Published March 8, 2009 12:06PM
Denis Menchov wrapped up the overall title at the Vuelta a Murcia in Spain on Sunday to claim his first victory since winning the 2007 Vuelta a España.
There was no major shakeup in the overall standings as a busted-up peloton came in for a mass sprint for the fifth and final stage.
Stage winner: Graeme Brown (Rabobank) in 3:11:46
Stage winner’s average speed: 44.58 kph (27.7 mph)
FINAL Overall leader: Denis Menchov (Rabobank)
FINAL Sprint leader: Greg Henderson (Columbia-Highroad)
FINAL Mountains leader: Konstantin Siutsou (Team Columbia – Highroad)
FINAL Team GC leader: Rabobank
Peloton: 95 riders finished the final stage, down from 102 who started stage 1.
The peloton split into three groups over the undulating, 142.5km stage from Santiago de la Ribera to Murcia, with all the GC favorites and the sprinters hanging tough in the front group of about 50 riders.
Rubén Plaza (Liberty Seguros), winner of Saturday’s “queen stage,” finished second at 20 seconds back while Peter Weening completed Rabobank’s dominating week with third at 35 seconds off the pace.
Aussie sprinter Graeme Brown (Rabobank) took his second win of the week after winning the sprint ahead of arch-rival Greg Henderson (Columbia-Highroad). Argentine JJ Haedo (Saxo Bank) came through third.
Brown and Henderson have been bucking heads all week in Spain. Henderson edged Brown to win the Clásica de Almería last Sunday only to have Brown take revenge ahead of Henderson in Murcia’s opening stage Wednesday.
Henderson won the weather-shortened second stage before Brown evened the slate with his win Sunday into Murcia.
Racing in Spain continues with the Vuelta a Castilla y León (March 23-27), when Lance Armstrong will race alongside Alberto Contador at Astana.
Stage 5 | (FINAL GC ) | (FINAL Team GC) | ( FINAL Points competition) | ( FINAL Mountain competition)
1. Graeme Brown (AUS) Rabobank in 3:11:46
2. Greg Henderson (NZL) Team Columbia – High Road at s.t.
3. Juan José Haedo (ARG) Team Saxo Bank at s.t.
4. Mathew Goss (AUS) Team Saxo Bank at s.t.
5. Luca Paolini (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at s.t.
6. Rubén PÉrez Moreno (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at s.t.
7. Egoitz GarcÍa Echeguigel (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at s.t.
8. Diego MilÁn JimÉnez (ESP) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at s.t.
9. Rubén Plaza Molina (ESP) Liberty Seguros at s.t.
10. Gustavo CÉsar Veloso (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at s.t.
11. Edgar Miguel Lemos Pinto (POR) Liberty Seguros at s.t.
12. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at s.t.
13. Pieter Weening (NED) Rabobank at s.t.
14. Manuel Ortega OcaÑa (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at s.t.
15. Manuel VÁzquez Hueso (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at s.t.
16. Jaume Rovira Pons (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at s.t.
17. Ángel Vallejo Dominguez (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at s.t.
18. Jose A Carrasco Ramirez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at s.t.
19. Hector Guerra Garcia (ESP) Liberty Seguros at s.t.
20. Mathieu Drujon (FRA) Caisse D’epargne at s.t.
21. Christian Meier (CAN) Garmin – Slipstream at s.t.
22. Xavier Tondo Volpini (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at s.t.
23. Angel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at s.t.
24. José Antonio Redondo Ramos (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at s.t.
25. Marcos GarcÍa Fernandez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at s.t.
26. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at s.t.
27. Francisco PÉrez SÁnchez (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at s.t.
28. Carlos Nozal Vega (ESP) Liberty Seguros at s.t.
29. Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at s.t.
30. Blake Caldwell (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at s.t.
31. Pedro Merino Criado (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at s.t.
32. Laurens Ten Dam (NED) Rabobank at s.t.
33. Alberto Losada Alguacil (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at s.t.
34. Jorge Azanza Soto (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at s.t.
35. Morris Possoni (ITA) Team Columbia – High Road at s.t.
36. Mikel Astarloza (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at s.t.
37. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at s.t.
