Denis Menchov

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Denis Menchov

| image = Denis Menchov TR 2011.jpg

| caption = Menchov at the 2011 Tour de Romandie

| fullname = Denis Nikolayevich Menchov

| nickname = The Silent Assassin
The Pope
Denny{{cite web

| url = http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=/features/2009/giro09_menchov_sastre

| title = Giro d'Italia feature

| access-date = 2009-07-10

| date = 19 May 2009

| publisher = cyclingnews.com

}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|1|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Oryol, Soviet Union

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}

| weight = {{convert|65|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}

| currentteam = Retired

| discipline = Road

| role = Rider

| ridertype = All-rounder

| proyears1 = 2000–2004

| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|GCE|2000}}

| proyears2 = 2005–2010

| proteam2 = {{UCI team code|RAB|2005}}

| proyears3 = 2011

| proteam3 = {{UCI team code|FOT|2011}}

| proyears4 = 2012–2013

| proteam4 = {{UCI team code|KAT|2012}}{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12122011/58/russian-menchov-joins-katusha.html|title=Russian Menchov joins Katusha|date=12 December 2011|access-date=3 January 2012|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group|agency=Reuters}}

| majorwins = Grand Tours

:Tour de France

::Young rider classification (2003)

::1 individual stage (2006)

:Giro d'Italia

::General classification (2009)

::Points classification (2009)

::2 individual stages (2009)

:Vuelta a España

::General classification (2007)

::Mountains classification (2007)

::Combination classification (2005, 2007)

::5 individual stages (2004, 2005, 2007, 2012)

Stage races

:Tour of the Basque Country (2004)

One-day races and Classics

:National Time Trial Championships (2012)

}}

Denis Nikolayevich Menshov (often mistakenly romanized as Menchov, {{lang|ru|Денис Николаевич Меньшов}}; born 25 January 1978) is a former professional Russian road bicycle racer, who rode as a professional between 2000 and 2013. He was best known as a general classification rider, a climber and an accomplished time trialist. In 2005 he finished second in the Vuelta a España and in 2007 he finished as the champion. He also won the centenary Giro d'Italia in 2009 and finished second in the Tour de France in 2010 becoming the first Russian to do so. He was later disqualified from that Tour de France, as well as the 2009 and 2012 editions, owing to adverse biological passport findings.

Professional career

=Banesto (2000–2004)=

File:Denis Menchov2003.jpg]]

Born in Oryol, Menchov started his professional career in 2000 with the {{UCI team code|GCE|2000}} team of José Miguel Echavarri. His first success came in 2001, when he won the Tour de l'Avenir, a stage race for young professionals. A year later he won a stage in the Dauphiné Liberé. In 2003, Menchov had his breakthrough when he finished 11th in the Tour de France, and won the young rider classification. 2004 was his last year at Banesto and his most successful. He won Tour of the Basque Country, a stage in Vuelta a Aragón, a stage in Paris–Nice and stage five in the 2004 Vuelta a España, from Zaragoza to Morella.

=Rabobank (2005–2010)=

Menchov's contract ran out in September 2004 and he moved to the Dutch Rabobank team for two years. He became team captain following Levi Leipheimer's departure to Gerolsteiner. Menchov was Rabobank's main contender for the 2005 Tour de France, but due to a cold, he finished 85th, 2h 35m behind Lance Armstrong.{{cite web

| url = http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/?id=results/tour0521#gc

| title = 2005 Tour de France final overall standings

| publisher = cyclingnews.com

}} His 2005 Vuelta was more successful. He won the opening time trial to Granada and the stage nine time trial to Lloret de Mar, and wore the leader's jersey. On the fifteen stage, he lost sight of Roberto Heras on a climb and ended the race second behind Heras. Heras was later disqualified for doping,{{cite web

| url = http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/feb06/feb09news2

| title = Heras banned for two years

| access-date = 2008-03-26

| author = Hernan Alvarez

| date = 9 February 2006

| publisher = cyclingnews.com

}} and Menchov received the official win of the 2005 Vuelta, but the title was given back to Heras in 2012. He also captured the event's Combined Classification.{{cite web

|url = http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/resultados/gencom21.asp?e=21

|title = La Vuelta a España 2005 Overall Allround

|date = 9 February 2006

|publisher = lavuelta.com

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080804031349/http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/resultados/gencom21.asp?e=21

|archive-date = 4 August 2008

}}

In the 2006 Tour de France Menchov won the 11th stage – the second mountain stage – from Tarbes to Aran Valley–Pla-de-Beret after a sprint with Leipheimer and Floyd Landis. The final week took its toll and he dropped from 3rd to 6th in the Alps. He later moved up to 5th overall after the disqualification of race winner Floyd Landis.

