While Denis Menchov took the overall victory in this year's Giro d'Italia,
there were a number of notable performances that made the race one of the best
editions ever. There can only be one overall winner but a host of riders impressed
throughout the three weeks.
Cyclingnews' Les Clarke and Laura Weislo take a look at those who ran
hot in Italy and those who didn't.
A brace of stages and an overall podium for Di Luca; not for lack of
trying to shake Menchov, however. Great attacking at times that made for
captivating TV coverage. Riding style would have made Giro legends proud.
The winner in the hearts of Italians, really.
Petacchi provided a blast
from the past with two stage wins of his own against Mark Cavendish, who
is 12 years his junior and in the form of his life.
Indurain-style tactics showed Menchov's strength in what was one of the
most difficult editions of the Giro in recent history.
His mechanic in
the final TT displayed awesome anticipation to take the spare bike off
the racks and have it to Menchov in a jiffy. Possibly saved the race for
the stoic Russian.
Laurens Ten Dam also earned his dough by helping Menchov
and finishing amongst some luminaries in the final classification.
Individual stage wins to Cavendish,
Siutsou and Boasson Hagen in addition to the opening team time trial victory
in Venice, Thomas Lövkvist's stint in pink and Michael Rogers' top 10
on general classification meant that Columbia-Highroad finished as the
most successful outfit in the race.
Bob Stapleton's men didn't
take home the team classification, however. You can't have it all.
Dangerous descents throughout the race, wet cobbles and parked cars on
the stage nine Milano Show 100 that caused the 100 miles of that day's
'racing' to be neutralised were talking points amongst fans, riders and
organisers.
RCS Sport may have tried to be a little too cute with the
route without taking the necessary precautions to ensure rider safety.
Despite a third Tour of California title and claims (including those
made by this publication) that he had the form to make the Giro final
podium, Leipheimer didn't quite have the kick at the right times.
Having
Armstrong in the squad and the loss of Horner before the difficult and
action-packed last week didn't help matters.
His first Giro appearance was treated like the second coming of Christ,
so Armstrong's tight lips with English-speaking reporters was a slap in
the face.
Didn't endear himself to journalists like he evidently did with
Italian fans.
It's quickly becoming apparent that the Giro d'Italia title in 2004 was
an anomaly for Damiano Cunego.
No podium, not even a top 10 overall for
'Il Piccolo Principe'. There were strong predictions that the time was
right for both he and Gasparotto to shine but it didn't happen.
Talked up podium chances, missed out and didn't admit that Pellizotti
had more in the tank than he did.
No repeat of the 'extra-terrestrial'
performances of his 2006 Giro title which was a welcome sight given what
eventuated about 12 months after that win.
He outsprinted Mauro Facci for the T.V. sprint on stage 19; Facci was
trying to equal Giovanni Visconti in the TV classification and needed
to win TV sprints in both stage 19 and 20 to do it.
By taking those points,
Krivtsov ruined his chances and the Ukrainian wasn't even a contender
in that category. Poor form.
Photography
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