GIRO TT Final Stage 21 *SPOILER*

[marinyork]

Menchov crashed but still took 21 seconds out of Di Luca. How quick was that team car and mechanic!

 

[Steve Austin]

Giro Final Stage TT *spoiler*

Did anyone else see Menchov crash in the last Km?!???!!!

UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I'm still tingling. I'm so glad he got back up and finished, and won. but it was oh so close

 

[marinyork]

How much time would he have lost in the crash? Shame about wiggins but hey.

 

[Will1985]

Stage 21 *spoiler*

The rain made it interesting. Bad luck for Wiggins - he would have had that if the rain had held off for a bit longer.

Menchov managed to stack it within the last km, but he'd opened a comfortable margin over Di Luca after the halfway point. He looked pretty pumped up at the end. How long until the blood bank scandal is calmed/resolved?!?

 

[Steve Austin]

He looked to have lost about an eternity to me.

He was back up on his bike very fast, but he looked to have lost it imo.

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

As David Harmon said. Give that mechanic a bonus!!

I was expecting a pretty boring TT but it was anything but.

Did anyone hear Brunyeels comment that the course was a joke......what a tw*t

 

[marinyork]

I was just wondering as Menchov was 3 seconds down at one of the splits - not that that means much. I've really enjoyed this years Giro but more in a nailbiting kind of way than some of the totally nuts stages there seemed to be last year. I was wondering what people thought of Menchov and Sastre's chances in the tour?

 

[Skip Madness]

How long until the blood bank scandal is calmed/resolved?!?

Really no idea - I hope it comes to nothing regarding Menchov because I like him and he was pure class throughout this Giro.

What a final TT. From Di Luca's electric start to Menchov returning to dominate, looking like he could even get the stage win and then shooting across the deck. The mechanic was unbelievable - out of the car while it was still moving. If someone had written that script for the final TT you would dismiss it as too clichéd.

I also think that despite all of the complaints from the riders, the Giro organisers have been vindicated in their route. Great race.

 

[fossyant]

That was scary - big up to his mechanic....Dennis owes him a few pints for that one....

Dennis was hammering it.........he's still receiving treatment now........ Well deserved win.

Watching over the net !

 

[Will1985]

I think the only negative thing is that the route wasn't ever going to allow a sprinter to wear the maglia ciclamino - there were not that many pure flat stage finishes as the Tour. As far as sprinters go, Bennati won it last year and Bettini in 2005+6 (although he was more capable in uphill finishes). It seems to switch between favouring a GC contender and a proper sprinter every few years. Not awarding points on the mountain finishes would be fairer.

 

[gavintc]

That was one of the most tense endings to a race for ages. I could not believe it when I saw the spare bike being presented for him. What an incredibly fast reaction from the mechanic. I am pleased that Menchov won, despite the crash. It would not have been an honourable win for Di Luca.

Wiggins must be more than a little pissed off and thinking of where he could of made up that critical second. Oh well, he can look forward to the TdF now.

 

[rich p]

It was a great race with lots of attacks from Sastre,Pelizotti, Basso and Di Luca who never stopped trying to put Menchov under pressure. A pleasant change from the days when Disco, USP etc dominated and seemed to cow anyone from having a go.
I hope Menchov is clean but.......I'm not holding my breath. He looked very comfortable.

 

[Keith Oates]

I'm not a supporter of Menchov and although he put in a good performance was not overly impressed by the way he just sucked Di Luca's wheel day after day. I was also surprised at the way Leipheimer seemed to fade towards the end of the race. Overall though I enjoyed the three weeks and think the Giro Management team did a good job, again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[zimzum42]

Great tour. First time I've watched the giro in its entirety, and IMO it was much better than most TdFs I've ever seen, certainly much more interesting than any of the tours that Lance won....

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i watched it all (apart from the vesuvius stage, cheers eurosport ). great giro and a real appetite wetter for le tour…