File:Denis Menchov 2.jpg]]

Menchov abandoned the 2007 Tour de France on stage 17, the day after his teammate Michael Rasmussen was fired from Rabobank.{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26072007/58/tour-de-france-menchov-quits-rasmussen-hits.html |title=Tour de France – Menchov quits as Rasmussen hits back |access-date=2008-03-26 |date=26 July 2007 |publisher=Eurosport }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Later that year, he won the Vuelta a España after leading during the second half of the race. In the Vuelta he also won a stage, the mountains classification and the combination classification.

In 2008 Menchov concentrated on Tour de France and did not defend his Vuelta title.{{cite web

| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSL1990754120080219

| title = Menchov targets Tour rather than Vuelta defense

| access-date = 2008-03-26

| author = Simon Baskett

| date = 19 February 2008

| publisher = Reuters

}} He ended third in the Tour because Bernhard Kohl was disqualified for doping. Also Menchov finished fifth in Giro prior.

File:Denis Menchov Giro 2009.JPG]]

In 2009 Menchov won the Giro d'Italia, with wins in stages 5 and 12. Despite crashing in the final kilometer of the last-stage time-trial through Rome, Menchov held the pink jersey and extended his lead by 21 seconds, winning by 41 seconds over Italy's Danilo Di Luca.Reuters 31 May 2009. Russian Clinches Italian Bike Race. [https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/05/31/sports/sports-uk-cycling-giro.html?_r=1&hp The New York Times]{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/5417780/Denis-Menchov-wins-Giro-dItalia.html|title=Denis Menchov wins Giro d'Italia

| date = 31 May 2009|work= The Telegraph|access-date=2009-06-03 | location=London | first=Brendan | last=Gallagher}} Menchov also won the points jersey that year.

In the 2010 Tour de France, Menchov came in second place after passing Samuel Sánchez in the final Time Trial. He was third originally, but moved to the second spot as a consequence of Contador's victory being revoked due to a doping affair, as was decided on 6 February 2012. He was later retroactively disqualified and stripped of his second place finish, following a two-year doping ban initiated in 2014

after his retirement.{{cite web |title=Menchov stripped of second place at 2010 Tour de France for doping |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1021272/menchov-stripped-of-second-place-at-2010-tour-de-france-for-doping |website=Inside the Games |date=13 July 2014 |access-date=26 September 2023}} Menchov was also disqualified from the 2009 and 2012 Tours.

=Geox-TMC (2011)=

Later in 2010 Menchov transferred to Geox-TMC, as joint leader of the team with Carlos Sastre. Menchov was replaced as leader of Rabobank by Robert Gesink. With Geox, Menchov finished 8th in the 2011 Giro. The team were not invited to the Tour de France, a blow to Menchov, who had been considered a favourite. Menchov finished fifth overall at the Vuelta a España, having helped teammate Juan José Cobo to overall victory.

=Katusha (2012–2013)=

File:Denis Menchov TDF-2012.jpg]]

