2008 Giro - Stage 21 ITT Final

Contador wins the Giro! Congratulations to him as it was a great race and he earned it! Today's TT was pretty fun to watch. I seriously missed ctv with Anthony and Brian though. After the fun we were having with them and Rebecca yesterday, the coverage was hard to stick with. Feeds were in and out all morning on the other sites.

I got a call early this morning from John letting me know that Grandpa had passed. He hadn't been doing very well all week and we knew it was just a matter of time. The call was expected but still sad. I hadn't posted anything on it as I didn't want added stresses for C. John had talked to C this morning so he knew when he went on and it was touchingly great to see him ride with so much heart today. He got 5th place on the stage followed by Pate just 2 seconds slower. That was great for Danny and I think says a lot. After 3 weeks of hell in his first ever GT, he performed great today. Millar came in 13th and Ryder 45th. A very good way to end a successful Giro for them! Way to go guys! It was awesome following you!!!

And now the Giro is over. Withdrawals from 3 weeks of daily watching and reading it will surely kick in at some point in the next day or two. Funny how cycling can suck you right in. Time is found to watch, read, follow even with busy schedules. There's still great racing going on this week though so it's not over! :-)

BikeRadar: Contador has champion's mentality: Bruyneel
Slipstream: Going for one last Giro high

Live Chatter: CN - VN - DP - PC

Stage 21 - Sunday 6/1: Cesano Maderno - Milano (ITT), 28.5km
Results
1 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team High Road 32.45 (52.213 km/h)
5 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle P/b H30 0.22
6 Danny Pate (USA) Slipstream Chipotle P/b H30 0.24
10 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 0.33
11 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0.39
13 David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle P/b H30 0.42
18 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0.56
34 Jason McCartney (USA) Team CSC 1.42
45 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Slipstream Chipotle P/b H30 2.01
Final General classification
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 89.56.49
2 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott 1.57
3 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 2.54
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 2.56
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 3.37
18 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 45.36
52 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle P/b H30 1.43.59
53 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 1.46.14
60 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Slipstream Chipotle P/b H30 2.01.29
94 David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle P/b H30 2.56.50
95 Jason McCartney (USA) Team CSC 2.57.21
137 Danny Pate (USA) Slipstream Chipotle P/b H30 4.07.19
(Lanterne Rouge) 141 Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram 4.33.41

Slipstream_CVV: Giro accomplished, skeet shooting awaits
Slipstream: Christian & Danny top ten!
TeamCSC: 10th Spot for Voigt in the Final Stage
Astana_CMehl: Contador Crowned Champion in Milano
VN: Contador: "This was my Tour"
CW: Contador seals Giro d'Italia victory in final time trial
BikeRadar: Contador storms home in time trial
Added 6/2:
VN: Slipstream, High Road celebrate successful Giro
EuroPeloton: At Long Last: Markus Eichler Completes Tour of Italy in Last Place
ciclismosam: The Giro, clean sport, and a hard race
Added 6/10:
DP: Final Team Comments & Photos

Graham Watson Photos: Stage 21
Astana: Stage 21
TeamCSC: Giro Photo Gallery
Slipstream: Giro Photos

Here are some awesome pics of Stage 1 found on Flickr: PJ's Photo's