La corse della foglie morte, or the course of the falling leaves. Il Lombardia is not only the last important race of the season (nobody counts the Japan Cup as an important race), but also the last race in my career as DS of the team.
Last year, we were very succesful here, with the already cursed Andy Schleck as the winner.
The Route
Il Lombardia is one of the toughest World Tour classics. This cycling monument is 260 kilometres long from Milano to Como. It features a few long and steep climbs near the Lago di Como, including the Madonna del Ghisello, the Colma di Sorano and the San Fermo della Battaglia.
*** Damiano Cunego (Radio Shack), Philippe Gilbert (Dexia), Vincenzo Nibali (Radio Shack). **Robert Gesink, Roman Kreuziger (Movistar), Giovanni Visconti (Katusha). * Igor Antón (Euskaltel), Simon Gerrans (Dexia), Ben Hermans (Astana).
Our Goal
With my last race, the guys only want to give me the win. And when they dont want to, they have to!! They must!!!!!
So, my last report is coming up (okay, monthly review still to go).
Il Lombardia has started and the pace is high right out of the start. Many riders try to be part in a breakaway, and the peloton, with mostly Dexia and us in the lead, keeps reeling them back in. During the ascend of the Salita d'Intelvi, 5 riders have created a small margin to the peloton. But Levarlet (Europcar), Celli (Aqua & Sapone), Hernández (Saxo Bank), Crawford (Qantas) and Mirenda (Lampre) get caught in the descend.
And also this groups can't stay out of reach of the peloton for long. Consequently, a peloton of over 140 riders starts the ascend of the Madonna del Ghisallo (10.9km at 5.0%). Halfway up the climb, the peloton breaks into 2 pieces, and only 50 riders are present in the first group. A few outsiders have missed the cut here, among them Kiserlovski, Spilak, Karpets, Pietropolli and Sarmiento.
38km to go
The first peloton has arrived at the summit of the Colma di Sorano (9.4km at 6.5%). 3 riders have created a little gap, but Roman Kreuziger, Alberto Contador (both Movistar) and Igor Antón decide to wait for the rest of the group, so 37 riders continue and have a chance of winning Il Lombardia.
36km to go
A shock of disappointment for the Italian cycling fans. Their most loved rider, and worlds best descender, Vincenzo Nibali crashes in the descend back towards the Lago di Como. Somehow, the other riders (among themRobert Gesink) manage to avoid him. But the crash makes Nibali chanceless for the win, and making a lot of tifosi to start to cry.
13km to go
The descend is done, and the riders are flying next to the shores of the Lago di Como. 22 riders are still present in this first group, when Igor Antón attacks. He gets countered by Tejay Van Garderen.
Only 3 riders from our team are present in this group: Barnard, Gesink & Sagan. The Slovakian is working for his Dutch team leader, and starts chasing Antón and Van Garderen.
7km to go
Van Garderen is the last f the 2 to get caught, at the moment the riders start the ascend of the San Fermo della Battaglia. And with 2.2km at 8.7%, and max 15%, this means 1 horrible climb. Bernard delivers Gesink near the front of the group.
6km to go
The moment the gradient of the climb gets above 10%, Damiano Cunego attacks, searching for his 4th Lombardia-win. His countryman Giovanni Visconti attacks, knowing that the tifosi love to see the tricolore in front of the race. Also Philippe Gilbert tries to counter, but he apparantly hasn't got the legs today.
5km to go
Robert Gesink follows the attack of the Italian puncheurs in his own pace. And the moment the 2 start to stall, he attacks. And no rider can follow him, trying to become the first Dutch winner of Il Lombardia since Hennie Kuiper won in 1981.
Finish
Gesink arrives at the summit of teh San Fermo della Battaglia with a margin of almost 30 seconds to the chasing group of 12. He descends like a daredevil and can celebrate the win back down near the Lago di Como. Robert Gesink gives the ultimate present for my departure after this race, thanks Robert!!
Philippe Gilbert takes the 2nd place, edging out Damiano Cunego in the sprint. Also Gregory Bernard is present in this group, but finish as last in 13th place, having worked hard for Gesink.
The Results
1
Robert Gesink
Petronas - Monster Energy
6h53'23
2
Philippe Gilbert
Dexia
s.t.
3
Damiano Cunego
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
4
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
5
Giovanni Visconti
Katusha Team
s.t.
6
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
7
Tejay Van Garderen
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
8
Alberto Contador
Movistar Team
s.t.