At the end of 2011, Menchov moved to Russian team Katusha for the 2012 season. Menchov focused the 2012 season on the 2012 Tour de France, although he was devastated with crashes. Menchov also won the Russian national time trial crown. He started the Tour very well with eighth place in prologue, but due to health problems finished only 15th place overall at the end.{{Cite web |url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/what-happened-to-denis-menchov_230213 |title=Velonews.com 17 July 2012. What happened to Menchov? |access-date=26 July 2012 |archive-date=25 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625181522/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/what-happened-to-denis-menchov_230213 |url-status=dead }} He was later retroactively disqualified from the 2012 Tour following a post-retirement doping ban. He rode in the 2012 Summer Olympics representing the Russian National Team both in Olympic road race and individual time trialKatushaTeam Official Site 26 July 2012. Katusha riders will take part in 2012 London Olympic Games.: {{cite web |url=http://www.katushateam.com/2012/07/katusha-riders-will-take-part-in-2012-london-olympic-games/ |title=Katusha riders will take part in 2012 London Olympic Games | Katusha Team |access-date=2012-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730030408/http://www.katushateam.com/2012/07/katusha-riders-will-take-part-in-2012-london-olympic-games/ |archive-date=30 July 2012}} After, the Olympic Games, Menchov rode the Vuelta a España where he won the penultimate stage in Bola del Mundo after outsprinting Richie Porte. After suffering a knee injury before the Giro d'Italia, Menchov announced his retirement from the sport of cycling in 2013.{{efn|During the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Denis Menchov was on Russian team Katusha, but, on 12 July 2014, was banned from cycling events until 9 April 2015 due to adverse biological passport findings. However, he announced his retirement from cycling on 21 May 2013.{{cite news |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12122011/58/russian-menchov-joins-katusha.html |title=Russian Menchov joins Katusha: Double Grand Tour winner Denis Menchov is joining Katusha for next season. |agency=Reuters |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=27 July 2023 |archive-date=2 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193934/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12122011/58/russian-menchov-joins-katusha.html}}{{cite news |url=http://run-ski.ru/newsother/menshov-diskvalifitsirovan-na-2-goda.html |title=Меньшов дисквалифицирован на 2 года |trans-title=Menshov disqualified for 2 years |language=ru |work=Run & Ski (Бег и лыжи) at run-ski.ru |date=13 July 2014 |access-date=27 July 2023 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081355/http://run-ski.ru/newsother/menshov-diskvalifitsirovan-na-2-goda.html}}}}

= Return to the sport: ''Gazprom–RusVelo'' (2019) =

Menchov returned to cycling in 2019, in the role of directeur sportif for UCI Pro-Continental team Gazprom–RusVelo.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/menchov-returns-as-directeur-sportif-with-gazprom-rusvelo/|title=Menchov returns as directeur sportif with Gazprom-RusVelo|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=26 December 2018|access-date=2018-12-26}}

Doping

On 10 July 2014, a UCI press release detailing various athlete sanctions specified that Menchov had been banned (for a period of two years) until 9 April 2015 due to adverse biological passport findings. Due to this, he has been disqualified from the 2009, 2010 and 2012 Tours de France.[http://www.uci.ch/mm/Document/News/CleanSport/16/57/75/Antidopingruleviolation2014_Neutral.PDF 10 July 2014. Athlete sanctions press release]

On 22 January 2015, USADA released its reasoned decision on the case of Dr. Geert Leinders in which it stated that Menchov received blood transfusions during the 2005 Tour de France.http://www.usada.org/wp-content/uploads/AAA_decision_Leinders_December_2014.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

Career achievements

=Major results=

;1995

: 1st 20px Overall Course de la Paix Juniors

;1997

:1st 20px Overall Paths of King Nikola

::1st Stages 3a & 3b

: 1st 20px Overall Volta a Lleida

: 1st Stage 2 Okolo Slovenska

: 3rd Overall International Tour of Rhodes

;1998

: 1st 20px Overall Ronde de l'Isard

: 7th Overall Ruban Granitier Breton

;1999

: 9th Overall Vuelta a Navarra

;2000

: 3rd Time trial, National Road Championships

;2001

: 1st 20px Overall Tour de l'Avenir

: 7th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

: 7th Overall Route du Sud

;2002

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a La Rioja

: 6th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

::1st Stage 2

;2003

: 1st Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama

: 1st 20px Young rider classification, Tour de France

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León

: 6th Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas

: 8th Overall Vuelta a La Rioja

;2004

: 1st 20px Overall Tour of the Basque Country

::1st Stage 4

: 1st Stage 5 Vuelta a España

: 1st Stage 6 Paris–Nice

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a Burgos

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a Aragón

::1st Stage 1

: 7th Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

;2005

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a España

::1st 20px Combination classification

::1st Stages 1 (ITT) & 9 (ITT)

::Held 20px after Stages 1 & 9–14

::Held 20px after Stages 1 11–14

: 3rd Overall Tour de Romandie

: 8th Overall Critérium International

;2006

: 5th Overall Tour de France

::1st Stage 11

: 6th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

::1st Stage 4

: 9th Overall Volta a Catalunya

;2007

: 1st 20px Overall Vuelta a España

::1st 20px Mountains classification

::1st 20px Combination classification

::1st Stage 10

::Held 20px after Stage 20

: 3rd Overall Volta a Catalunya

::1st 20px Points classification

::1st Stage 5 (ITT)

