Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) confirmed that he is more than a grand tour rider when he claimed his first win in a monument at Il Lombardia. Having made it into a front quartet on the penultimate climb, he got rid of Romain Bardet (Ag2r) with a stinging attack on the final ascent and ultimately beat Diego Rosa (Astana) and Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) in the sprint for the win.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Chaves: I will still focus on stage races in the future

Esteban Chaves concluded his incredible 2016 season with a magnificent victory in the 110th edition of II Lombardia, writing his name into the history books as the first Colombian to ever win a monument. 

 

The impressive victory today comes after a strong run of form this year, including two Grand Tour podiums at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, and providesORICA-BikeExchange with their second monument this season following Australian Mathew Hayman's win at Paris-Roubaix.

 

The 241kilometre action-packed race saw Chaves dominate on the climbs, attacking at the base of the penultimate climb, the Selvino, to created a leading group of four riders battling it out for victory.

 

With patience and confidence, Chaves launched out of the wheels in the final moments to take out a three-up sprint.

 

"It was a dream for me to win Il Lombardia,” explained Chaves after his victory. “I can't believe I've won this race. This is a monument.

 

“When I turned professional, I settled down here in Bergamo. I knew the roads but I wasn't sure if I could win today. 

 

“In the final, I tried to make a difference on the cobbles but Rigoberto (Uran) followed so I had to stay calm and go for the sprint, which is not my forte but I gave everything and I'm so happy that I made it.

 

“Today was a really amazing result for me and I can say that dreams come true, but this is not accidental this is because all of the team worked for this result. 

 

“This team is truly special because they work with the heart and when you work with the heart you can achieve these results. So it is thanks to ORICA-BikeExchange for believing in me. I want to thank all the people who have helped Esteban to become a winner here.

 

“Today is a dream come true. I started my pro career here in Lombardy, staying at Curno, very near Bergamo. Claudio Corti, who was the manager of Team Colombia, gave me the love for Italian cycling.

 I always have a special feeling for the races in Italy. It was impressive to cross the line as a winner. The dream comes true. I'm super happy.

 

“It's huge to become the first non-European to win Il Lombardia and the first Colombian to win a Monument. The result proves that dreams can come true not only for him, but for everyone in Colombia. You only have to work and believe. I'm a normal guy from Bogota., I come from a normal family.

 

 "To make the top 5 in one of the hardest races in the world isn't accidental. It's because of the all team and staff at Orica-BikeExchang. They work hard with all their hearts. Last night I was a bit nervous and scared. Tonight I'll celebrate with the boys, a pizza and a beer.

 

"I was scared to lose at the finish but had I finished second or third it wouldn't matter much because I knew I had done my best.

 

“I recon'd the last 100km of the course with the team. Our directeur sportif Vittorio Algeri is from Bergamasco, we've done all climbs and descents. I also knew I had a good condition. I was supposed to share the leadership with Simon Yates but he fell ill. Our tactic was to keep calm and save legs for the end and that's what happened. In the end, I had fuller legs than the other boys.

 

"We all race with different jerseys, we can't be allies. The final kick I've done many times and I previewed that pavé section up to Bergamo a couple of times. Rigoberto and myself created a gap on Diego on the climb but he closed it. Then it all came down to a sprint. You can't have a hot head in moments like that, you have to keep your cool, you have to give your best after the curve and not before it. You have to wait, and that's easier to say than do because there's a lot of emotions with a race like Lombardia.

 

"For sure, what Colombia has done this year is incredible but you'll see in the next five or six years, there are many more Colombian guys to come.

 

“I've had an incredible season but the hardest is to maintain being competitive at this level. In the past years, we wanted to get good results, this year we wanted wins and better results in Grand Tours. Last year I was meant to get a good ranking at the Vuelta and I did it. This year I also did it but at both the Giro and the Vuelta. After the Vuelta I asked to race Lombardia because I like this race so much and I know that when you have the legs, it's worth giving it a go.

 

"In my mind, stage races are beautiful but I also have a special feeling for this particular one-day race. I'll have to see in the future if any other classic suits me but firstly I'll focus on stage races. But that's enough racing for this season. This is my last race. Now it time to celebrate the season and go on vacation.

