Lombardia, the seasons final monument, Schleck, Hagen and Sanchez Gonzalez are the big favourites, however then we have Trofimov, Rodriguez Oliver and Sanchez Gil also here.
Then the Italians Ricco, Ulissi, Pellizotti, Cunego and Di Luca. This is the biggest chance for these riders to show what they can do and with negotiations coming up soon, all riders will be gunning for it.
The route has 5 major climbs.
First, after 28km we start the San Fedele d'Inteleni which with 8.8km at an average of 6.6% will be a good warm up for the riders and will probably decided who is in the break today.
Then, peaking after 117km we have the longest climb of the day, the Premana, at 23.7km it is almost mountainous in nature. It averages 6.6% but for most of the climb the gradient is about 8%. We will probably see the peleton start to pick up the pace as leaders try to put their opponents in difficulty,
Next up is the Madonna del Ghisallo finishing 56km out. It has some fairly vicious sections at over ten percent and is about 8km in length. Some of the lesser favourites may make a move here.
The penultimate climb, the Civiglo is 6.6km and finishes 3km from the finish, it is step like in nature so anyone trying to get away here will need to time their attack to perfection, or they may be pulled back on the sharp downhill before the final climb.
Short and Sharp, San Fermo della Battaglia is only 2.3km but at 10% and after 250km of riding it must feel like forever for these riders. Only 6km to the finish from the top so a gap over the top of this climb will be tough to close down for any chasers.
Off we go
As we hit the first climb a long seasons racing combined with the prospect of another 250km today seems to have scared the riders and the peleton is slowly drifting down the roads.
Halfway up Tondo decides that action is needed to keep British airways up and he attacks
Plenty of riders follow
Over the top we have a group of ten, followed by various scattered riders ahead of the peleton, who are 1 minute back.
2 more riders join the lead group while everyone else is chased down.
some our lead group of 12 is: Aulas, Herrero Llorente, Garzelli, Duenas, Summerhill, Frei, Vitoria, Duarte, Tondo, Agudelo, Chacon and Samwel
The break hit the bottom of the Premana with only 6 minutes, they look unlikely to make it to the end now.
Over the top they have pushed the gap up to 8 minutes, but there are still 120km to go.
La Gazzetta and Festina take up the chase with 110km left,
The peleton is taking no chances and, with 80km still to ride the gap is down to 4 minutes
Up goes the road as we hit the Madonna del Ghisallo
the gap is about 2'30" with 55km to go but expect it to plumit as the peleton accelerate up the climb
and looking down the break can see the peleton snake along the valley towards them
Aulas is the first casualty from the break, halfway up
Swiss champ, Vitoria is next off the back
The rest of the break go over the top 1'52" ahead, although Frie looks to be in trouble
Di Luca leads the 89 rider peleton over the top with Vitoria in sight, Aulas is already caught
37km to go and Pellizotti is on the front, and has pulled in Vitoria and Frei, the rest of the break still have a one minute advantage
and we hit the Civiglo with Gesink now pulling the peleton, the break are easily in reach now.
and all bar Samwel are caught when Sanchez Gonzalez attacks, 26km to go.
Immediately Schleck and Hagen respond
Sanchez Gil is next, followed by Cunego and Lopez Garcia
Ulissi and Ricco go after them with Hacecky and Pellizotti following
Sanchez Gonzalez has a small gap
Hagen and Samwel are next at +15"
followed by Cunego, Lopez Gacia, Ricco, Ulissi, Sanchez Gil and Schleck at +41"
the peleton is at +1'26" where Bellis is attacking
Samwel is caught and passed by the Cunego group but Hagen and Sanchez Gonzales maintain their gaps. Shleck then attacks followed by Ricco and Sanchez Gil
Further back a group of 11 has formed with Lopez Garcia and Amador the riders attacking at the front
Cunego also decides to attack as Hagen comes into veiw
The attackers catch Hagen, but Schleck and Cunego push on for Sanchez Gonzalez
Over the top Sanchez Gonzalez has the lead solo
15 seconds back are Schleck and Cunego
then at 35" are Sanchez Gil, Ricco and Hagen
Lopez Garcia and Ulissi are at 1'04"
at 1'20" we have 6 riders: Sinkewitz, Trofimov, Rodriguez Oliver, Di Luca, Klemme and Bakelants
Just behind them is a group of 5 Amador, Ghisalberti, Bellis, Gesink and Grivko
Unsurprisingly Sanchez Gonzalez extends his lead on the decent, it's up to 30 seconds with 11.4km left to go
the Hagen group is now 57" behind Sanchez Gonzalez
but chasing them down is a group of 4, Rodriguez Oliver, Bakelants, Klemme and Di Luca
As soon as the San Fermo della Battaglia starts Cunego and Schleck attack, but is Sanchez Gonzalez out of reach?
Into the tunnel and the gap has closed but Schleck is back in his saddle and looks to be losing ground again.
Out of the tunnel and the gap is as big as ever, Sanchez Gonzalez looks to have it sown up
Impressively Ricco has made it up to Schleck and Cunego, with Sanchez Gil just behind
we then have a group of 3: Sinkewitz, Hagen and Trofimov. Lopez Garcia is just behind them.
All the other riders seem to have come together
Over the top goes our leader, a 40 second advantage with mostly downhill remaining. If he doesn't fall he can't fail to win
Sanchez Gil is desperately trying to make it up to the other 3, although he is running out of road.
with 2.5km to go he manages to do so, as Cunego leads out the sprint with a small gap, they can't see the leader though
As Sanchez Gonzalez round the final corner and sees the finish line
a guick glance behind him confirms that he is well clear and he raises his arms in celebration
Amazing effort by the Festina rider. He attacked first and no one saw him again, a 26km solo ride is amoung the best performances of the season and he is a deserved winner of this monument
Ricco takes 2nd, a full minute back, Schleck is third, Cunego 4th and Sanchez Gil 5th
Sinkewitz solos in 6th
Trofimov 7th
Di Luca just beats Bakelants inn the sprint for 8th, Lopez Garcia takes 10th with Gesink, Hagen, Ghisalberti and Pellizotti next.
Bellis is 15th followed by Ulissi, Rodriguez Oliver, Klemme, Amador and Grivko in 20th
Samwel finishes an impressive 23rd from the break but today is all about Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez who dominated from the moment he decided to show his power
