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 )