38. Gert Dockx (BEL) Team Columbia – High Road at s.t.
39. Jose Joao Mendes (POR) Liberty Seguros at s.t.
40. Nuno Ribeiro (POR) Liberty Seguros at s.t.
41. Aitor PÉrez Arrieta (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at s.t.
42. Craig Lewis (USA) Team Columbia – High Road at s.t.
43. Alessandro Donati (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 10
44. Arnold Jeannesson (FRA) Caisse D’epargne at 15
45. Huub Duyn (NED) Garmin – Slipstream at 54
46. José Ruiz SÁnchez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 01:25
47. Mateo Raúl GarcÍa De (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at 01:25
48. Amets Txurruka (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 01:50
49. Aitor Galdos Alonso (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 02:09
50. Rui Sousa Barbosa (POR) Liberty Seguros at 02:09
51. Aitor Aznar Torres (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at 02:09
52. Jason Donald (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 02:09
53. Juan Javier Estrada Ruiz (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 02:09
54. Gonzalo RabuÑal Rios (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 02:09
55. Frantisek Rabon (CZE) Team Columbia – High Road at 02:09
56. Andrés Vigil Vidal (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 02:09
57. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR) Team Columbia – High Road at 02:09
58. Javier ChacÓn Quesada (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 02:09
59. Salvador Guardiola Tora (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 02:09
60. Jonathan Bellis (GBR) Team Saxo Bank at 02:09
61. Koos Moerenhout (NED) Rabobank at 02:09
62. Stef Clement (NED) Rabobank at 02:09
63. Jurgen Van Goolen (BEL) Team Saxo Bank at 02:09
64. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at 02:09
65. Tom Leezer (NED) Rabobank at 02:09
66. Antonio Tauler Llull (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 02:09
67. David Calatayud (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 02:09
68. Oleg Chuzhda (UKR) Contentpolis – Ampo at 02:09
69. Carlos CastaÑo Panadero (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 02:09
70. Bauke Mollema (NED) Rabobank at 02:09
71. Luis Pasamontes (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 02:23
72. Javier Benitez Pomares (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 02:34
73. Michael Morkov (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at 03:54
74. Giuseppe Palumbo (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 04:36
75. Dario Andriotto (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 04:36
76. Ivan RaÑa Fuentes (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 04:36
77. Didac Ortega (ESP) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 04:36
78. José Vicente GarcÍa Acosta (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 04:36
79. Xabier Zandio Echaide (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 04:38
80. José Herrada LÓpez (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 07:14
81. David Herrero Llorente (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 07:33
82. José A LÓpez Gil (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 07:33
83. Dmytro Chuzhda (UKR) Andorra – Grandvalira at 07:33
84. Mateo Vicente Garcia De (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at 07:33
85. Timothy Duggan (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 07:33
86. Claudio Casas Gallego (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 10:17
87. Eloy Teruel Rovira (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 10:17
88. Igor Anton HernÁndez (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 10:17
89. Pedro J Vera Alcaraz (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 10:17
90. Ándres Sergio De Lis (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 10:17
91. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 10:17
92. Massimo Codol (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 10:17
93. Jason Mccartney (USA) Team Saxo Bank at 10:17
94. Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 10:17
95. Anders Lund (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at 10:17
. Carlos Torrent Tarres (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalir
1. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank in 14:55:06
2. Rubén Plaza Molina (ESP) Liberty Seguros at 20
3. Pieter Weening (NED) Rabobank at 35
4. Xavier Tondo Volpini (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 45
5. Jaume Rovira Pons (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at 51
6. Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 01:15
7. Carlos Nozal Vega (ESP) Liberty Seguros at 01:58
8. Laurens Ten Dam (NED) Rabobank at 01:59
9. Francisco PÉrez SÁnchez (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 02:06
10. Mathew Goss (AUS) Team Saxo Bank at 02:07
11. Ángel Vallejo Dominguez (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at 02:17
12. Hector Guerra Garcia (ESP) Liberty Seguros at 02:35
13. Luis Pasamontes (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 03:13
14. Gustavo CÉsar Veloso (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 03:29
15. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 03:52
16. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR) Team Columbia – High Road at 04:15
17. Marcos GarcÍa Fernandez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 04:21
18. Alberto Losada Alguacil (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 05:00
19. Manuel VÁzquez Hueso (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 05:03
20. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 05:18
21. José Herrada LÓpez (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 07:58
22. Manuel Ortega OcaÑa (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 10:45
23. José Ruiz SÁnchez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 11:35
24. José Antonio Redondo Ramos (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 14:38
25. Michael Morkov (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at 16:02
26. Bauke Mollema (NED) Rabobank at 16:28
27. Amets Txurruka (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 16:42
28. Didac Ortega (ESP) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 17:10
29. Xabier Zandio Echaide (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 17:17
30. Craig Lewis (USA) Team Columbia – High Road at 18:28
31. Luca Paolini (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 18:37
32. Rubén PÉrez Moreno (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 18:53
33. Jose A Carrasco Ramirez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 19:11
34. Aitor PÉrez Arrieta (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 19:27
35. Jorge Azanza Soto (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 19:33
36. Huub Duyn (NED) Garmin – Slipstream at 19:36
37. Frantisek Rabon (CZE) Team Columbia – High Road at 19:47
38. Diego MilÁn JimÉnez (ESP) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 19:49
39. Edgar Miguel Lemos Pinto (POR) Liberty Seguros at 19:56
40. Arnold Jeannesson (FRA) Caisse D’epargne at 20:06
41. Angel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 20:13
42. Koos Moerenhout (NED) Rabobank at 20:17
43. Pedro Merino Criado (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 20:20
44. Tom Leezer (NED) Rabobank at 20:36
45. Jose Joao Mendes (POR) Liberty Seguros at 21:01
46. Christian Meier (CAN) Garmin – Slipstream at 21:20
47. Blake Caldwell (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 21:23
48. Gonzalo RabuÑal Rios (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 21:32
49. Morris Possoni (ITA) Team Columbia – High Road at 21:38
50. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 21:57
51. Nuno Ribeiro (POR) Liberty Seguros at 22:15
52. José Vicente GarcÍa Acosta (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 23:32
53. Giuseppe Palumbo (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 23:34
54. Dario Andriotto (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 23:40
55. Alessandro Donati (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 24:14
56. Stef Clement (NED) Rabobank at 24:32
57. Greg Henderson (NZL) Team Columbia – High Road at 27:16
58. Mikel Astarloza (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 27:34
59. Gert Dockx (BEL) Team Columbia – High Road at 28:10
60. Timothy Duggan (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 28:11
61. Graeme Brown (AUS) Rabobank at 28:15
62. Mathieu Drujon (FRA) Caisse D’epargne at 28:29
63. Juan José Haedo (ARG) Team Saxo Bank at 29:18
64. Jurgen Van Goolen (BEL) Team Saxo Bank at 29:36
65. Massimo Codol (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo at 29:42
66. Egoitz GarcÍa Echeguigel (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 29:50
67. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at 29:52
68. David Calatayud (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 30:23
69. Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 30:44
70. Carlos CastaÑo Panadero (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 31:02
71. Antonio Tauler Llull (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 31:11
72. Oleg Chuzhda (UKR) Contentpolis – Ampo at 31:58
73. Jason Donald (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 32:19
74. Javier Benitez Pomares (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 32:26
75. Mateo Raúl GarcÍa De (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at 32:27
76. Aitor Galdos Alonso (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 32:34
77. Javier ChacÓn Quesada (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 32:40
78. Salvador Guardiola Tora (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 33:05
79. Juan Javier Estrada Ruiz (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 33:06
80. Rui Sousa Barbosa (POR) Liberty Seguros at 33:52
81. Jonathan Bellis (GBR) Team Saxo Bank at 34:25
82. Andrés Vigil Vidal (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola at 35:14
83. Aitor Aznar Torres (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at 35:21
84. David Herrero Llorente (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 35:24
85. Eloy Teruel Rovira (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 37:31
86. José A LÓpez Gil (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur at 37:42
87. Ándres Sergio De Lis (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 38:04
88. Dmytro Chuzhda (UKR) Andorra – Grandvalira at 38:04
89. Mateo Vicente Garcia De (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira at 38:09
90. Ivan RaÑa Fuentes (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 38:20
91. Pedro J Vera Alcaraz (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 39:57
92. Igor Anton HernÁndez (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 40:25
93. Anders Lund (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at 41:37
94. Jason Mccartney (USA) Team Saxo Bank at 42:03
95. Claudio Casas Gallego (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 44:29
Team GC FINAL | (Top)
1. (NED) Rabobank in 44:47:02
2. (POR) Liberty Seguros at 01:20::
