The stage winner of the 14,4km (2 rounds, 7,2 km) Individual Time Trial in Rome was a little out of the limelight as Russian Rabobank rider Denis Menchov takes a ‘slippery’ overall win. With a good lead on his main opponent Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes), Menchov slipped on the wet surface shortly before the finishline and was lucky that his mechanic had the spare bike ready so that he still has twenty seconds on Di Luca, 41 seconds overall.
Even with the exciting last stage, there were no upsets in the General Classification. Bradley Wiggen (Garmin Slipstream) finished just 1 second behind stage winner Ignatas Konovalovas (Cerv?lo TestTeam) who’s was slightly out of the limelight with Menchovs’ win. An Di Luca did beat Menhov on points taking out the point leader.
The top placed Australian rider is Michael Rogers in place 8, ten minutes behind Menchov. Simon Gerrans (Cerv?lo TestTeam) was in 43 position, Allan Davis (Quickstep) in 119 and Matthew Harley Goss (Saxobank) 143 This years giro was the fastest in the history of the 100 year old race with an average speed of over 40 kmh.
In the team standings, Team Astana was the fastest, followed by Columbia Highroad and Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattol. In point standings Columbia Highroad leads with 400 points followed by LPR Brakes (314) and Liquigas Doimo.
Giro race organisers announced that in 2010, the Giro d’Italia will start in Amsterdam with the second and third stages also in Holland.
Top Ten Results on Stage 21
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
General Classification after Stage 21
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
