Menchov Closes In On Giro Victory

Rabobank`s Menchov finished with Danilo Di Luca and edged his advantage over the 2007 winner up to 20 seconds.

Russia's Denis Menchov is well placed to win the Giro d'Italia after defending his hold on the pink leader's jersey in the penultimate stage won by Belgium's Philippe Gilbert on Saturday.

Rabobank's Menchov came home in the pack together with Italian Danilo Di Luca, 11th and 12th respectively, after edging his advantage over the 2007 winner up to 20 seconds in the intermediate sprint.

The centenary edition of the race will now be decided in Sunday's time-trial in Rome, which should favour Menchov.

The 31-year-old, a twice Tour of Spain winner, wrestled the pink leader's jersey off Di Luca by winning a long time trial in the 12th stage and the Italian conceded defeat on Saturday.

"I think now it's really impossible because the time trial is a test that's better suited to him than me," he told Rai television.

"That means that I'll come second but that's not a problem for me because I'm convinced I've raced a great Giro d'Italia.

"I've no regrets because I always tried to attack. So I'm satisfied."

Silence Lotto's Gilbert broke with about 1.5km left and went on to take the 203km stage from Naples with relative ease ahead of France's Thomas Voeckler and Italy's Stefano Garzelli, the 2000 champion.

BEING CONSISTENT

Menchov again kept a tight rein on LPR's Di Luca. Almost the only time he wandered from his rear wheel was to make a surprise attack for the intermediate sprint.

Di Luca's team mate Alessandro Petacchi reeled him in to win it, but the Russian went through ahead of his main rival to grab a couple of morale-boosting seconds.

Menchov said his likely win was down to his ability to produce the goods every day of the three-week race.

"Being consistent has been my weapon," he said. "Not having bad days, or crises, keeping my concentration high."

Italian Franco Pellizotti of Liquigas remained third overall, 1:43 off the pace.

Spain's Carlos Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France champion, is 2:44 behind Menchov in fourth, with 2006 winner Ivan Basso almost a minute further back in fifth.

American Lance Armstrong, who is preparing for his bid for an eighth Tour de France title in July after coming out of retirement, came in 64th and remains 12th overall, 15:04 back.

Caisse d'Epargne's Spaniard David Lopez Garcia, who started the day in 83rd place, pulled out after needing treatment in an ambulance because of a nasty crash at high speed early in the stage.