 

"I started as a pro rider in Bergamo, living near here in Curno. I always have a special feeling for the races in Italy. It was impressive to cross the line as a winner. The dream comes true. I'm super happy. “

 

Rosa: I wanted to end my time at Astana in a good way

“I felt strong, really strong today,” commented Diego Rosa. “It has been a very difficult race, as expected. After 60km, my captain Fabio Aru told me that I was free to do ‘my’ race. However, I tried to do my best to help the team to gain a good result. In the final I tried many times to attack because I wanted to win this race and cross the finish line in a solo victory. Unfortunately, I’ve found a rider stronger than me today, congratulations to him.

 

"I really believed I could win it. I knew that Chaves was perhaps faster than me in the sprint but I didn't want to be beaten. Last year [Alejandro] Valverde beat me in the sprint for fourth place and I didn’t want this to happen again. I tried to ride them off with 300 metres to go but Uran closed the gap.

 

"I'm disappointed not to win and to have lost it in the last 50 metres but this second place also proves that I can be up there, as I was Liege - Bastogne - Liege. I've got to come back and win it.

 

"I knew about the final corner and so I went for it. I crashed in the corner two years and so this time perhaps I braked a little too much. If I'd have come out of the corner with two metres on the others, then I could have done it.

 

“When I was out front I thought I was going to win but it didn't happen. I can only come back next year and try again.

 

"Fabio told me to play my own card as soon as I told him I felt good after 60km. He's a gentleman.

 

“We knew that the riders who rode the Vuelta would be strongest today, it was the case last year when Vincenzo won. Chaves was on form and so deserved his win. I didn't ride the Vuelta and so I had to make some huge sacrifices to be competitive. Only me and my girlfriend know how much I put into this race. Unfortunately the Vuelta gives you form to win such a hard race like Lombardia.

 

"I won't have time to reflect on things too much and be sad about finishing second. I've got a flight tonight with some friends for a bachelor party and we're going to celebrate for sure. It's also time to take a break from racing.

 

"The only thing I'd change was my decision to make that final late attack with a kilometre and something to go. It was really pointless but we were all there fighting for victory. I knew I wasn't the fastest so I decided to try something. It wasn't a clever move.

 

"For sure I'm going to leave Astana. I haven't say anything about my future so far because I wanted to show some respect to the Astana team while wearing their jersey. Now my season is over I'll be able to say something in the next few days and talk about the future.

 

“I can only thank Astana. They helped me develop and improve as a rider. When you change teams you always learn something new, so I think it's right to try something new. I think I'm the kind of rider who earns a leadership role and space to ride my own race when I'm on form. I'm not at the level to demand a leadership role all season but I think it's right to try to win when you can. Otherwise I'm happy to ride for my teammates and team leader. This was my last race with Astana but I’ll try again to win Il Lombardia in the future.”

 

 

Aru: My feeling were not the best

Fabio Aru said: 

 

“I didn’t feel particularly brilliant today, nonetheless I think we did a good race with my team mate Rosa and I finished in the second group, just behind the breakaway… for sure it was a very difficult Lombardia”.

 

Uran: I paid for my mistakes on the descents

Cannondale-Drapac lined-up for Il Lombardia hungry for a win to close out the season and with the form to match the motivation. While the victory proved evasive, the tactics in Italy on Saturday were textbook and put Rigoberto Uran into a race-winning position. In the end, the Colombian recorded the third Il Lombardia podium of his career as he sprinted to third place in Bergamo.

 

Minutes after the finish, Uran said: “I made a little mistake in the downhill and I paid for it. At the end, things went pretty well. I’m on the podium. I was going well too, but all day I was struggling a bit in the descents. I was a bit scared so I lost some time at every corner. But this is a beautiful race. I’m proud to have contested it for the win.”

 

The final Monument unfolded according to plan initially. A non-threatening early breakaway escaped following a fast and frenzied start. Davide Formolo and Moreno Moser took to the front to control the chase. With the unrelenting finale approaching and the gap tumbling, an elite peloton began to take shape after the Sant-Antonio Abbandonato. Fifty kilometers from the finish, a group of 16 emerged, including Uran and Davide Villella.

 

Esteban Chaves (ORICA-BikeExchange) surged on the lower slopes of the Selvino, fracturing the leading group. Only Uran and Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) could follow initially. Diego Rosa (Astana) dug deep to bridge across to the leading trio before the top of the penultimate climb. The quartet reached Bergamo with a 58-second lead on 10 chasers.

 

Uran and Chaves gapped Rosa and Bardet when Chaves accelerated on the Bergamo Alta. Rosa clawed his way back to the leading duo with the flamme rouge in sight and then launched an attack of his own. Chaves marked the move, setting the scene for a three-up sprint.

