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 García 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"