Giro 21: Denis Menchov is king of Italy

Giro 21: Denis Menchov is king of Italy
Rabobank's Denis Menchov was crowned 2009 Giro d'Italia champion May 31, 2009.

Rabobank's Denis Menchov was crowned 2009 Giro d'Italia champion May 31, 2009. (DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images)

Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervelo Test Team) won the final Stage 21 of the 2009 Giro d'Italia in Rome Sunday, a 16km individual time trial. Rabobank's Denis Menchov held on to his narrow margin over Italian Danilo Di Luca to become the overall winner of a race which began in Venice May 9.


Menchov is the first Russian to win the Giro since compatriot Evgeni Berzin won in 1994.

On Sunday, wet conditions dampened the race course enough to prompt many riders to use stock road bikes, while others chose full aerodynamic time trial machines. Menchov also won Stage 12, a 61km time trial, which saw him take over the overall race lead from Di Luca on May 21.

Menchov fell off his bike toward the end in Rome, adding a bit of late-race drama in the final kilometre. His Rabobank mechanic slipped a new bike under the Russian immediately, avoiding any real time loss.

Garmin-Slipstream's Bradley Wiggins finished 1 second behind Konovalovas to finish second on the day.

© 2009 AFP

For full results, report and photos, visit Cyclingnews.com.
STAGE 21 RESULTS

1 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo Test Team 18.42
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
10 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 0.27
...
16 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.45

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

( BR )

Diamonback Bikes XTS Moto (09)

"Out-of-the-box race machine with some great parts that could easily last a season. Not the most versatile of bikes but it’s simple and effective. A shame it only comes in one size though"

The XTS Moto is Diamondback’s latest entry-level big-hit bike. Team Ashton Diamondback, headed by UK trials star Martyn Ashton, now includes a pair of rather rapid downhill racers who will be relying on the XTS Moto along with the Diamondback Sabbath to cope with the toughest race tracks around the world.

Ride & handling: Ready to race out-of-the-box. Stable at speed, pedals well and easy to throw around

Giant Glory 1

"Downhill-only on this beast. Great frame and shock but some of the components seem to let this down. Excess weight could easily be shaved to make it a more enjoyable ride"

The Giant Glory DH may well be the choice of many a privateer downhill racer, but here we have the Glory 1, which is a couple of steps down from its relative. Giant’s entry-level big-hitter uses the same frame as the DH, along with all the knowledge this company has acquired over the years. Crammed with good products, it’s the weight that seems to be the principal tipping point for this latest offering.

Specialized Bicycles Big Hit 3 (09) | £1761.69

"Race-ready bike that not only offers great kit, but also an amazing amount of versatility for such a big hitter, and all at a great price"

Specialized certainly push the boat out when it comes to value for money, and the Big Hit III – the top model in this three-bike range – will help put than back on the more gravity orientated map.

Ride & handling: Superb handling and agility, but not the most efficient pedaller

Technique: Step it up

Whether we’re overweight weekend warriors, skinny scared schoolkids or world champions, we’ve all had downers. Times when you can only see the crash, not the clean line. Days when you’re the only one who seems to be hurting on the hills. Weeks when you’re just a disappointment to your bike, a patience-stretching pain in the ass to your mates and sticking everything on eBay seems the best option.
From here on in though, it’s all about the ‘can do’. Breaking down the mental barriers, reinforcing the positive, eliminating the negative and letting you be the far better rider you actually are. We’ve got everyone from elite riders to sports psychology experts and riders just like you to help you step it up.

Focus Zonukwa Review

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Ride & handling: Lags behind its rivals in terms of both speed and fun

First look: Campagnolo Athena 11 speed

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Athena 11s Ergo levers

Giro d'Italia 3: Alessandro Petacchi again!

Alessandro Petacchi won his second stage in a row Monday.

(DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images)

Italian Alessandro Petacchi of the LPR team won his second stage in a row to take the lead in the Tour of Italy on Monday after a 198km third stage slog from Grado to Valdobbiadene.

Giro race tech: Time trial goodies from Venice

The Giro d'Italia kicked off with a 20.5km team time trial in Venice on Saturday.

We took a good look around the pits before each team set off, and there was plenty of new gear to gawk at.

Garmin-Slipstream's Dave Zabriskie goes electronic

Technique: 18 mountain bike tricks nailed

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Tech: Santa Cruz Blur XC under 19 pounds!

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"But this was our version of a "concept" bike, something designed to push the possibilities envelope,"

Lively, quick and light for how it's specced

By Gary Boulanger, US editor

The carbon Look 566 Origin is the French company's first foray into Asian-made complete bikes, and the shorter top tube and slightly longer headtube on this sportive ride make for an interesting – and affordable – alternative to the racerboy offerings out there.

It's lively, quick and light for how it's specced. The handling is amiable, with enough stiffness to trust it in the curves and on descents. With a few improvements, it could be a world beater.

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Marga Fullana (Massi) and Frenchman Julien Absalon (Orbea) won the elite cross-country World Cup races in Houffalize, Belgium this past weekend.

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