Danilo Di Luca managed to gain 13 seconds on Denis Menchov on the climb of Blockhaus during stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia, and promised he would fight all the way to the final time trial in Rome to try and snatch the maglia rosa from the Russian.
“I tried everything today but I’m happy because Menchov cracked a bit near the end and that makes me hopeful for Vesuvio,” he said after thanking the thousands of local fans who packed the climb with a bow and a wave as he pulled on the ciclamino points jersey.
“It’s a shorter climb but it’s steeper. I’m going to keep trying to win the Giro right to the end. There’s only one climb left, so I need Menchov to fade. Today it was just 200 metres from the finish but it all helps.”
“The time bonuses could be important and so I’ll try for them on Friday (to the summit finish on Mount Vesuvius) but also on Saturday in Anagni. I’ve always said that I need 30 seconds advantage going into the final time trial, so I still need to gain a minute on Menchov.”
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Giro d'Italia 2009 links
Stage reports
Stage 17: Pellizotti wins on Blockhaus, Menchov remains in pink
Giro rest day review (May 26)
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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
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