Menchov TT's to Tour Podium!
Denis Menchov TTs to a podium finish at the 2010 Tour de France.
Gesink 6th, giving Rabo two top-10s
A brilliant time trial effort in the penultimate stage of the Tour de France lifted Rabobank team leader Denis Menchov onto the final podium in Paris. Joining the Russian near the top of the final standings was teammate Robert Geskink in sixth, making Rabobank the only team to land two top-10 overall finishers.
Menchov and Gesink formed a powerful one-two punch for Rabobank as they endured the Tour’s many challenges including early cobblestone stages in The Netherlands and Belgium, the high peaks of The Alps and Pyrénées, and finally, a tough Stage 19 time trial made even more difficult by strong winds.
The 52-kilometer TT from Bordeaux to Pauillac was especially daunting for the top General Classification riders who started late in the day with crosswinds and headwinds at their highest. Menchov, riding his Giant Trinity Advanced SL TT bike, proved strongest of the top GC men, finishing more than two minutes faster than Spanish rider Samuel Sanchez, who had started the day third overall.
That effort was enough to move Menchov into third overall and earn him his first-ever podium finish at the Tour de France. Afterward, the 32-year-old Russian said he had ridden the best time trial of his life.
Menchov, who won the Giro d’Italia last year and has two wins at the Vuelta a España, is now one of the select riders in the sport to have appeared on the podium in all three grand tours.
Menchov’s teammate Gesink lived up to the challenge of protecting his sixth-place standing during the final time trial. He had earned his high placing with masterful rides in the mountains but said the final TT was his toughest challenge.
“I’ve never been in as much pain in my life,” Gesink told Cyclingnews.com. “I’m super satisfied and super proud with my sixth place. It’s my third grand tour and—looking back—my first full Tour de France.”
In the end, a solid all-around team effort earned the Rabobank squad third place in the team standings. Rabobank was also represented in the final stage in Paris with a fifth-place finish by sprinter Oscar Freire.
With Menchov, Gesink and a host of strong up-and-comers, Rabobank will certainly be the team to watch for the rest of this season and into the future.
A brilliant time trial effort in the penultimate stage of the Tour de France lifted Rabobank team leader Denis Menchov onto the final podium in Paris. Joining the Russian near the top of the final standings was teammate Robert Geskink in sixth, making Rabobank the only team to land two top-10 overall finishers.
Menchov and Gesink formed a powerful one-two punch for Rabobank as they endured the Tour’s many challenges including early cobblestone stages in The Netherlands and Belgium, the high peaks of The Alps and Pyrénées, and finally, a tough Stage 19 time trial made even more difficult by strong winds.
The 52-kilometer TT from Bordeaux to Pauillac was especially daunting for the top General Classification riders who started late in the day with crosswinds and headwinds at their highest. Menchov, riding his Giant Trinity Advanced SL TT bike, proved strongest of the top GC men, finishing more than two minutes faster than Spanish rider Samuel Sanchez, who had started the day third overall.
That effort was enough to move Menchov into third overall and earn him his first-ever podium finish at the Tour de France. Afterward, the 32-year-old Russian said he had ridden the best time trial of his life.
Menchov, who won the Giro d’Italia last year and has two wins at the Vuelta a España, is now one of the select riders in the sport to have appeared on the podium in all three grand tours.
Menchov’s teammate Gesink lived up to the challenge of protecting his sixth-place standing during the final time trial. He had earned his high placing with masterful rides in the mountains but said the final TT was his toughest challenge.
“I’ve never been in as much pain in my life,” Gesink told Cyclingnews.com. “I’m super satisfied and super proud with my sixth place. It’s my third grand tour and—looking back—my first full Tour de France.”
In the end, a solid all-around team effort earned the Rabobank squad third place in the team standings. Rabobank was also represented in the final stage in Paris with a fifth-place finish by sprinter Oscar Freire.
With Menchov, Gesink and a host of strong up-and-comers, Rabobank will certainly be the team to watch for the rest of this season and into the future.
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Menchov rode the TT of his life to score his first podium appearance at the Tour. Cor Vos photo.
;setCaption(document.image_thumb); "Menchov rode the TT of his life to score his first podium appearance at the Tour. Cor Vos photo.")
;setCaption(document.image_extra_one_thumb); "Gesink was a warrior in the Stage 17 race up the mighty Tourmalet. Cor Vos photo.")
;setCaption(document.image_extra_two_thumb); "Menchov, here with yellow jersey Alberto Contador and second-place Andy Schleck, is one of the few riders to have podium appearances in all three grand tours. Cor Vos photo.")
31 Juli 2010