Giro d'Italia 2009 NEWS

Carlos Satre Juara giro d’italia stage 15

Published by admin on May 28, 2009

Spain’s Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre came home alone after Monday’s gruelling 16th stage of the Tour of Italy which left Russian Denis Menchov retaining the leader’s pink jersey.
After seven hours tackling the 237km Appenines trek from Pergola to Monte Petrano, Cervelo TestTeam rider Sastre crossed the finish line 25 seconds up on Menchov to record his first ever win in the race.
“Was I hoping for better?” asked Sastre. “No I am happy with the result, I did my utmost to obtain it. There are still two decisive stages to come. I came here to win the Tour, and my adversaries know that. The Tour is not over yet.”
Menchov grabbed second spot after outsprinting Italian duo Danilo Di Luca and Ivan Basso but refused to accept he had the overall victory in the bag.
“Have I won the Tour? No, I would not say that,” said Menchov. “It was a very important stage but there are still two to come. However, I am satisfied with the day’s work.”
While Menchov said he had always expected Sastre to pose a threat but had special praise for seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, who is riding in his first multi-stage major tour since coming out of retirement and after breaking hs collarbone a month-and-a-half ago.
STAGE 16 RESULTS
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 7.11.54
2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.25
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes – Farnese Vini 0.26
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 0.29
5 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo 1.19
6 Francesco Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo 1.21
7 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
8 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 2.11
9 José Rodolfo Serpa (Col) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni 2.35
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 2.51
11 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
General classification after stage 16
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 70.06.30
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes – Farnese Vini 0.39
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 2.19
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 3.08
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 3.19
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 3.21
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia – Highroad 5.54
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo 8.21
9 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 8.39
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 8.47
11 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre – N.G.C. 9.27
12 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 11.06
13 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana 12.04
14 Jose Serpa (Col) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 12.14
15 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step 13.57
16 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – N.G.C. 14.29
17 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia – Highroad 17.29
18 Francesco Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo 18.10
19 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 21.03
20 Francis De Greef (Bel) Silence-Lotto 24.37
21 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team Saxo Bank 25.01
22 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) ISD 27.36
23 Jackson Rodriguez (Ven) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 30.35
24 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia – Highroad 30.59