All, who have followed this story over a longer term might know that I try to do well in the Ardennes and this race. While I normally struggle in the Ardennes with Hesjedal and except of a 4th on hard in the Amstel Gold Race I do much better in the Lombardia Race.
But still I need more luck to win the race, so here the next try.
It`s the last race report in this 2010 story, afterwards some season review posts before hopefully starting a 2011 season. The review stuff not before next week as I am not home until then and haven`t uploaded this stuff.
Squad
We really want the win this year and so we support Hesjedal with Vansummeren, Fuglsang, Boom, Kessiakoff... A pretty strong squad. But race favourite is still Gilbert ahead of Frank Schleck and Peter Sagan. Most puncheurs are here, so a very strong start list, just Andy Schleck is missing.
Milano - Como
The hardest part for sure the two long climbs in the last third of the race. There you must concentrate to stay at the front wheel. Also the small hill in the last 10km is a good point to attack.
A 5 rider group on a long way. None of them has a very realistic chance, but also Gilberto Simoni 2 years ago won after a long break and celebrated a big late career success, so it wasn`t a surprise that the oldest rider in the peloton also tried it earlier today.
With about 100km to go 4 riders attack. And these are much more dangerous than the last group, that is still in front.
E.Sella, D.Cataldo, C.Evans, C.Gautier. 4 good puncheurs. Also a nice tactic by Astana. With Gautier in the group they don`t have to do the pace for Frank Schleck.
Next to Katusha and Liquigas also Garmin is doing lots of work now. Duggan, Lowe and Stetina are doing a fine job before the next better riders overtake this part.
After the first of the two longer climbs the peloton is very stretched and a first split is seen. Many riders in the back are trying to hold contact.
And there it happened. Hesjedal was a bit blocked and so he wasn`t able to follow a very strong group. Was this the end of his winning dream today?
Kolobnev, F.Schleck, Gilbert, Cunego and surprisingly Colnago`s Zen in this group. So 4 of the biggest favourites in here and it`s just Fuglsang, who is in the first group with Hesjedal after the split.
Together with Cobo Acebo from Movistar Hesjedal is trying to join all the riders above. The first breakaway, the group around Sella and the favourite group.
After the decent te two strong groups came together, while Hesjedal and Cobo are still chasing with 50s back. The first breakaway is already finished and one rider after the other is falling back now.
On the little but very steep hill in the end Hesjedal got rid of Cobo Acebo and joined the group around Sella and Evans. So close now to the 5 riders in front where Frank Schleck is attacking now.
But the Russian Kolobnev countered him and was the better one in the sprint. Nice win for Kolobnev after many 2nd`s in the Ardennes. And yet another 2nd for Frank after the Worlds.
19s later Gilbert became 3rd ahead of Cunego in the sprint for the last podium.
And just 48s later Zen finishes 5th just ahead of Hesjedal, who came really close after leaving the Sella group, who comes in for the next top 10 places.
Fuglsang as 16th after working hard for Hesjedal is also a nice result, but in the end the 6th is a bit disappointing as Hesjedal was surely one of the strongest today if not the strongest. Just one moment with less concentration and he lost the gap.
Also the reason why Lombardia is one of my favourite races in PCM10. It`s possible to get nice gaps different to the other classics.
No podium for Garmin, but still a good result for Hesjedal after losing contact to group Schleck (looked like a typical PCM-narrow roads-split?!). Nice win for Kolobnev, too.
Thanks all. Happy that I had so many readers. Hope you will also follow my PCM11 story as soon as I start.
@Tsmoha: Kind of. It looked fine for me and so I did the dot. Saving energy but missing splits then. I was the 7th in the group and just behind the 5th there was the gap. Shit happens.
@MitchNL: Nothing new as I am not at home and can`t continue. But as soon as I am home again I will try to get all transfers done as quick as possible. This might be the longest part. Then adding stats and limits and everything is working I hope.
I just made a first test after editing first 9 teams with story stats and transfers. Result was that these 9 teams just had ~half of the riders I added and also the stats were weird. Plus lots of new tables for sponsors...
So at the moment it`s not looking too good to continue this story with PCM11. ;(
I might do a similar one with a custom team with all the transfers and some other transfers that happened in my story, but with other stats then. ;(
Just don`t have the time to double and triple check why it is not working and still haven`t played PCM11 yet.
Pity, it doesn´t work but I´m not that sad if you´re making another story. The most important thing is to see you writing a story, doesn´t matter which
This story finally stopped with PCM11 now being played.
Farnese Vini and Rabobank!!!! would have been joined the CT, while NetApp and Europcar got a PT license. Skil was still searching for the how to increase. Ricco and Kiserlovski left them and just Serpa is the prove for their new climbing way.
But anyway, if you write another one, I'm sure the quality will be the same. 
