Russian rider Denis Menchov won the Tour of Italy in Rome on Sunday despite suffering a dramatic fall in the last kilometer of the final stage, a 14.4km time-trial round.
The Rabobank cyclist, who is the third Russian to win the race, added the title to his two Tour of Spain victories in 2005 and 2007.
The 31-year-old beat Italian 2007 champion Danilo Di Luca into second at 41 seconds with his compatriot Franco Pellizzoti rounding off the podium finishers a further 1 minute, 18 seconds adrift.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Lithuanian Ignatas Konovalovas of the Cervelo team won the final stage in a time of 18:42 with Briton Bradley Wiggins only a second back and Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen in third.
Menchov finished 10th on the stage with Di Luca 16th.
“I didn’t have time to think, it all happened so quickly,” Menchov said of his tumble. “In my earpiece I heard ‘no risks, no risks.’ My first move was to get the bike back up, but it was too risky. Luckily the mechanic, in a very professional way, already had another bike there for me.”
PHOTO: REUTERS
“This win on the Giro is the biggest of my career. It gives me a lot of confidence. I know I can win the Tour [de France],” he said.
Second-placed Di Luca said he had “nothing to regret: “I attacked each time I could, whenever it was possible. I can take a lot away from this race: two stage wins, seven days in the pink jersey and the final points jersey. It’s been the greatest race of my life.”
The Russian had a 20 second lead coming into the final day in one of the closest ever finishes to a Giro, in its centenary year.
Di Luca briefly looked to be on the brink of a famous victory when he got to the first time-check fastest of all and 5 seconds up on Menchov.
But the LPR rider had blasted out too fast and he gradually faded from there and he was 14 seconds down on Menchov at the next time check.
When he came over the line, Di Luca had lost 45 seconds to Konovalovas whereas Menchov, who had won the 12th stage time-trial to take over the pink jersey last Thursday, was getting stronger.
The Russian looked like he may even win the final time-trial as well, but with rain spitting down drama unfolded in the final kilometer.
Riding in a straight line but on a cobbled section, Menchov suddenly crashed with just 1km left to ride, but quick thinking from his mechanic may have secured him the victory.
As Menchov was still sliding along the wet surface, his mechanic had already jumped out of the team car and was unloading another bike from the roof.
Menchov went to pick up his splayed bike but received a shout from the mechanic and instead jumped straight onto the new one and was back on his way, courtesy of a push from the mechanic as well.
He had been going so well, though, that he still had time to spare on Di Luca, and despite the crash he gained a further 21 seconds on his rival.
Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre finished fourth and seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong came in 12th.
Sastre said the race had left a “bitter-sweet taste.”
“I came with an ambition different from what I achieved,” he said. “I won two stages but I missed out on the podium. For three weeks we haven’t had a quiet stage. It’s been a really tough course.”
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the