The World Championship this year takes place in Mendrisio, Switzerland. The riders haven't had a competition day, but they need to face this and Il Lombardia before the season ends.
The circuit is one of the toughest lately in the World's, with a total of 4,655 m of climbing on the 262.2 kilometres. The circuit has two climbs, both with gradients around 12%, and the second one doesn't have a descent before the finish line.
The favourites have to be the riders from th teams with 9 riders: Spain, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands; especially if we see a tactical race.
The World Championship circuit is a 19 lap race over the circuit in Mendrisio. It is one of the toughest lately, especially the following two in Melbourne and Copenhaguen.
The first break was a big one, with 12 riders in it: Michele Scarponi, Daniel Martin, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Tom Danielson, Andy Schleck, David Millar, Chris Anker Sorensen, Andy Greipel, Peter Sagan, David López, Wouter Poels and Borut Bozic. Halfway through the race they had built a gap of 3' 40'' on the pack.
Belgium took the responsibility to chase the break, as they were the only big team without anyone in front. They only received ocassional help from Switzerland. With 3 laps left, Poels, Bozic and Schleck had lost contact with the break, which was now down to 9 riders. The peloton was 1' 25'' behind.
Tom Danielson decided to go on his own with 2 laps to go. The American launched an attack who only Boasson Hagen and Greipel could follow; however, the other members of the break were back in the peloton. At that time, no team wanted to take the responsibility for the chase and the difference had grown to 1' 39''.
17 kilometres to the finish and four riders decided to try to chase themselves: the Australians Matthews and Gerrans, Vanendert and Cancellara.
10 kilometres and 2 climbs to go, Tom Danielson is starting to look good. He has 1 minute on Greipel and Boasson Hagen and 1' 23'' on the group of four that jumped from the peloton.
In the last climb, it is clear that Danielson is going to be World Champion. A group of 6 riders will fight for the silver medal, as both following groups join.
Tom Danielson is the new World Champion! A great ride by the American, who has been in a break for almost 200 kilometres.
Vanenedert wins the sprint for silver, as Belgium gets a reward for their long effort during the race. Edvald Boasson Hagen gets the bronze.
The winner of the Mountain jersey in the Tour de Suisse and 8th in the World Tour rankings, Xavi Tondo, will be the leader of the new Euskaltel team. The catalan has signed a contract worth 900.000 euros per year.
The Dutch Pieter Weening will be moving to HTC - Highroad as team leader. He was 4th overall in the last Tour de France, but instead of going for the Vuelta next year, it has been rumored that the Tour de Romandie will be his main target.
Tom Danielson, who only won the rainbow jersey a couple of days ago, has decided to leave Garmin and head to Italy to join Liquigas.
Janez Brajkovic and Radioshack are very advanced on the negotiations to renew the contract of the Slovenian. It looks like the wages could add up to 820.000 euros per year.
The Giro di Lombardia is the last of the monuments. It takes place at the closing of the season, in the month of October. The race runs through the region of Lombardia, which capital is Milano. The route has changed a lot in the history of Lombardia. This year the race ends in Como, after the climb to Madonna del Ghisallo.
A rainy day awaits the riders in Mendrisio for the start of the Lombardia. They will face a long day, with 246 kilometres. The first part has two big climbs separated by long flat sections. It’s not until the last 50 kilometres that the race will start getting really tough, with the climbs to the Madonna de Ghisallo, Civiglio and S. Fermo della Battaglia.
The early break had 8 riders: Mark Cavendish (HTC), Janez Brajkovic (Radioshack), Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank), Borut Bozic (Sky), Joost van Leijen (Lampre), Taylor Phinney (BMC), Mikel Nieve (Omega) and Peter Sagan (Liquigas). In the second climb of the day, Premana, they were riding 8’ 50’’ ahead of the peloton.
Leopard took the lead of the pack from Premana, and they were able to cut the difference in the difficult terrain after the climb. By the time they reached the foot of the Madonna de Ghisallo, the gap had shrinked to 2’ 20’’. It had been a difficult race, as several riders had taken tumbles, such as Wiggins, Pinotti, Barredo or Cancellara.
The break managed to keep a difference in the climb to the Ghisallo, but the attacks started among them as soon as the Civiglio started. None of them was very successful. The gap to the peloton was decreasing and was 1’ 15’’ with 26 kilometres to the finish.
Jakob Fuglsang attacks in the last slopes of the Civiglio and quickly leaves the peloton behind. He is followed by Kloden, Farrar and Petacchi. The pack had slowed down, as the Leopard riders seem to be burnt out.
The four of them bridge the gap to the break in the climb to San Fermo. A little later, they are joined by Nocentini, Frank and Marcato.
A group of 20 riders finally gets together that will fight for the victory in Como. Nieve leads the small group ahead of Van Leijen and Petacchi.
Tyler Farrar wins the Giro di Lombardia! Joost van Leijen led Alessandro Petacchi for the sprint and the American followed the Italian wheel. Farrar then opened to his left and got past easily. No other rider seemed able to follow the pair in front.
Hubert Dupont and Saxo Bank have been proclaimed winners of the World Tour in Como after the Giro di Lombardia. Tyler Farrar was able to jump to fourth overall, as he added the win in Lombardia to the third position in Switzerland and the fourth in the Ronde. Fuglsang was also able to advance to seventh overall after his third today.
The Spaniard Oscar Freire has agreed a new contract with the new Rabobank team. Freire's best result of the season may feel that the Saxo Bank team is getting too crowded with stars. It seems that the main goal for the season will be the Eneco Tour.
Mikel Nieve has just announced that he will leave the Omega Pharma Lotto structure to join BMC Racing. The Spanish will be a good asset to help George Hincapie his target of wining the Vuelta.
The Italian Alessandro Petacchi will be heading towards BMC Racing too. The second in the Giro di Lombardia has signed a 1 year contract worth 375.000 euros.
Another Italian, Giovanni Visconti will be the replacement of Petacchi at Lampre. The rookie will be making 125.000 euros on his first year as professional
sutty68 wrote:
Never thought i'd see Dupont as number one in the World Rankings
Well, not in reality but with equal stats... And been first in the rankings comes with the bonus that he has gained more stats points than any of the other riders.