9
Miguel Rubiano
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
10
Roman Kreuziger
Movistar Team
s.t.
The Winner
Word from the DS
Well, I can say a lot right now. But I won't! All I want is that waiter to refill my glass of wine. Not only now, but the following hours. hey, is there a disco here, I feel like dancing. But sleeping would be nice as well. PLane to Japan for the Japan Cup?? Nah, Posthuma can do that, as his first day as DS.
Need to sleep........... Hey, the room is spinning, that's funny.... Oh well, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The month is done, and Petronas - Monster Energy is on top f the charts on the WOrld Tour and CQ rider and teams charts. Robert Gesink leads the individual charts, with just a few points more than Alberto Contador, whereas the team has dominated the season with 46 wins.
That's all folks, the story is done. Ain't nothing left but the memory, untill that fades away or another great story gets more replies, pages and views than this one.
All I want to say is thank you to all the followers and repliers, since its because of your following, that I kept the motivation to make it last this long.
Damn, it's finished. Without a doubt the greatest story this forum has known. Amazing reports, well worked out, detailed, always well written. Regular updates, a fantastic team, great spirit. And, of course, the legendary length of this story. Whereas some stories can be viewed as a Series like Lost, this story was a soap, it had no ending and was one big continuous story. Sad to see the end now.
Though I haven't been following this story (or any other, for that matter) very closely in the past couple of months due to less free time than earlier, I still want you to know that you'll be missed in the stories forum. This has always been one of the few stories I've popped in and checked out every now and then, whenever I had the time to do so.
Quite incredible how far you've gone, really. Couldn't have ended in a much better way than winning Lombardia with Gesink either. Best of luck with whatever you'll be doing next!
Shit! I don't know how will this looks anymore,really. It is going to be somehow strange without it,but anyway,as Pelli said,good luck whatever you'll be doing next. You brought story writing on some next,much bigger level. Thank you,lord.
@ Miguel98: Think Ian is gonna get more pages, as long as he keeps motivated.
@ Ian: Soap? Your stories are a soap, with all the twists. Mine is more like a movie sequel with numerous parts, as Scary Movie etc
Oh I'm gonna get more pages one day, at least try. But if it'll be the current one, I've no idea. 250 pages is not to be underestimated, this has been a unique feat and it's amazing how you did it. You, sir, have got style
I meant the length of a soap Obviously, my story is a real soap in terms of plot twists. Yours is more like the 6 Star Wars. But guess what, they're making 3 more, how about that, Petronas?
Due to plenty of work, I stopped commentating on the story, but I kept following it. Two great years of a great team, that has risen to the stardom. Also, this story didn't stop due to lack of motivation or any problem on the game, might be the first time I see someone say that the story has reached his final on his decision, because it was time for it. This one will be missed, but the legacy will remain on this site, as PCMDaily's best story ever, imo.
Well, It's over.. Thankyou once again and what a great way to conclude events! Perhaps one day you'll be back, but whether you do or not you'll still sit right up there at the top of my list of favourite story writers
FreitasPCM wrote:
Also, this story didn't stop due to lack of motivation or any problem on the game, might be the first time I see someone say that the story has reached his final on his decision, because it was time for it.
Well, I feel about the same as Pellizotti: it's been quite a while since I followed closely several stories (too many posts, too little time ), but of course it was impossible not to notice this story was still going on strongly more than a year and a half after it started. I remember being amazed when it passed 150 pages; 250, then, wow! (I think the page numbers occupy about 1/3 of the "PCM11: Stories" page )
But besides the quality of the reports and the (epic) length it has reached, I can't agree more with Daggen as for what was the most impressive imo:
Daggen wrote:
The most amazing thing with this story is that it was your first and only story ever.
I mean, lots of people give a go sometime at writing a story, some people go for several "tries", and most barely reach 10, 15 pages! And in your "first try" you make the longest story on PCMDaily (?), no idea from where you get so much motivation
Congratulations and thanks for letting us enjoy this beautiful story
ps.: Gesink's performance on Lombardia was a great way to close things up!
Philippe Gilbert
Damiano Cunego
Igor Antón
Rigoberto Urán
Tejay Van Garderen
Miguel Rubiano
Roman Kreuziger
Obviously, my story is a real soap in terms of plot twists. Yours is more like the 6 Star Wars. But guess what, they're making 3 more, how about that, Petronas? 