 

“We arrived for a sprint and the fastest won,” said Uran. “Esteban had the best legs of all of us in the front group.

 

"I tried on the last climb with Esteban but it came back together and after that it's the fastest man who wins the sprint and today that was Chaves. To lose a sprint like this hurts. I was on form, I knew it, too, so I'm upset. But I also know that races go like this sometimes and to be on the podium is important."

 

"It's a big day for Colombia for sure. I'm very happy to hear our national anthem now in cycling because it means we're making history and that Colombian cycling is improving. I would have preferred that it was me who won today and not someone else, but that's not important, Colombia won today.

 

"He's had a great season, even before today. Now he's won Lombardia, it's a Monument and that's very special. You've seen how he's been going this year, he's been going well everywhere. He closed the race the way he's been going all year, with the win.

 

"I'm not done yet, I'm riding the world championship.

 

Villella, who has quietly but consistently shown steady improvement throughout the entire season, was best of the rest, leading home the chase group in fifth place.

 

Cannondale-Drapac leaves Italy with four podiums and an additional three top ten finishes from six one-day Italian races.

 

“We rode already for two weeks in Italy,” said sport director Fabrizio Guidi. “Maybe we were not the strongest team with the strongest riders but were consistently strong in every single race we did. We missed winning one of the races, but I can say nothing to the group I had here except ‘great job’ because they did all the right things. I’m very happy.”

 

“From my point of view, I think now we get where we’ve been looking forward to arriving since last year,” Guidi added. “Things have changed a lot but we’re getting the confidence finally. Finally we are there. We need to keep working like this. We’re in the right direction.”

 

As the team looks toward next season, the recent results in Italy are something to build upon, according to Slipstream Sports CEO Jonathan Vaughters.

 

“It’s a great way to end the season,” Vaughters said. “I think the hilly one day classics can be something we take a deeper focus on for 2017.”

 

Villella: I want to continue on this path

"I was riding on his home roads and knew the climbs well,” Davide Villella told Spaziociclismo. “It is too bad that the team missed the victory with Rigoberto . I was behind and then in the end I tried to attack and I got away from the chasers. I ot this result and I'm happy. Now I want to continue on this path.”

 

Romain Bardet: I missed some explosiveness

“I am frustrated because I was missing that extra explosiveness in the final,” Romain Bardet said. “I was cramping up. But I have no regrets because I really gave all of myself. We said from the beginning that we were battling for the win.

 

“Three of us, among the strongest, went out on the attack. The only regret is that we didn’t really collaborate that well on the Civiglio. Had we, I don’t think Rosa would have been able to bridge back up. Once we had four guys in the break, one was naturally not going to make the podium. I knew that last climb was less favorable for me. But after 240 kilometers, it was really a tough and beautiful race, so I am still very happy.

 

“The season is now over; I took second in Oman in February, and then fourth at the Tour of Lombardy in October. In the middle there, I still managed to perform well at the Tour de France, so it has been a great season. I would have liked to have finished on the podium today. There is always something to work on and improve over the winter in order to come back even stronger next year.”

 

With this fourth place for Romain Bardet and the tenth place for Pierre Latour, Team AG2R La Mondiale has finished in thirteenth place in the UCI WorldTour team classification.

 

Romain Bardet is in eighth place in the individual classification. He has succeeded in placing in the top-10 31 times this season.

 

Latour proud of classics breakthrough in Lombardia

“We were racing for Romain to help him get the best result possible, and the team worked very well,” Pierre Latour said after his 10th place. “One of us was always at the front of the race. When I found myself with Romain at the front, he told me to attack. So then when the race exploded, Romain was at the front. Everything worked to perfection.

 

“This is the second time I have raced the Tour of Lombardy, and this year was a very hard edition, a real race of attrition. I am very happy with my own performance.

 

“On balance, the season has gone well…especially considering my victory at the Vuelta since I had been missing a win.”

 

Unstoppable Valverde secures fourth consecutive WorldTour win for Movistar

It was difficult, as in every single previous season. And still, the Movistar Team made it possible with enormous dedication, commitment and team spirit to overcome all kinds of difficulties. The squad managed by Eusebio Unzué finished on top of the UCI ranking for the sixth time in its four-decade history after completing Il Lombardia, the last event of the WorldTour, with a 6th spot for an ever-dependable Alejandro Valverde. The 110-point advantage (1471 vs 1361) over Tinkoff confirmed the fourth consecutive title for the Telefónica-sponsored squad - beating the record-tied three triumphs both the Spanish outfit and CSC held - also becoming the fifth success in just twelve years under the current competition system and points scale (2008, 2013-16).

