The questions were plentiful following an up and down first part of the season for Denis Menchov. After a volatile opening to the season, a third place overall at the Tour de Romandie seemed to signify a distinct upward trend. Menchov's low point of the season came only a little while later at the Tour of Belgium, where he dropped out only 30 kilometers into the first stage.
Coming into the Dauphine, his form was a mystery to the outside world, but a 35th in the opening Prologue did a decent job to assuage any feelings of panic.
Following Wednesday's time trial, however, the question marks have now been replaced by exclamations. The three-time Grand Tour winner put in a sizzling performance to take 5th on the day. Perhaps sizzling is a bit strong of a word, but considering that Menchov didn't even make it an hour into his last stage race, 5th place in one of the more hotly contested time trials of the year so far is a fair performance to say the least.
Rabobank team manager, Frans Maassen, was quick to point out the team's belief in Menchov through all of his many highs and lows so far this year: "We have never doubted him. Denis has not doubted himself either. His rapid withdrawal in Belgium did not deserve a beauty prize, but now it seems he was doing better than many had thought."
Maassen was extremely pleased with his Tour de France hopeful's ride on Wednesday, but does not hesitate to negate his chances for overall success at the Dauphine.
"He looked good today and it looked like he felt good. He's not good enough, right now, to win the Dauphine, but he's up for a few serious tests. He succeeded gloriously in this first test, I might add."
It would seem, after a spring like Menchov enjoyed, that a 5th place showing in a monster time trial in a very important pre-Tour tune-up race, would be cause for a big sigh of relief from team management. Maassen refuses to admit relief in Menchov's success though:
"I would not call it relief, because that would mean we hadn't believed in him. We are very happy. After ten kilometers, we knew we were good, because Denis had already caught two riders. Later, he went even better. If he taken a few more risks, the third place position might have been possible, but it's ok."
Menchov now sits in 8th overall, 2:47 behind Radio Shack's Jani Brajkovic. Menchov will get a chance to test his climbing legs in tomorrow's mountaintop finish at the Risoul ski resort, which measures out to a perfect pre-Tour test at 13 km and and a 7% average grade.