Race:

193km to go

Welcome at the start of the 2013 edition of Milano-Torino. All 116 riders have gathered at the start here in Milan for 193 kilometers. Who is the first to get to Turin? Who is the first to get across the Superga? Stick around to find out the answer.

191km to go

The riders barely left Milan when the first attacks took place. Canola (BAR) and Tamouridis (EUS) have managed to create a gap to the peleton, but more riders are on their way!

178km to go

We got a 10-men escape group. Canola and Tamouridis were joined by Belletti (ALM), Ferrari (CJR), Gavazzi (AND), Hulsmans (VIN), Ista (IAM), Rodriguez (COL), Roth (CSS) and Vigano (LAM). However, it remains to be seen if their current gap, just under 1 minute, will be enough to get away once and for all.

172km to go

The answer is no. The peleton, especially Movistar, felt the break would have been to big. But while we're speaking, there are some riders going for another attempt. We will take a look when some can get free.

160km to go

A quick count shows us 11 attacking riders, with 3 more in pursuit. I can see the Australian champion Dempster (TNE) amongst the 11, which also includes many riders who were part of the first attempt.

146km to go

But the second attempt fails as well. Let's see if third is the charm this time around. We have 4 men in the lead (Bookwalter (BMC), De Negri (VIN), Garate (BEL) and Tamouridis again). There is another 4-men pursuit in the background, we're still waiting for confirmation of their names.

132km to go

Belletti was one of the 4. Together with Gomez (CJR), Marentes (COL) and Othman (CSS) he managed to jump to the leading group. Our camera crew found another group behind them, consisting of Dodi (LAM), Fortin (BAR) and Ista.

115km to go

Ladies and gentlemen, we can now for sure say that we have a breakaway. Ochoa (AND), Roth and the 3 earlier attackers joined the already excisting 8-men leading group, to form a breakaway with 13 riders. That's surely a nice group which could possibly go all the way to Turin. The peleton is 3 minutes and 30 seconds behind at the moment, being led by Cannondale and Movistar.

103km to go

The gap has increased by 1 minute over the last 10 kilometers. NetApp joined Cannondale and Movistar in the pursuit. However, the pace is too low for 'outsider' Benatti (TST). He is looking for a Rubiano-scenario from Tre Valle Varesine. Will we see a repeat?

90km to go

The leading group has a 5-minute lead over the peleton, with the Italian in between. However, the break must place a bit more effort to be able to reach to the end. When we will reach the Superga, you'll need more than 5 minutes to keep of the big guns.

82km to go

Bennati has made his way to the break. 6 minutes behind them, BMC is setting the pace in the peleton.

68km to go

And it pays off, because the gap is going down. More teams realise this is the moment to start helping in the chase. BMC can now rely on Ag2r, Belkin and Movistar.

50km to go

50 kilometers to go, but the gap is still over 4 minutes. Although we still have the Superga in about 25 kilometers.

39km to go

3 minutes and 30 seconds left. Koren (CAN) suffered a puncture and hasn't made it back to the pack yet.

29km to go

Well, how about this. The peleton is finally able to smell the break. Our GPS shows the gap is 1 minute and 45 seconds. Big chances they will be caught on the hill.

23km to go

The break has seen the incoming peleton, which gave Belletti and Dodi a sign they might be better of alone. They attacked and were to be followed by Fortin and Marentes.

18km to go

The 4 of them have a little gap (40 seconds) over the rest when they began with the decisive climb, la Colle di Superga. The peleton is another 40 seconds behind E2.

16km to go

E2 is caught when Dodi attacks again. However, the narrow roads of the Superga caused havoc. Splits occur in the middle of the peleton and the former breakies can find themselves amongst the front runners.

15km to go

A big split. The only 'favourites' who have a disadvantage are Krizan (CAN) and Slagter (BEL)

14km to go

Dodi was the last rider standing, but he is now reeled in by the squeezed out favourites group. Costa (MOV) and Nocentini (ALM) are attacking out of there!

11km to go

The 2 leaders have reach the top of the hill. 35 seconds behind them is a small group consisting of Bardet (ALM), Ballan, Evans, Hushovd and Santaromita. That's right, 4 BMC-riders! The fifth one (Frank) is 1 group further down the road together with Moser (CAN) and Visconti (MOV)

8000m to go

The narrow and twisty downhill is very dangerous, but we haven't seen any accidents yet. Mainly because there are no spectators. The BMC+Bardet (hereby called BB) group has joined the 2 leaders, whereas a group with Bennati, Dodi, Marentes, Plaza (MOV) and Sanchez (BEL) joined the pursuing 3.

7000m to go

A small hill in the downhill and the duo Costa/Nocentini attacks once again. Frank, Sanchez and Visconti managed to bridge the gap to the BB group.

5000m to go

Bardet and Evans managed to get rid of the other BMC's and are in the pursuit on the leaders. Our GPS-data shows us a gap of about 30 seconds, we don't know if that's accurate or not.

2500m to go

Ladies and gentleman, we are going down to a sprint between 4 men. Romain Bardet and Rinaldo Nocentini from Ag2r, Rui Costa from Movistar, Cadel Evans from BMC. The rest is too far behind and will sprint for fifth place presumably.

1750m to go

I said presumably, because Bardet used all the energy he had left to lead-out Nocentini and is now falling back. It will be a battle between the three, with the Italian currently at the front

750m to go

The last corner, the last, wide straight strech of road seperate the three between the finish line and themselves. It looks like Nocentini has the best papers, but he might have gone too early.

400m to go

Yup, he's passed by Evans. And by Costa. The Austrralian is ahead, but can the Portugese bridge the gap?

0m to go

Yes he can! Rui Costa edges out Cadel Evans after 193 kilometers on the finish line. Nocentini finishes third, surely disappointing after using Bardet.


To make things worse for both Ag2r and BMC, Ballan, Santaromita and Hushovd finish in fourth, fifth and sixth. Winner's teammate Visconti finishes in seventh ahead of Moser and Frank. Bardet, totally exhausted and disappointed in Nocentini, completes the top-10

Results:

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Rui Costa	Movistar Team	4h44'03
2	Cadel Evans	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
3	Rinaldo Nocentini	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
4	Alessandro Ballan	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
5	Ivan Santaromita	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
6	Thor Hushovd	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
7	Giovanni Visconti	Movistar Team	s.t.
8	Moreno Moser	Cannondale Pro Cycling	s.t.
9	Matthias Frank	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
10	Romain Bardet	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
11	Luis León Sánchez	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
12	Daniele Bennati	Team Saxo - Tinkoff	+ 51
13	Rubén Plaza	Movistar Team	+ 1'08
14	Francesco Bongiorno	Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox	s.t.
15	Paul Voss	Team NetApp - Endura	s.t.
16	Luca Dodi	Lampre - Merida	s.t.
17	Wilson Marentes	Colombia	s.t.
18	Jorge Cristobal Riquelme	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	+ 1'35
19	Enrico Battaglin	Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox	s.t.
20	Paul Martens	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.