 

The points achieved by Nairo Quintana (609, runner-up to Peter Sagan), Valverde (4th, with 436), Ion Izagirre (11th; 270), Rubén Fernández (88) and Andrey Amador (68) were a result of the work by more than 60 people and almost thirty different partners during a long, grueling season, starting back in January with events in Australia and Argentina - and set to finish in just three weeks' time after the Doha Worlds and the Abu Dhabi Tour. A Grand Tour overall success (the Vuelta a España, with Quintana); podiums in the Giro -led by Amador - Tour or Tour de Suisse; prestigious wins in Flèche Wallonne, Catalunya, Romandie; and steady growth by the youngsters, especially Rubén Fernández - GC leader in the Vuelta - Soler, Arcas and  late-season sensation Sütterlin, defined an ever-consistent, successful season. It was only overshadowed by multiple injuries, especially those by Castroviejo and Adriano Malori, who claimed a victory no other can match: his return to life and competition following a horrible accident in the Tour de San Luis, which almost ended his whole existence.

 

Regarding the 'Race of the Fallen Leaves' itself, the Movistar Team rode with determination as they started picking up the pace already on the first serious climbs - Berbenno, Sant'Antonio Abbandonato - of a hellish finale to the 241km course between Como and Bérgamo. The work by Dayer Quintana and Winner Anacona was continued by Giovanni Visconti and Alejandro Valverde, who jumped off the front as the decisive, 16-man move started to form and later tried to keep gaps small, as Chaves (OBE), Rosa (AST) and Urán (CDT), the three podium finishers, launched the crucial attack alongside Bardet (ALM) on the Selvino ascent, just over 30km from the end. Valverde won the pursuit group's sprint, as Visconti took 14th place.

 

Eusebio Unzué said:

 

"I'll end up believing we're the best team in the world after all! Winning the WorldTour team ranking for the fourth year straight is a good tribute to the consistency by this whole team for the entire season, in both good and bad moments. And it's increasingly difficult to win this, as we always have to beat tremendous groups - Tinkoff and Sky this year - that always excel, in every single race.

 

“Already in Australia we were taking points with Rubén, and thanks to Nairo Quintana's consistency, Alejandro Valverde's talent and a splendid season by Ion Izagirre, as well as brilliant performances by Rubén Fernández, Andrey Amador and so many others, we could win this classification once again.

 

“It's always another goal for us, and fulfilling it is a huge satisfaction. It's a reward to a way of doing things and tackling every race with focus and intensity. You will hardly be able to find a race where a Movistar Team hasn't been contesting the top places.

 

“Of course, I want to thank all of our staff, who hold a big share of this victory, as well as all of our partners, crucial for our team to do their job in the best possible conditions."

 

Valverde: I missed some race rhythm

"I was pretty good, but I lacked a little bit. Not to have raced for three weeks was noticeable and that was also the case for some problems that I had in those days. I'm still happy about my performance but I was missing something in the legs,” Valverde told Spaziociclismo.

 

Gesink proud of 7th place in brutal Il Lombardia

Robert Gesink placed seventh in a hard edition of Il Lombardia today in Bergamo. The Dutchman of Team LottoNL-Jumbo sprinted for sixth place behind a group with winner Esteban Chaves (Orica) and only Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) beat him.

 

"It was a tough day, but I felt good,” Gesink said. “I'm happy with seventh place. The race was long and we raced fast today."

 

The riders fought some time into the 241-kilometre race before an escape broke clear. They gained time, but Orica and Movistar worked to pick them off one by one. Gesink opened the final with a counter-attack at 60 kilometres remaining.

 

"I decided to go early because I felt good, and certainly in view of the tough climb coming. It was a good decision. Soon the favourites joined me. From that moment on, I only had to follow,” Gesink said.

 

Chaves rode clear with Rigoberto Urán (Cannondale), Diego Rosa (Astana) and Romain Bardet (AG2R).

 

“I rode my own pace at the start of the climb and I could not follow the group. The four men who attacked were just stronger, plus, in our group, they had team-mates. I went full on the last climb in Bergamo and I still had a nice sprint."

 

It marked the end to his season.

 

"After the trouble at the beginning of the year, I finished well with a good Vuelta and a good result in Lombardy. I’ll relax and make plans for 2017."

 

"Secretly you hope for a top 10 and we're glad we did it,” added Sports Director Addy Engels. “The four men in front were the strongest and it is beautiful that Gesink still can sprint to seventh place.

