2009 Giro d'Italia Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

The first ever Giro d'Italia was in 1909. 2009 was the 100th anniversary, although the Giro has only been ran 91 times. The Giro was not run during World War I and II. The 1909 Giro was won by Luigi Ganna. The first Giro was eight stages long and 2,445km long. The centennial Giro was 21 stages long and 3,456km long.

Answer: He was the first British rider to wear the maglia rosa

Stage 1 was a Team Time Trial. The stage was 20.5km long. The first rider to cross the finish line on the winning team took the lead. Team Columbia-High Road was the stage winner and Mark Cavendish was the first across the line. It took 100 years for a British cyclist to don the maglia rosa.

The maglia rosa is the leaders jersey for the Giro d'Italia. Mark Cavendish also was awarded the maglia bianca, the jersey for the Best Young Riders Classification.

Answer: 60.6km

Stage 12 was the longest Individual Time Trial in the 2009 Giro d'Italia. Denis Menchov won Stage 12. Denis beat Levi Leipheimer by 20 seconds for the stage win. Denis rode for Rabobank.

Answer: Yes

Mount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano located in Naples, Italy. Mount Vesuvius is 1,281m high. Mount Vesuvius is known for covering the city of Pompeii in AD 79. The top of Mount Vesuvius was the finish for Stage 19. Carlos Sastre won the stage. Carlos rode for Team Saxo Bank.

Answer: Denis Menchov

This was Denis Menchov's first ever Giro d'Italia victory. He won by 41 seconds over Danilo Di Luca. While racing in the 2009 Giro d'Italia Denis accumulated a total of three stage wins. This was his third Grand Tour victory. Denis won the 2005 & 2007 Vuelta a España. Denis rode for Rabobank.

Answer: Danilo Di Luca

Alessandro Petacchi was the first leader in the Points Classification. Alessandro gained the lead after winning Stage 2; there was no leader after Stage 1 because Stage 1 was a Team Time Trial. Danilo gained the lead in the Points Classification after Stage 6 had come to a close. Danilo Di Luca rode for L.P.R. Brakes-Farnese Vini.

Answer: Stefano Garzelli

David García was the first leader of the King of the Mountains Classification. He would lose the lead to Mauro Facci after one stage. Mauro would then lose it to Danilo Di Luca after one stage. Danilo would hold on to the lead in the King of the Mountains Classification for five stages before losing it to Stefano. Stefano would hold on to that lead until the end of the Giro. Stefano Garzelli rode for Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo.

Answer: Kevin Seeldraeyers

The first leader in the Young Riders Classification was Mark Cavendish who would only lead the classification for two stages. It was then passed on to Tyler Farrar and then Thomas Lövkvist. Thomas held the lead in the Young Riders Classification for the longest time, twelve stages.

After Stage 16 came to a close Kevin Seeldraeyers gained the lead. He would hold on to the lead for the rest of the 2009 Giro d'Italia. Kevin rode for Quick Step.

Answer: False

The 2009 Giro d'Italia was 3456 km in length. The 2009 Tour de France was 3,445 km long. The centennial Giro was only 11km longer than the 2009 Tour de France.

Answer: 10

The highest placing American was Levi Leipheimer, he placed 6th overall. There were three Americans on Astana. There was one American on Team Saxo Bank. There were five on Garmin-Slipstream. Cervélo TestTeam only had one American.