Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r) played a significant role in today’s Il Lombardia even though the diminutive Italian failed to win the race. Pozzovivo crashed 25km from the finish line but still managed to join the front group.

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) kicked off the action when he accelerated with 10km to go. Pozzovivo brought it back together and the Italian made two hard counterattacks that severely reduced the size of the main group. Suddenly, only Pozzovivo, Rodriguez (Katusha), Majka (Saxo-Tinkoff), Valverde (Movistar), Martin (Garmin-Sharp), Ivan Basso (Cannondale), Pieter Serry (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Daniel Moreno (Katusha) and Quintana (Movistar) remained in contention.

That was when Rodriguez launched his attack and nobody could respond to the strong Spaniard. Martin, Majka, Valverde, Pozzovivo and Basso made up a chase group, with the latter two falling off the pace a little later.

As the remnants of the lead group eventually approached the finish line, Pozzovivo slipped onto the wet tarmac once again, almost sliding into a group of camera men. Fortunately nobody sustained serious injuries and Pozzovivo was able to get on his feet by himself, even though he did subsequently lament another lost opportunity.

“Nothing serious happened, it was only a slight distraction that caused my crash near the finish line,” Pozzovivo said according to Tuttobiciweb.it. “I suffered in the rain today, and towards the end of the race I felt the consequences of having to fight my way back to the front group after my first crash. Nonetheless, I felt fine and tried to sprint towards the end. Unfortunately, it was another lost opportunity.”