Cesare Benedetti scored the best monument result in Bora-Argon 18's history at today's Il Lombardia. After Andreas Schillinger shone in the spring with a 16th place at Paris-Roubaix, Benedetti was able to reach the 14th place today.

Earlier, the 28-year-old Italian was part of a breakaway with ten other riders that escaped 15 kilometers after the start. The field allowed a lead of almost nine minutes before it began the chase halfway through the total distance of 245 kilometers. In the race’s hardest part, in the last 75 kilometers, the lead decreased significantly. When the pursuers were already in sight, the group fell apart by attacks. Benedetti took over the initiative and together with three escape companions he worked to increase the lead back to three minutes.

At the highest point of the race, 50 kilometers from the finish, the first chaser passed Benedetti, but he was able to stay within a select chasing group. He defended this position until the finish line. Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) won the race.

"That was a super day for us: the whole team and especially Cesare rode a great race. From the beginning we invested a lot to be in the group. But we missed it initially, and then we chased it so Cesare was still able to jump into the group.

"What he then showed was simply impressive. He was caught on the decisive mountain, but he continued to fight. So when the small favorite group caught him exactly on the top, he stayed with them.

"But there were still two key climbs and actually it was to be expected that at one point he had to pay for the the long day in front. But Cesare didn’t give up. He continued to fight and was able to stay with them. It’s something very special that this day was crowned with our best result in a monument so far. Hats off to this performance", Sport Director Enrico Poitschke was pleased with the outcome of Il Lombardia.

" Today I had to try, Benedetti told Spaziociclismo. "On Ghisallo Canola accelerated and I had the legs to follow the on the Muro di Sormana. I was in the group with Nibali and after all day on the attack, I still had something left.

"I hope this action will serve for the future. Unfortunately I am sstill without a contract so I hope that today was a good sign for the future. There is not only today's performance, however, since I have always worked well and I hope to continue."