Race:

196km to go

Welcome at the, quite unusual but still beautiful starting locating in Bissone. It is still dry now, but the weather forecast is not in the benefit of the riders. A lot of rain is expected, but let's hope we can see an entertaining race nevertheless.

192km to go

We barely took off when Bandiera (IAM) placed his attack. The break might stand a good shot against the favourites if a break with many riders can co-operate well. The Italian alone will not do it.

182km to go

Luckily, he got some compagnions and a 2:30 lead. De Negri (VIN), Ferrari (CJR), Kern (EUC), Van Staeyen (TSV) and Bandiera will form today's breakaway. If we will see a winner from these 5, strange things must happen in the peleton.

172km to go

Unlucky Aberasturi (EUS) suffered a puncture. Meanwhile, the rain is starting to come down. But a quick look at the forecast shows us more, and heavier rain to come. Possibly even a thunderstorm. Poor riders...

166km to go

Thurau (EUC) is the next victim of a poor tyre. The break has now gained an advantage of 3 minutes, and lighting has been spotted in the region.

140km to go

The peleton keeps the break within 3, 3 and a half minutes. Androni, Euskaltel and Sky dictate the pace in the peleton, but nevertheless both Aberasturi and Thurau managed to return on their own.

123km to go

Before we reach the local laps around Varese, the riders must first conquer a few hills. This one caused a lot of riders to drop from the peleton, including the entire Novo Nordisk-team. If you bet €1 on one of their riders to win, you'll be a millionair at the end of the day. But they will have to do the impossible, winning a race.

113km to go

The gap reached 3 minutes and 45 seconds, a signal for Rubiano (AND) to attack out of the peleton. Everyone who got dropped managed to return, but Clancy and Verschoor from Novo Nordisk. They will engage in the battle for 109th place and the honour of not being the worst Novo rider.

109km to go

Another puncture. This time it's Calabria from the ill-fated Novo Nordisk team. Clancy and Verschoor are getting some competition now...

93km to go

Rubiano bridge the gap to the break, which now holds a firm 5 minute lead over the peleton. The work at the halfway mark is done by Belkin, Cannondale and Sky.

88km to go

Another hill, and the break has broken into pieces. Bandiera is completely lost, while De Negri and Van Staeyen are in big trouble. Not a good sign for them, since we haven't reached the local laps yet.

70km to go

Chiarini (AND) had a nasty crash, but luckily the car and motorbike avoided him. He's back on his bike, but will struggle to get back to the peleton. The break's maximum lead increased to 6 minutes, with Bandiera 1 minute behind the rest. There may be a chance they'll make it to the end.

61km to go

And another crash. Feng (CSS) forgot the road was very slippery due to the rain, and has hit the ground. Maybe the impact made him realise it's raining, and he should pay a bit more attention to it. Anyhow, the riders have reached the local laps around Varese, which will be taken 7 times.

50km to go

Van Stayen is the next victim of his worse enemy, a hill. The peleton has gained a bit of time, but is still 4 minutes behind. The initiator of the break, Bandiera is still riding somewhere in between the groups on his own, without a camera. I bet he's thinking why he initiated the break in the first place.

39km to go

One lap later, De Negri can't follow the pace as well, and Kern looks like that will be his faith soon. Which leaves Ferrari and Rubiano at the front. They are still 3 and a half minute ahead of the peleton, which has already caught and left behind Bandiera.

34km to go

Ferrari can't follow Rubiano, meaning it will be the Colombian versus the peleton. He has already lapped the two lonely Novo's (Clancy and Verschoor)

24km to go

3 minutes left for Rubiano. Meanwhile, the peleton has realised something should be done. And the first one to attack is......his team-mate Pellizotti. Great tactics, Androni, the gap dropped to 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

20km to go

Pellizotti is caught again by the other favourites. Stupid move, but Rubiano is still ahead. De Negri and Kern are already caught.

17km to go

If you thought Novo Nordisk has had a bad day, it has just gotten worse. De Mesmaeker has crashed and was hit by a car. Somehow, he managed to get back on his bike and finished the race, What a spirit!

15km to go

Can you spot Rubiano in this group? He has caught up with the bus. The gap hasn't decreased in the last kilometers, it's looking more and more likely he'll make it till the end. Ferrari has already been caught.

13km to go

The peleton hasn't comletely given up though, although it's likely this will be the battle for second place. Chilean champion with a Chinese jersey [Apologies] Cristobal Riquelme (BEL) and Uran (SKY) are attempting to ride away.

6000m to go

They were briefly ahead of the rest, but the other favourites reeled them in again. Rubiano has overtaken another group of anonymous riders, and still holds a 2 minute-lead, meaning he can lose 20 seconds every kilometer. That's unlikely to happen.

3000m to go

3 kilometers to go. Uran gives it another go, he is followed by Sagan (CAN), Pellizotti and Riblon (ALM). Down the road, Montaguti (ALM) crashed and Delfosse (CRE) punctured. Both were already dropped from the main group.

1000m to go

Cristobal Riquelme and Voeckler (EUC) joined the previously named riders for a showdown to the line...

0m to go

For the second place, since Rubiano is not caught. He holds a lead of 1 minute and 20 seconds over the rest. He does not celebrate immediately, but we can spot a tear. Or is it a misplaced raindrop?


Uran and Sagan battle for second, but the sprint was marred by lapped riders who blocked both of them. In the end, the Colombian was less blocked and thus secured second place.


The Chinese, oops Chilean Cristobal Riquelme finishes just outside the podium, just ahead of Voeckler and Riblon.


Sithembile (SKY) finishes in seventh place after helping his team-mate secure second place. Pellizotti is the second Androni rider in the top-10 in eight. Nocentini (ALM) and Anton (EUS) complete the top-10 after riding an anonymous race.


26 minutes and 31 seconds behind Rubiano, Clancy finishes in 109th place, ahead of Verschoor, 2 minutes behind De Mesmaeker. Brown (BEL) disturbs Novo's operation 'Last 5' by finishing in 107th, ahead of Novo's Peron and Calabria. Megias decided to ignore teamorders and finished in 77th place. He is now fearing for his job...

Result:

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Miguel Rubiano	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	5h19'28
2	Rigoberto Urán	Sky Procycling	+ 1'20
3	Peter Sagan	Cannondale Pro Cycling	s.t.
4	Jorge Cristobal Riquelme	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	+ 1'37
5	Thomas Voeckler	Team Europcar	s.t.
6	Christophe Riblon	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
7	Thabo Jango Sithembile	Sky Procycling	+ 1'54
8	Franco Pellizotti	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.
9	Rinaldo Nocentini	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
10	Igor Antón	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
11	Robert Gesink	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
12	Rajesh Kakhi	Champion System Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
13	Rudy Verboven	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
14	Bradley Wiggins	Sky Procycling	s.t.
15	Tom Slagter	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	+ 2'22
16	Paul Martens	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	+ 2'34
17	Dario Cataldo	Sky Procycling	s.t.
18	Domenico Pozzovivo	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
19	David López	Sky Procycling	s.t.
20	Stef Clement	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.