The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd edition of Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours, and marked 100 years since the first race in 1909. The centenary Giro featured 198 riders from 30 countries on 22 cycling teams, starting in Venice on 9 May and finishing in Rome on 31 May. Among the 22 teams who took part in the Giro, 15 were ProTour teams, and seven were Professional Continental teams. Three ProTeams did not wish to participate, and were thus not invited – these were , , and . , on the other hand, were declined an invitation at first, but on 23 April, they were invited as the Giro's 22nd and final team. The seven Professional Continental teams included were , , , , , , and . Each of the 22 teams invited to the race entered a squad of nine riders. Twenty-nine riders abandoned the three-week race before reaching Rome. Denis Menchov of the team won the race; after taking the lead in a long individual time trial in stage 12, he did not let his closest challenger and second-place finisher Danilo Di Luca of escape during the mountain stages of the last week. It was announced on 22 July that Di Luca's A-sample tested positive for the erythropoietin (EPO) derivative, continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA), on 20 May and 28 May. Franco Pellizotti of the team claimed the last spot on the podium, 1 minute and 47 seconds in front of fourth-place finisher and 2008 Tour de France winner, Carlos Sastre of . Di Luca also won the points classification, but because his B-sample confirmed the initial doping results, it is highly unlikely that he will keep the jersey and his second place in the general classification. The mountains classification was won by Stefano Garzelli of , and the young rider classification was won by Kevin Seeldraeyers of the team. Teams Cyclists See also References External links cyclingnews.com 2009 Giro d'Italia 2009