Daniel Moreno (Katusha) continued his good season when he finished 3rd in today's Milan-Turin behind Diego Ulissi (Lampre) and Rafal Majka (Saxo-Tinkoff). With team captain Joaquim Rodriguez being focused on Sunday's Il Lombardia, Moreno got the chance to play his own cards in today's race and he grabbed the chance with both hands.

Daniel Moreno is usually the loyal domestique for Joaquim Rodriguez but from time to time, he gets his chance to play his own cards. That was the case in today's Milan-Turin where Rodriguez decided to take it a bit easier to prepare for Sunday's title defence in Il Lombardia.

Moreno took his chance nicely when he bridged across to the front trio consisting of Diego Ulissi, Rafal Majka and Domenico Pozzovivo will a little less than a kilometre to go on the final climb to the finish. The Spaniard tried to make one of his trademark accelerations but was closely marked by his rivals and when Ulissi countered the move, he had to settle for third.

Nonetheless, he was satisfied with the result.

I am happy with the result," he said. "In the finale I tried to attack to get the victory but two riders passed me in the last few hundred meters. Today we talked and decided that I could take my chance in the race, but Ulissi and Majka saved more energy for the finale. It’s a pity, but it was a really good test in preparation for the Giro di Lombardia."

Moreno and Rodriguez will be back in action on Sunday in Il Lombardia where Moreno will be back in his usual domestique role. Rodriguez showed great form in Sunday's world championships and his lieutenant is confident in his chances.

"Purito [Rodrigeuez] is in a great shape and we will try to repeat the result of last year," he said. "Concerning myself, my season was a great one and today’s podium in another confirmation of that."

On Sunday, you can follow Il Lombardia on CyclingQuotes.com/live.