Denis Menchov was best known as a general classification rider, a climber and an accomplished time trialist.
23 Facts About Denis Menchov
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Denis Menchov 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.
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Denis Menchov was later disqualified from that Tour de France, as well as the 2009 and 2012 editions, owing to adverse biological passport findings.
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In 2003, Denis Menchov had his breakthrough when he finished 11th in the Tour de France, and won the young rider classification.
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Denis Menchov's contract ran out in September 2004 and he moved to the Dutch Rabobank team for two years.
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Denis Menchov became team captain following Levi Leipheimer's departure to Gerolsteiner.
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Denis 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.
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Denis Menchov won the opening time trial to Granada and the stage nine time trial to Lloret de Mar, and wore the leader's jersey.
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Heras was later disqualified for doping, and Denis Menchov received the official win of the 2005 Vuelta, but the title was given back to Heras in 2012.
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Denis Menchov later moved up to 5th overall after the disqualification of race winner Floyd Landis.
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Denis Menchov abandoned the 2007 Tour de France on stage 17, the day after his teammate Michael Rasmussen was fired from Rabobank.
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In 2008 Denis Menchov concentrated on Tour de France and did not defend his Vuelta title.
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Denis Menchov ended third in the Tour because Bernhard Kohl was disqualified for doping.
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In 2009 Denis Menchov won the Giro d'Italia, with wins in stages 5 and 12.
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Denis Menchov 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.
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Later in 2010 Denis Menchov transferred to Geox-TMC, as joint leader of the team with Carlos Sastre.
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Denis Menchov was replaced as leader of Rabobank by Robert Gesink.
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Denis Menchov finished fifth overall at the Vuelta a Espana, having helped teammate Juan Jose Cobo to overall victory.
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Denis Menchov focused the 2012 season on the 2012 Tour de France, although he was devastated with crashes.
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Denis Menchov started Tour very well with eighth place in prologue, but due to health problems finished only 15th place overall at the end.
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Denis Menchov rode in the 2012 Summer Olympics representing the Russian National Team both in Olympic road race and individual time trial After, the Olympic Games, Menchov rode the Vuelta a Espana where he won the penultimate stage in Bola del Mundo after outsprinting Richie Porte.
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On 10 July 2014, a UCI press release detailing various athlete sanctions specified that Denis Menchov had been banned until 9 April 2015 due to adverse biological passport findings.
23.
On 22 January 2015, USADA released its reasoned decision on the case of Dr Geert Leinders in which it stated that Denis Menchov received blood transfusions during the 2005 Tour de France.