May 31st, 2009 by 
thien
Denis Menchov of Russia won the 100th Giro d’Italia on Sunday despite falling in the last kilometer of the final stage.
Menchov finished 41 seconds in front of Danilo Di Luca, while Franco Pellizotti finished third overall, 1:59 back.
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
General Classification After Stage 21 - FINAL
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
Jersey Standings:
- Denis Menchov
- Danilo Di Luca
- Stefano Garzelli
- Kevin Seeldrayers
Links to news sites…
“Menchov turns attention to Tour after Giro win
By ANDREW DAMPF
ROME (AP) — Denis Menchov almost lost the Giro d’Italia within sight of the Colosseum that marked the finish after falling on the rain-slicked cobblestones of Rome with a little more than half a mile to go.
The Russian got right back up and, on a spare bike provided by a team member, still finished the race with a 41-second lead over runner-up Danilo Di Luca.
He said the win, the biggest of his career, means that he will now enter the Tour de France as a serious contender.
“It sounds strange, but I finished this race very fresh. That gives me more confidence,” Menchov said.
When he finally did make it to the finish, the usually taciturn Menchov let out an emotional scream and raised his arms to the air in triumph.” Read more from The AP…
“Menchov survives fall to clinch Giro crown
(CNN) — Denis Menchov survived a dramatic high-speed crash in the final kilometer of the closing individual time trial stage to win the centenary edition of the Giro d’Italia in Rome on Sunday.
The Russian was protecting a 20 second lead over home hope Danilo Di Luca on a twisting and treacherous 14.4 kilometers against the clock in the Italian capital.
After an initial scare as Di Luca powered to the fastest time at the first checkpoint, Rabobank rider Menchov appeared to be riding to a comfortable win.
But over wet cobbles he slid off with his time trial bike careering up the road.
Only quick work by helpers in his team car behind saved the day for Menchov who was able to remount and cross the line battered and bruised in 10th on the stage.” Read more from CNN International…
“From Russia to Roma, with love: Menchov falls for maglia rosa
Cervelo’s Konovalovas surprises in historic capital
By Anthony Tan in Rome, Italy
In the hundred years since inaugural winner Luigi Ganna in 1909, there have only been three Russian winners of the Giro d’Italia: Evgeni Berzin in 1994, Pavel Tonkov two years later - and now Denis Menchov of Rabobank in 2009.
Three weeks and 3,456.5 kilometres after the spectacular Lido di Venezia team time trial on May 9, the 31-year-old from Oryol, Russia - who says he only began cycling at school “just for something to do” - achieved his greatest coup since turning professional nine years ago.
“It’s the best win I’ve ever had in my career, because of the Centenary, because of the media, and because of the riders,” said Menchov, whose time trial performance Sunday almost met with disaster when he crashed less than a kilometre out on the rain-slicked cobbles around Rome’s Colosseum.
Thankfully, a quick-sticks bike change saw him lose little time, his tenth place to surprise winner Ignatas Konovalovas of the Cervelo TestTeam in fact extending his final winning margin to 41 seconds over LPR’s Danilo Di Luca. And in an unchanged top three, Franco Pellizotti of Liquigas deservedly found his place on the winners’ dais. ” Read more from Cyclingnews.com…
Photo credit - CorVos