3. (ESP) Caisse D’epargne at 03:55::
4. (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia at 04:01::
5. (ESP) Andalucía – Cajasur at 13:35::
6. (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo at 22:34::
7. (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi at 30:19::
8. (AND) Andorra – Grandavalira at 33:14::
9. (USA) Team Columbia – High Road at 34:16::
10. (ITA) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo at 40:44::
11. (USA) Garmin – Slipstream at 41:05::
12. (DEN) Team Saxo Bank at 41:56::
13. (ESP) Selección Española at 1:16:54::
Points standings FINAL | (Top)
1. Greg Henderson (NZL) Team Columbia – High Road 68 points
2. Graeme Brown (AUS) Rabobank 60 points
3. Mathew Goss (AUS) Team Saxo Bank 46 points
4. Rubén PÉrez Moreno (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi 46 points
5. Rubén Plaza Molina (ESP) Liberty Seguros 43 points
6. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank 36 points
7. Tom Leezer (NED) Rabobank 28 points
8. Frantisek Rabon (CZE) Team Columbia – High Road 25 points
9. Luca Paolini (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo 23 points
10. José Herrada LÓpez (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 21 points
11. David Calatayud (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola 20 points
12. Giuseppe Palumbo (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo 18 points
13. Hector Guerra Garcia (ESP) Liberty Seguros 17 points
14. Luis Pasamontes (ESP) Caisse D’epargne 17 points
15. Gustavo CÉsar Veloso (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia 16 points
16. Mathieu Drujon (FRA) Caisse D’epargne 16 points
17. Juan José Haedo (ARG) Team Saxo Bank 16 points
18. Pieter Weening (NED) Rabobank 14 points
19. Jaume Rovira Pons (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira 14 points
20. Koos Moerenhout (NED) Rabobank 14 points
21. Egoitz GarcÍa Echeguigel (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola 13 points
22. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR) Team Columbia – High Road 12 points
23. Diego MilÁn JimÉnez (ESP) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo 11 points
24. Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia 10 points
25. Javier Benitez Pomares (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 8 points
26. Xavier Tondo Volpini (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur 8 points
27. Pedro J Vera Alcaraz (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 7 points
28. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi 7 points
29. Antonio Tauler Llull (ESP) SelecciÓn EspaÑola 7 points
30. David Herrero Llorente (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia 7 points
31. Eloy Teruel Rovira (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 6 points
32. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin – Slipstream 5 points
33. Edgar Miguel Lemos Pinto (POR) Liberty Seguros 5 points
34. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN) Team Saxo Bank 5 points
35. Ángel Vallejo Dominguez (ESP) Andorra – Grandvalira 4 points
36. Huub Duyn (NED) Garmin – Slipstream 4 points
37. Angel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur 4 points
38. Laurens Ten Dam (NED) Rabobank 3 points
39. Craig Lewis (USA) Team Columbia – High Road 3 points
40. Aitor Galdos Alonso (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi 3 points
41. José A LÓpez Gil (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur 3 points
42. Carlos Nozal Vega (ESP) Liberty Seguros 2 points
43. Francisco PÉrez SÁnchez (ESP) Caisse D’epargne 2 points
44. Manuel Ortega OcaÑa (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur 2 points
45. Aitor PÉrez Arrieta (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 2 points
46. Marcos GarcÍa Fernandez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia 1 points
47. Manuel VÁzquez Hueso (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 1 points
48. José Ruiz SÁnchez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur 1 points
49. Michael Morkov (DEN) Team Saxo Bank 1 points
50. Jason Mccartney (USA) Team Saxo Bank 1 points
Mountain standings FINAL | (Top)
1. Konstantin Siutsou (BLR) Team Columbia – High Road 16 points
2. Amets Txurruka Ansola (ESP) Euskaltel – Euskadi 10 points
3. Xavier Tondo Volpini (ESP) Andalucía – Cajasur 8 points
4. Xabier Zandio Echaide (ESP) Caisse D’epargne 8 points
5. Dennis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank 7 points
6. Ángel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) Andalucía – Cajasur 6 points
7. Héctor Guerra GarcÍa (ESP) Liberty Seguros 5 points
8. Stef Clement (NED) Rabobank 4 points
9. Rubén Plaza Molina (ESP) Liberty Seguros 4 points
10. Luca Paolini (ITA) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo 4 points
11. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua & Sapone – Caffe Mokambo 4 points
12. José Antonio LÓpez Gil (ESP) Andalucía – Cajasur 3 points
13. Laurens Ten Dam (NED) Rabobank 2 points
14. Manuel VÁzquez Hueso (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 2 points
15. Javier BenÍtez Pomares (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 2 points
16. Pedro J. Vera Alcaraz (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 2 points
17. Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia 1 points
18. Ángel Vallejo DomÍnguez (ESP) Andorra – Grandavalira 1 points
19. Marcos GarcÍa FernÁndez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia 1 points
20. Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin – Slipstream 1 points
21. Eloy Teruel Rovira (ESP) Contentpolis – Ampo 1 points
.