Menchov Will Not Defend Giro d'Italia Title

2009 Giro d'Italia champion Denis Menchov will not defend his title in the 2010 Giro d'Italia and will choose instead to train at altitude during the month of May in preparation for the Tour de France.

"The decision was made in consultation with the rider," said director Adri van Houwelingen in Ahoy. "We had already discussed it, but everything moved quickly when the route of the Giro was announced. The last week [of the Giro] is very difficult, and it is not good preparation for the Tour de France, which is the main objective," said Van Houwelingen.

Photo: Menchov in Rome after with the Centenario Giro d'Italia

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Stage 21: Agony and Ecstasy

Thanks to reader "Ties" we have this video of the reaction of Menchov's team mates in the Rabobank bus:

After the Giro we'll get back to "regular programming": everything from A to Z about Italian cycling. Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com.

Stage 21, Sequence of Menchov's Crash

With less than 1 km to the finish in Rome, Menchov crashes on the wet cobbles and miraculously gets up and finishes with enough time to retain his lead over of Di Luca.

After the Giro we'll get back to "regular programming": everything from A to Z about Italian cycling. Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com.

Stage 21: Menchov, King of the Giro

Rome, 31 May, 2009: An exciting finish to the 100th anniversary of the Giro d'Italia. Menchov, leading Di Luca by 20 seconds and who initially was 5 seconds behind Di Luca on the TT course, was going for the stage win when he crashed nearing the finish line. The Giro went into shock. Rabobank's quick thinking mechanic jumped out of the team car and immediately supplied Menchov, who was trying to mount the crashed bike, with the spare bike. The Giro victory was saved.

More to come.....

After the Giro we'll get back to "regular programming": everything from A to Z about Italian cycling. Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com.