final later on that evening. Taylor went extremely well in the qualifying heat and won a couple of the sprints and also took a lap on the field, winning convincingly. He felt good about the qualifying race and was excited about the final. We were concerned ...

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Stage 18, Bourg-d?Oisans to Saint-Etienne, 196.5km WeatherSunny and warm, clear skies, temperatures in the low 80s. Stage winnerOn a day destined to see a winner come from a breakaway, Columbia?s German Marcus Burghardt took his first-ever Tour stage win out of a two-man breakaway, ahead of Quick Step?s Spaniard Carlos Barredo. Yellow jerseyCSC-Saxo Bank?s Carlos Sastre enjoyed his first career day in the maillot jaune, and finished safely in the bunch to preserve his race lead ...

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For 2009 Trek will offer six models of their venerable flagship cross-county full suspension bike, the Top Fuel. Trek will also offer two new carbon models of their Fuel EX trail bike. Both lines will also feature women?s specific models. Toss out the bearing press! The 2009 Trek mountain bike line will receive a number of significant manufacturing upgrades designed to reduce weight and increase stiffness. Perhaps most notable is Trek?s new Net Molding technology that ...

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After battling his way through the 18th stage of the Tour de France Thursday, despite sustaining potentially serious injuries in a crash, Lampre's Damiano Cunego has pulled out of the race, according to team sources. "It's a miracle I finished this stage," said the Lampre rider, who came over the finish line with blood dripping from a wound under his chin and injuries to his chest and thorax. The former Giro d'Italia champion suffered his third crash of this year's race when his wheels ...

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The Santa Cruz Nomad frame design broke new ground by practically defining the "all-mountain" category of mountain bike. Now Santa Cruz has redesigned the Nomad using many of the same revisions that we saw them use on the new Blur LT.

The Elixir CR will replace the Juicy Carbon model with improvements all around including reduced weight, more power, better modulation and easier adjustability.

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Seasons is the story of seven pro riders and the challenges they face over the course of a year. The film follows World Cup racer Steve Peat, freeriders Matt Hunter, Thomas Vanderham, Darren Berrecloth, Cameron McCaul, up and comer Canadian DH racer and all round nice guy Steve Smith and industry legend Andrew Shandro.

Exclusive test results released to Bicycling suggest Garmin's Christian Vande Velde is riding clean in his quest for a podium finish in Paris

Marcus Burghardt won stage 18, tacking a victory onto Mark Cavendish's first four for Team Columbia. Carlos Sastre is still in yellow.

THE MILLAR DIARIES: With the mountain stages behind him, Garmin-Chipotle's David Millar experiences a moment of pure bliss.