Sorensen made his move on the last climb

Sorensen out-sprinted Spaniard Javier Pascual Rodriguez in a two-man fight for the stage win, with Jose Vicente Garc�a Acosta in third.

Sorensen and the two Spaniards broke away from the main field on the final climb of the day, the Navalmoral.

Spaniard Roberto Heras, who finished in a small group of top contenders for the overall crown, remains race leader.

Stage 18 results:

1. Nicki Sorensen (Denmark / Team CSC) 5:05:34"
2. Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spain / Comunidad Valenciana) ST
3. Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spain / Illes Balears) +22"
4. Daniele Nardello (Italy / T-Mobile) +1:06"
5. Oscar Pereiro (Spain / Phonak)
6. Mario Aerts (Belgium / Davitamon - Lotto) +1:10"
7. Pablo Lastras (Spain / Illes Balears)
8. Gorka Gonzalez (Spain / Euskaltel) +1:25"
9. Moises Duenas (Spain / Relax) +2:32"10
10. Francisco Mancebo (Spain / Illes Balears) +3:55"

General classification:

1. Roberto Heras (Spain / Liberty Seguros) 74:30:48"
2. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) +4:30"
3. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Team CSC) +4:50"
4. Francisco Mancebo (Spain / Illes Balears) +5:48"
5. Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spain / Comunidad Valenciana) +6:22"
6. Oscar Sevilla (Spain / T-Mobile) +11:13"
7. Ruben Plaza (Spain / Comunidad Valenciana) +11:36"
8. Juan Miguel Mercado (Spain / Quick-Step) +15:28"
9. Tom Danielson (United States / Discovery Channel) +15:50"
10. Mauricio Ardila (Colombia / Davitamon - Lotto) +15:53"