 Stage 12 of the 2009 Giro d 'Italia took place on 21 May ; the race concluded with Stage 21 on 31 May . The second half of the Giro began with a long and challenging individual time trial in Cinque Terre . It was in this time trial that Denis Menchov took the overall lead in the race . This was followed by a flat stage , after which most of the sprinters in the Giro withdrew from the race , as they did not figure to be in contention in the hilly and mountainous stages to follow . 
