Category VII Cycling

After winning the first long time trial and reclaiming the leader’s gold jersey, Russian Denis Menchov of the Rabobank team reacted somewhat modestly: “Now the race is started.” And it seems like he is right. At least for he and Roberto Heras – many of the other pre-race favorites are already licking their wounds and find themselves several minutes down.

Menchov rode a great time trial, especially considering that with a cat. 3 climb in the midst of it, it wasn’t your standard course for the hammer heads. The profile probably helped Heras limit his damage, but Menchov no doubt drew inspiration from the fact that winning the stage would allow him to trade up the butt-ugly combination jersey for the leaders gold shirt.

But while Menchov took a good half minute lead out of Heras – and added an another 10 seconds after Heras was penalized for drifting off the marked course – he certainly will have his work cut out for him. Tomorrow begins the first of four stages in the Pyrenees, where Heras is likely to regain the overall lead. Menchov will likely ride looking to limit his losses, with an eye toward cementing an overall victory at the second long time trial just before Madrid.

But interestingly, Paco Mancebo after the time trial – which moved him up to third behind Carlos Sastre – noted that having Mencho in overall competition would liven up the race with attacks. Huh? The Russian did nothing but try to hold on in the first mountain stage, but maybe he will go out and try and take the race to the Spaniards as the race goes through his residence in Pamplona. Or maybe Paco is referring to the comical efforts the Spaniards may have to stage in a maladroit attempt to work a combine against the Russian.