01/06/2009 - Tour of Italy Stage 21 - Menchov wins Giro despite crash, Konovalovas unexpected stage winner
The organisers of the Giro certainly wanted a nail biter - setting up the time trial finish hoping for the race to be won by seconds, rather than minutes. Whilst the winning margin was indeed less than a minute, there was nothing close about this race in the end.
The result was nearly a foregone conclusion with the exception of whether Danilo Di Luca could overhall the 20 second deficit to Menchov. Di Luca, not known for his time trial abilities, chose a standard road bike with stubby bar extensions, hoping the increased maneuverability offered by a standard road bike would suit the winding, cobbled roads of Rome. Menchov opted instead for the traditional time trial bike.
Through the first time check, Di Luca was indeed fast. Menchov was 5 seconds down on Di Luca. Was the gamble paying off? No. By the second time check, Di Luca was 17 seconds down and by the third time check, 32 seconds down.
With less than 1km to go, looking comfortable and in control, Menchov's bike slipped from underneath him and the powerful Russian slid across the slimy, wet cobbled road surface for several metres. In all credit to Rabobank, Menchov was still midway through his cobbled slide by the time his mechanic had stopped the team car, exited the vehicle, grabbed a replacement Giant time trial bike from the roof and caught up with the unlucky Russian. Dazed but unhurt, Menchov ditched the crashed bike, jumped aboard the replacement and received the push off from the mechanic. He was off again, hurtling powerfully towards the stage finish.
Such was Menchov's briiliance, he had not only pulled back the time deficit, but taken time out of Di Luca, crashed and still won the Giro with time to spare. Menchov crossed the line as the 2009 Giro d'Italia winner, some 41 seconds quicker than second placed, 2007 winner, Danilo Di Luca. Di Luca does take home both the Points competition and 2nd place in the mountains competition.
Lithuanian Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervelo Test Team) was the unexpected stage winner, with Britain's Bradley Wiggins a second behind in second place, and Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia Highroad) In third, 7 seconds down. Lance Armstrong finished the day in 53rd position, 1 minute and 19 seconds down on Konovalovas, putting him 12th overall.
A brilliant final week saw Liquigas' Franco Pellizotti take 3rd place from Carlos Sastre.
Astana won the team prize, but Levi Leipheimer finished 6th, some 5 minutes and 28 seconds down on Menchov - a bitter disappointment for the American who has had such good form so far this year.
And so the curtain comes down on the 100th Giro d'Italia, some would argue it wasn't the classic it could have been. Lance Armstrong wasn't as strong as was hoped, a terrible accident involving Pedro Horrillo was a cause for concern, Stage 9 was neutralized because of rider's feeling the course was unsafe, and in the end some of the big names of the peleton simply didn't come out to play when it mattered. However, Denis Menchov will certainly be happy with his performance, adding the Giro d'Italia to the Vuelta d'Espagne. Next up, the Tour de France?
Stage 21 Result
1 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo Test Team - 18.42 (46.203 km/h)
2 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0.01
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - Highroad - 0.07
4 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana - 0.11
5 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. - 0.16
6 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) ISD - 0.18
7 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick Step - 0.20
8 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank - 0.21
9 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo - 0.23
10 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0.24
Final General Classification
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 86.03.11
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini - 0.41
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas - 1.59
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team - 3.46
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas - 3.59
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana - 5.28
7 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo - 8.43
8 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad - 10.01
9 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale - 11.13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. - 11.28
Final Points Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini - 170 pts
2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 144
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas - 133
Final Mountains Classification
1 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo - 61 pts
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini - 45
3 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 41
Final Young Rider Classification
1 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step - 86.19.26
2 Francesco Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo - 2.55
3 Francis De Greef (Bel) Silence-Lotto - 17.03
Final Team Classification
1 Astana - 257.48.40
2 Team Columbia - Highroad - 24.15
3 Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli - 27.17
