Danilo Di Luca (LPR) admitted defeat at the end of the 20th stage to Anagni on Saturday, conceding that Denis Menchov (Rabobank) deserved to win the 2009 Giro d’Italia.
The Russian rider snatched two seconds in an intermediate sprint and Di Luca failed to gain any time at the finish, meaning that Menchov will start Sunday’s final 14.4km time trial in Rome with a virtually unbeatable lead.
Di Luca admitted he will lose further time to Menchov in the time trial and so threw in the towel after a fighting for every second in the last eight days.
“I never liked finishing second, I’d rather be third, but this time I’m happy with second,” Di Luca said.
“I can be proud that I fought every kilometre of this race. Anything could happen in the time trial, the gap is small, it's a special course, very technical, but Menchov has shown he is strong.”
“I can only say well done to Menchov. He was the strongest in the time trial and one of the strongest on the climbs, so he deserves to win the Giro.”
“To be honest I was already thinking after the Vesuvius stage that I wouldn’t win the Giro. I had him on the ropes a little but at the finish of the Blockhaus stage but he was able to recover and defended well at Vesuvius.”
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“This Giro was fought at a very high level and we can all be proud of how we raced. I’ve got some great memories and winning in the pink jersey was something special. That’s my best memory of this Giro,” said Di Luca.
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Giro d'Italia 2009 links
Stage reports
Stage 20: Gilbert springs late attack to win penultimate stage
Stage 19: Sastre takes second Giro mountain stage; Menchov safe in pink
Stage 18: Second Giro stage win for Scarponi
Stage 17: Pellizotti wins on Blockhaus, Menchov remains in pink
Giro rest day review (May 26)
Stage 16: Sastre wins stage to Monte Petrano
Stage 15: Bertagnolli gifted stage win by Cervelo mix-up
Stage 14: Gerrans solos to win
Stage 13: Cavendish takes his third Giro win and prepares to head home
Stage 12: Menchov storms to Giro TT win and race lead
Stage 11: Cavendish romps to second Giro stage win
Stage 10: Di Luca lays down the gauntlet
Giro rest day review (May 18)
Stage nine: Cavendish blitzes rivals to win in Milan
Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad
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