Giro d'Italia - Menchov takes pink jersey
Eurosport - Fri, 22 May 09:40:00 2009
Russia's Denis Menchov blew away the field in the individual time-trial to take the 12th stage of the Giro d'Italia and wrestle the leader's pink jersey from Italian Danilo Di Luca.
Rabobank rider Menchov, twice Tour of Spain winner, completed a gruelling 60.6 kilometre up-and-down course in the Cinque Terre region on Italy's north-east coast in one hour 34 minutes and 29 seconds.
LPR's Di Luca, who had worn the pink jersey for seven stages, came in 1:54 behind in sixth place.
The 2007 winner, who is not a time trial specialist, was not disappointed as he limited the damage in the overall standings to 34 seconds after what was widely considered a crucial stage.
"Menchov was very strong. I defended myself well. I'm very happy," Di Luca said.
"It (the stage) was really hard. It never ended. I started well. On the second climb I struggled a bit but I'm satisfied.
"I said before that the race starts again from today. The important thing is that I'm there, not too many seconds behind. There are stages well suited to me. So let's wait and see."
Astana's Levi Leipheimer of the United States came in 20 seconds behind the Russian to move up to third overall, six seconds adrift of Di Luca.
Italy's Franco Pellizotti went up to fourth with a fifth-placed finish on Thursday and continues to outshine his Liquigas team mate Ivan Basso, who was 11th.
Basso, one of the pre-race favourites, stays seventh overall but now trails Menchov by three minutes.
Carlos Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France winner, is almost as far back although he had the consolation of climbing to fifth thanks to a poor showing by Australia's Michael Rogers, who dropped from third to sixth.
Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong clocked the 13th fastest time, which lifted him from 16th to 12th overall.
The American, racing in his first Giro having recovered from a broken collarbone, is 6:34 behind Menchov.
Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, who was more than an hour and 40 minutes off the pace, pulled out before Thursday's stage.
Friday's 13th stage is a relatively light 176 km Tuscan course from Lido di Camaiore to Florence which could lead to another duel between Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi and his British rival Mark Cavendish.
The centenary edition of the race finishes in Rome on May 31.
Result and standings after the 60-km 12th stage of the Giro d'Italia from Sestri Levante to Riomaggiore.
Stage 12
1. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank ) 1hr 34mins 29secs
2. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / Astana ) +20
3. Stefano Garzelli (Italy / Acqua & Sapone ) +1:03
4. Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia / Astana ) +1:14
5. Franco Pellizotti (Italy / Liquigas ) +1:27
6. Danilo Di Luca (Italy / Team LPR ) +1:54
7. Bradley Wiggins (Britain / Garmin ) +1:59
8. Gabriele Bosisio (Italy / Team LPR ) +2:04
9. Jose Serpa (Colombia / Diquigiovanni ) +2:13
10. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy / Lampre ) +2:17
11. Ivan Basso (Italy / Liquigas )
12. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo ) +2:18
13. Lance Armstrong (U.S. / Astana ) +2:26
14. Michael Rogers (Australia / Columbia ) +2:46
15. Giovanni Visconti (Italy / Team ISD ) +2:48
16. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Diquigiovanni ) +2:53
17. Gilberto Simoni (Italy / Diquigiovanni ) +3:00
18. Marco Pinotti (Italy / Columbia ) +3:27
19. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia / AG2R ) +3:35
20. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Belarus / Columbia ) +3:54
21. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Sweden / Fuji ) +3:57
22. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine / Astana ) +3:59
23. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre ) +4:07
24. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway / Columbia ) +4:15
25. Laurens ten Dam (Netherlands / Rabobank ) +4:25
26. David Arroyo (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne ) +4:40
27. Lars Bak (Denmark / Saxo Bank ) +4:55
28. Thomas Lovkvist (Sweden / Columbia ) +5:01
29. Dario Cioni (Italy / Team ISD )
30. Francis De Greef (Belgium / Silence - Lotto ) +5:12
Standings
1. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank ) 50hrs 27mins 17secs
2. Danilo Di Luca (Italy / Team LPR ) +34
3. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / Astana ) +40
4. Franco Pellizotti (Italy / Liquigas ) +2:00
5. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo ) +2:52
6. Michael Rogers (Australia / Columbia ) +2:59
7. Ivan Basso (Italy / Liquigas ) +3:00
8. Gilberto Simoni (Italy / Diquigiovanni ) +4:38
9. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy / Lampre ) +5:26
10. Thomas Lovkvist (Sweden / Columbia ) +5:53
11. David Arroyo (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne ) +5:55
12. Lance Armstrong (U.S. / Astana ) +6:34
13. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia / AG2R ) +6:42
14. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine / Astana ) +7:11
15. Stefano Garzelli (Italy / Acqua & Sapone ) +7:15
16. Gabriele Bosisio (Italy / Team LPR ) +8:00
17. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Diquigiovanni ) +8:05
18. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre ) +8:18
19. Laurens ten Dam (Netherlands / Rabobank ) +8:23
20. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Sweden / Fuji ) +8:35
21. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Belarus / Columbia ) +8:58
22. Jose Serpa (Colombia / Diquigiovanni ) +9:26
23. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Belgium / Quick-Step ) +10:35
24. Dario Cioni (Italy / Team ISD ) +10:52
25. Jackson Rodriguez (Venezuela / Diquigiovanni ) +11:23
26. Francesco Masciarelli (Italy / Acqua & Sapone ) +11:29
27. Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia / Astana ) +12:09
28. Mauricio Soler (Colombia / Barloworld ) +12:19
29. Chris Froome (Britain / Barloworld ) +14:05
30. Thomas Rohregger (Austria / Milram ) +14:19
Points
1. Danilo Di Luca (Italy / Team LPR ) 107
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway / Columbia ) 78
3. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank ) 76
4. Alessandro Petacchi (Italy / Team LPR ) 76
5. Stefano Garzelli (Italy / Acqua & Sapone ) 65
6. Franco Pellizotti (Italy / Liquigas ) 63
7. Tyler Farrar (U.S. / Garmin ) 61
8. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Columbia ) 54
9. Allan Davis (Australia / Quick-Step ) 52
10. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / Astana ) 50
Mountain standings
1. Stefano Garzelli (Italy / Acqua & Sapone ) 49 points
2. Danilo Di Luca (Italy / Team LPR ) 27
3. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank ) 23
4. Andriy Grivko (Ukraine / Team ISD ) 16
5. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Diquigiovanni ) 13
6. Franco Pellizotti (Italy / Liquigas ) 13
7. Mauricio Soler (Colombia / Barloworld ) 13
8. Carlos Ochoa (Venezuela / Diquigiovanni ) 11
9. Hector Gonzalez (Spain / Fuji ) 10
10. Giovanni Visconti (Italy / Team ISD ) 10
Team standings
1. Astana 150hrs 45mins 11secs
2. Diquigiovanni +6:56
3. Columbia +8:11
4. Liquigas +21:25
5. Caisse d'Epargne +22:44
6. Cervelo +27:33
7. Barloworld +28:20
8. Rabobank +31:19
9. Lampre +34:23
10. Team LPR +34:24
Giro d'Italia: LIVE 14:30 on Friday on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.
This site is Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.
Comment 7 - 26 of 26
I think Menchov will win overall but only just. He has the overall Tour requirements
Great Giro, great action, loved Garzelli on his own out in front on the way to Sestriere, but why always so many idiots commenting about armstrong and drug taking all the time? The only evidence I can see is based on the fact that pretty much every one of his direct competitors from that era got busted so he was either superman or doped himself. Speculating's never gonna answer the question as only Lance Armstrong can look himself in the mirror and answer it truthfully. I was gonna put £20 on him winning the tour at the bookies before yesterday's TT but now not so sure. After his performance to Pinerolo I was getting quite excited but he didn't really kick on yesterday. Giro winner can only now come from the top three and come July add Contador (if Astana still have a team) and Andy Schleck in with Levi and Denis and this is where I believe the winner will come from. Still some exciting racing to come though and Denis will have to be on his metal as Di Luca could regain lead with some stage win time bonuses and the final TT is only short. Any opinions?
What about Lance 'two speed' Armstrong? Was he drug tested?
Cunego not a classic rider anymore?? oh c'mon, winning 2 tour of lombardy, a Amstel gold race and coming second at the world championships is not good enough anymore??!! I don't think he is a grand tour contender but he is definetely a very good classic rider and, if the competition is very low profiled, as it was in the 2004 giro, then he can palce himself very well in the GC.