: 4th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

: 8th Overall Vuelta a Murcia

;2008

: 3rd Overall Tour de France

: 4th Overall Tour de Romandie

: 5th Overall Giro d'Italia

: 5th Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León

: 6th Clásica de San Sebastián

;2009

: 1st 20px Overall Giro d'Italia

::1st 20px Points classificationAwarded after the disqualification of apparent winner Danilo Di Luca

::1st Stages 5 & 12 (ITT)

: 1st 20px Overall Vuelta a Murcia

: 5th Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León

;2010

: 2nd Overall Tour de Romandie

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a Murcia

: ~~3rd Overall Tour de France~~

: 9th Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León

;2011

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a Murcia

::1st Stage 2

: 5th Overall Vuelta a España

: 5th Overall Tour of Austria

: 7th Overall Giro d'Italia

;2012

: 1st 20px Time trial, National Road Championships

: 1st Stage 20 Vuelta a España

: 4th Overall Vuelta a Andalucía

;2013

: 4th Overall Volta ao Algarve

: 8th Gran Premio Città di Camaiore

==General classification results timeline==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \| colspan="21" style="text-align:center;"\|Grand Tour general classification results
scope="col" \| Grand Tour ! scope="col" \| 2000 ! scope="col" \| 2001 ! scope="col" \| 2002 ! scope="col" \| 2003 ! scope="col" \| 2004 ! scope="col" \| 2005 ! scope="col" \| 2006 ! scope="col" \| 2007 ! scope="col" \| 2008 ! scope="col" \| 2009 ! scope="col" \| 2010 ! scope="col" \| 2011 ! scope="col" \| 2012 ! scope="col" \| 2013
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey pink.svg Giro d'Italia \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|5 \| style="background:pink;" \|1 \| — \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|7 \| — \| —
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey yellow.svg Tour de France \| — \| 47 \| 93 \| 11 \| DNF \| 85 \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|5 \| DNF \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|3 \| style="background:#gray;" \|51 \| style="background:#gray;" \|3 \| — \| style="background:#gray;" \|15 \| —
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey gold.svg/File:Jersey red.svg Vuelta a España \| — \| — \| — \| — \| DNF \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|2 \| DNF \| style="background:gold;" \|1 \| — \| — \| 41 \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|5 \| 54 \| —
colspan="21" style="text-align:center;"\|Major stage race general classification results
scope="col" \| Race ! scope="col" \| 2000 ! scope="col" \| 2001 ! scope="col" \| 2002 ! scope="col" \| 2003 ! scope="col" \| 2004 ! scope="col" \| 2005 ! scope="col" \| 2006 ! scope="col" \| 2007 ! scope="col" \| 2008 ! scope="col" \| 2009 ! scope="col" \| 2010 ! scope="col" \| 2011 ! scope="col" \| 2012 ! scope="col" \| 2013
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| {{cjersey\|white}}/{{cjersey\|yellow}} Paris–Nice \| — \| 53 \| DNF \| — \| 12 \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| DNF \| 14
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| 20px/{{cjersey\|blue}} Tirreno–Adriatico \| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=14\|Did not contest during his career
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| {{cjersey\|Volta a Catalunya}} Volta a Catalunya \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|9 \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|3 \| — \| — \| DNF \| 109 \| 11 \| DNF
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| {{cjersey\|yellow}} Tour of the Basque Country \| — \| — \| — \| 36 \| style="background:yellow;" \|1 \| 11 \| DNF \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
style="text-align:center; ! scope="row" \| {{cjersey\|green}}/{{cjersey\|yellow}} Tour de Romandie \| — \| — \| — \| — \| — \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|3 \| — \| 54 \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|4 \| 11 \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|2 \| 14 \| DNF \| —
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| {{cjersey\|Dauphine}} Critérium du Dauphiné \| DNF \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|7 \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|6 \| 39 \| — \| 24 \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|6 \| style="background:#ddddff;"\|4 \| — \| — \| 25 \| — \| 42 \| —
align="center" ! scope="row" \| {{cjersey\|yellow}} Tour de Suisse \| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=14\|Did not contest during his career

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

| colspan="21" style="text-align:center;"|Grand Tour general classification results

scope="col" | Grand Tour

! scope="col" | 2000

! scope="col" | 2001

! scope="col" | 2002

! scope="col" | 2003

! scope="col" | 2004

! scope="col" | 2005

! scope="col" | 2006

! scope="col" | 2007

! scope="col" | 2008