"The man who saved the day ... and the Giro"

I didn't save the Tour de Kota but I am amazed at how many times I approached riders shortly after they had flatted. I am sure Vincent Hendricks knows the felling.

-velonews

By virtue of their trade, pro team mechanics operate outside of the limelight. In addition to their backseat position in team follow cars, their work takes place at start lines and in hotel parking lots, well before and after racing has ended and the crowds have dispersed.

But every once in a while a team mechanic has an opportunity to shine on a large stage, and never has that been more apparent than during the final stage of last month’s Giro d’Italia.

When race leader Denis Menchov crashed in the final kilometer of the wet stage 21 time trial in Rome, Rabobank team mechanic Vincent Hendricks saved the day — and perhaps the entire three weeks — by jumping out of the team’s follow car before it had even stopped.

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