Heart of a Champion - Stage 16 Giro d'Italia Centoanni

Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team) was listed as one of the pre-race favorites, but it seemed more out of respect for his past accomplishments, which of course includes winning the 2008 Tour de France, rather than for his desire to win the 100th Giro d’Italia. After all, bigger fish, namely countryman Alberto Contador (Astana) and the Tour de France, are up the road.

But with the racing mindset that was fostered during his days riding under Bjarne Riis firmly entrenched, Sastre refused to bypass the opportunity to take another grand tour title. On the final climb of Stage 16 from Pergola to Monte Petrano, Sastre fully made his intentions known and put forth a vicious attack reminiscent of his Tour winning ride.

He would put time into the current leader on the General Classification, Denis Menchov (Rabobank), and pull himself up to third at the expense of Levi Leipheimer (Astana) who could not keep up with the accelerations on the climb. Menchov would take second on the stage, with his shadow, Danilo DiLuca (LPR Brakes – Farnese Vini) taking third.

Results
1. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
2. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
3. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini

General Classification After Stage 16
1. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
2. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
3. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
4. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
5. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
7. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
8. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo
9. David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
10. Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale

Next: Stage 17 - Chieti - Blockhaus, 83km
It may only be 83km, but most of it is up hill.