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Menchov wins Murcia
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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 5:
142.5 km (88.5 miles)
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.
