A short fast mountain stage today with a long hard slog at the finish – 25km of climbing that gradually ramped up in intensity to a final 11 per cent for the final 3Km.
That final climb tested the credentials of all the challengers for the general classification and as the race entered it’s final kilometres all the main contenders were there or thereabouts with Ivan Basso showing strongly at the front along with Denis Menchov, Levi Leipheimer, Carlos Sastre, Chris Horner and David Arroyo.
It came down to a straight fight between Menchov and Di Luca, Menchov took the win but Di Luca took the maglia rosa from Thomas Lovkvist who came in third. Ivan Basso was fourth at five seconds with Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner next at nine seconds. Carlos Sastre was seventh 19 seconds behind with Arroyo, Pelizzotti and Rogers completing the top ten. Lance Armstrong finished almost three minutes behind.
Giro Stage 5 Top 10
1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank)
2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes)
3. Thomas Lovkvist (Garmin Slipstream)
4. Ivan Basso (Liquigas)
5. Levi Leipheimer (Astana)
6. Chris Horner (Astana)
7. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team)
8. David Arroyo (Caisse D’Epargne)
9. Franco Pelizzotti (Liquigas)
10. Michael Rogers (Columbia High Road)
General Classification Top 10 after Stage 5
1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes)
2. Thomas Lovkvist (Garmin Slipstream)
3. Michael Rogers (Columbia High Road)
4 Levi Leipheimer (Astana)
5. Denis Menchov (Rabobank)
6. Ivan Basso (Liquigas)
7. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team)
8. Chris Horner (Astana)
9. Franco Pelizzotti (Liquigas)
10. David Arroyo (Caisse D’Epargne)
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1 thought on “Giro Stage 5: Menchov wins on the mountain but Di Luca’s in the pink”
Very impressed and suprised
Very impressed and suprised by the climbing abilities of Bradley Wiggins. He isnt in the top 10 but to be there with the lead guys with 2 or 3km to go is a credit to someone who is widely regarded as a track/tt only specialist. Could Wiggo go for a top 20 GC?