Menchov brushes off boos and doping questions after Blockhaus
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) held onto the Giro d'Italia lead after the mountain finish to Blockhaus on Wednesday and appeared to be unruffled by boos when he climbed on the podium. He also faced questions about doping after reports in Austrian and German press that he could be implicated in the Bernhard Kohl Humanplasma investigation in Austria.
Menchov has always worn a poker face during the Giro and when speaking to the press but he wasn’t happy when the word Humanplasma came up.
Humanplasma is the name of a laboratory in Vienna at the centre of a doping investigation by Austrian police. Disgraced 2008 Tour de France polka-dot jersey winner Bernhard Kohl has reportedly confessed to prosecutors that he received blood transplants at Humanplasma and other riders are suspected of sharing the cost of a blood centrifuge as part of a blood doping programme.
“I’m surprised to be asked about it. It’s not a new story for me,” Menchov said.
“I gave lots of explanations last year and don’t think I’ve got explain any thing else. I’ve got nothing to do with it and want to stay focused on the race.”
When pushed if he has to appear before a judge as a witness as part of the Austrian investigation, Menchov said: “Maybe. I haven’t got any problems, I’ve got nothing to do with it. If someone wants to question me I’ve no problem.”
Menchov was vague with his answers but his Rabobank team was more forthcoming. According to the Austrian APA agency, Rabobank spokesman Luuc Eisenga said: “Police investgators have made contact with us. We've assured them of our complete cooperation."
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According to APA, no rider is directly involved in the police investigation but they could be questioned as witnesses, perhaps like in the Operacion Puerto case, where riders were considered victims of Dr Fuentes work with their blood.
BOOED FOR BEATING DI LUCA
Menchov was booed by the thousands of Di Luca fans who packed the finish of the stage on the Blockhaus climb. The atmosphere was more like a football stadium and Stefano Garzelli was in tears after also being booed for finishing second ahead of Di Luca. Menchov insisted he was not bothered by the hostile atmosphere.
“It’s not a problem. I think it’s normal. For him it was a very important day. He’s from this area and has a lot of fans. It might have given him psychological advantage but I think it’s nice to see people cheering for him. I wish I could have so many fans cheering for me.”
Menchov said that he was not worried about losing 13 seconds to Di Luca and confirmed he will continue to mark the little LPR rider closely and then hopefully secure in the Giro in the final time trial in Rome on Sunday.
“It was important to stay with Di Luca. What happened in the last 250m is normal in cycling, it can happen because you’re using a different gear or something. I gained a time bonus the other day and so I’m not worried it.”
“I’m very happy with how the stage went. After the rest day you never know how your body responds but I felt good even if I just didn’t have that little change of pace.”
Menchov insisted he does not need to go on the attack and said he will continue to ride a defensively.
“I’m pretty tranquillo with the gap I’ve got (26 seconds on Di Luca and 2-00 on Franco Pellizotti). On Mount Vesuvius I’ll try and stay with Di Luca again and if I do, I’ll be satisfied.”
RELATED LINKS
The Wednesday Comment: Kohl's bombshell
Kohl admits he started doping at 19
| Giro d'Italia 2009 links |
Stage reports
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
Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage
Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break
Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey
Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey
Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash
Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win
Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin
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2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features
Find the pink jersey competition
Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview
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CW's Giro top ten prediction
Brits in the Giro 2009
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2008 Giro d'Italia archive
Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results
From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia
Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race
Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special
Five days to go, what's in store?
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)
Giro d'Italia 2008 preview
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