Brad Wiggins did a stellar job for the Brits, Rogers just had a bad day which happens in cycling, Di luca tried to limit his losses against a rampant Menchov and ever consistent Levi..excellent TT for a change and can't wait to see Cav take it again today..superb Giro so far..
That was what I call a real "Race of Truth" - not a flat boring time trial up & down a dragstrip.
De Luca did a great ride to stay in touch with Menchov who looks to be in top form. Lance did a great ride and Levi but the star of the day for me was Bradley Wiggins - World & Olympic pursuit champ on a flat indoor track then he posts a ride like that ina mountain time trial.
I enjoyed the TV coverage on Eurosport but got fed up with David Harmon calling Michael Rogers a "loser" - the guy is still in the top 10 well ahead of so called champions like Basso & Cunego & the course was not one he would be expected to win on.
I always hope Cunego will roll back the years, but sadly it seems like he is neither classics rider nor tour contender.
Little Prince in moaning like purple Prince.
Sounds like he is saying "The guys at the front are so fast - they must be cheating". Maybe he should be saying "I'm at 110% and still getting pasted so I need to find another sport, or maybe a better coach".
If you gonna go down dude, go down with some pride.
samebody could explain how came Cunego was able to win a giro, i just dont understand the man is totally ordinary, if wasnt for the win in 2004, nobody would knew this guy, i've my doubts about that winning samething is not right, is shoud geting better, but instead is geting worst every year...
Funny how a particular Italian starts moaning about '2 speeds' just when he starts to find it hard going. Not everyone who does well is doping. We have to believe in some of our heroes...
Cyclecrank co uk
This was just like the Isle of Man Mountain TT course - I wonder if it made Cav feel at home !
If the testers do catch anyone it won't be in time to take the cheats out of the race. Doping has ruined sport on many levels, can't trust anyone anymore. There are two speeds.
Get back to baseball p p. Not everyone is as bad as you think. The tests will find the cheats which is a good thing, no news at the moment is good news. Don't act like baseball is perfect, it's had its fair share of positive tests!
well , after this massive tt , there is only one thing to say .......like dami cunego has been saying , there are 2 speeds in the peloton - 1 doped and 1 clean. and there are several riders and teams who are still doped to the gills ? ANY LPR RIDER INCLUDING diluca ,also garzelli and simoni - lets do a cerra check on these riders ? i guarantee the uci doesnt come up with one positive dope test during this 3 week race and that will tell you how soft the controls are ?
Good result for Armstrong, 13th. He would have been happy with that performance even if it was in his 99-05 stint as a rider if he was using the Giro as preparation for the Tour. He must be delighted with how its going after a three year absence and a broken collar bone. Getting stronger every day, and looking like the Lance of old. If he can improve as much as he normally did from this time before the Tour, it wouldn't be surprising if he's right up there come July. Great performance by Menchov, hope he can hang on to the overall, great race so far!!!
don't know why worldwidetifosi gets low ratings for a comment like:
"Menchov did not crash, Levi's form is holding and Basso is not on the juice"
WIN!
I thought Menchov would win today and take the Maglia Rosa but i never thought Di Luca would ride as well as he did. Basso lost quite some time and Pellizotti is now 1 min ahead. Levi did a nice performance so as Lance too.
Oh yeah and Wiggins is only 12 minutes away from my predicted 30 down. I bet he is playing his geet lamenting this evening.
Good Lord - Denis Menchov .... I must admit I was wrong about him.
Looks all over for Basso, he was never in the race was he.
Every time I saw Di Luca or Armstrong pass a snow fence I cringed because I thought they would sit up, pull over, and protest with a poster of Horillo held high with the words "Angelo Zomegnan must die!" or "Riders must Unite!" written on it. In the end tifosidaumus went down ;( Menchov did not crash, Levi's form is holding and Basso is not on the juice. worldwidetifosi blogspot com
Menchov also won time trials when he won his 2 Vuelta's. I don;t know if these were traditional time trial courses, perhaps others may know. Today he looked good, strong and I think he's got the giro wrapped up. Mos the climbers who I thought would be contenders are now about 2 min out. Levi didn't look that great in the mountains in the first week. Who knows, there has been a rest day and another week has past, some riders ride themselves in like in the tour de france where the alps and pyrenees usually present with different inform riders with the breaks in between. It will be insteresting the next multiple mountain stages, perhaps the first one may just decide it all.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account