 

”Gesink was certainly not the best, but he fought to stay there with them. We were pleasantly surprised when only Valverde pipped him in the sprint.”

 

Only 60 men finished in Bergamo, which Engels said was not a surprise. 

 

"Many riders knew that he final would be heavy, so they tried to escape. It took a while before there was a breakaway, which made the race hard at the start. On the biggest climb of the day, Valcava, the peloton broken into pieces and Gesink held his ground,” Engels explained.

 

Barguil: I had the legs for more

For Giant-Alpecin, it was a strong effort by Warren Barguil who raced to 8th place.

 

Warren Barguil said: “I have mixed emotions after the race because I think I had the legs for a better result. However, I can be proud to take 8th in such a challenging race and I couldn’t have done it without my team which I give my biggest compliments after they supported me all day.”

 

Coach Aike Visbeek added: “The objective was to bring Tom [Dumoulin] and Warren in the finale and we did a good job with positioning the guys ahead of the Valcava climb. From then on it was full gas and it was good to see that we still had Sam [Oomen], Simon [Geschke], Warren, and Tom with the group of 50 riders. In the finale, when the strong riders attacked Warren was able to follow. Tom made an effort to bridge the gap but he just missed out on the select front group. Overall it was a good team performance.”

 

Classics breakthrough for impressive De Marchi in Lombardy

The last monument of the season and the toughest one-day race this year, Il Lombardia, didn’t disappoint with 241km of thrilling racing playing out from Como to Bergamo.

 

With the race billed as one of the toughest editions in recent years it was a fight to get into the breakaway with many riders knowing that it would be their only chance for victory.

 

After almost two hours of racing Damiano Caruso found himself in a 4-rider move that eventually gained a 7-minute advantage over the already-reduced bunch. One by one Caruso’s breakaway companions dropped and Caruso was left as the sole rider in front with 62km remaining.

 

The chase behind Caruso picked up and a small group of favorites, including Alessandro De Marchi, caught Caruso with around 45km to go.

 

De Marchi fought well to stay with the group until a four-man move broke clear, which included eventual winner Estaben Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange).

 

While the battle for the podium played out in front, De Marchi was part of the sprint for fifth place and crossed the line in ninth place in what was his best career result in a monument.

 

Alessandro De Marchi said:

 

"Today I tried to do the best race possible and i'm really happy. I was looking to do something today to finish the season well and give a signal of what I can do becuase it hasn't been the best season for me. I wanted to get into the breakaway but it was really like roulette out there and there were so many guys trying to jump in. Eventually we had Damiano Caruso in the breakaway so we were ok.

 

”Once they had gone clear I said to myself that I had 200km to go forward and stay right up there. When the four guys went on the last climb I knew they would go for the win so I tried to do my best result in the small group and save my energy for this last climb. There wasn't too much cooperation so I'm happy with my sprint and the way I anticipated the final 2km of racing. It was a good race and very hard but I'm happy."

 

Damiano Caruso said:

 

“It was a really hard and fast start to the race. We rode the first 70km full gas and it was then that I was trying to ride a good tempo to get into the breakaway. Eventually I was one of four riders who went. We wanted a big group to go and with only four riders going clear it wasn’t good conditions. With only 4 riders it was more difficult to stay away, but I still did a nice ride and I think for me it was a great Il Lombardia. I played my chanced and I’m happy for that.

 

“It’s always nice to ride in Italy, especially at Il Lombardia which is such a beautiful race. With our team I do a lot of race outside of Italy so it’s normal that I enjoy racing here when I have the chance.”

 

Stomach problems take strong Brambilla out of contention in Lombardy

Once the escapees got caught, three riders went clear on a descent, David De La Cruz being in that group which tried to put pressure on the chasers. After the catch was made, Il Lombardia continued to be an action-packed race, and De La Cruz went one more time, but again the severely reduced peloton came back.

 

At the bottom of Miragolo San Salvatore (8.7 kilometers, 7% average gradient), the race was in pieces, as only 16 riders were left at the front, including De La Cruz and Gianluca Brambilla, 10th at the previous edition of "The Classic of the Falling Leaves".

 

Gianluca Brambilla, who was riding Il Lombardia for the seventh time in a row, concluded the race in 12th position, a remarkable result considering he was hit by stomach problems on the 6.9-km long Servino. At that point, the 29-year-old Italian was part of the strong chasing group which was just 30 seconds behind, but couldn't hang in anymore and rolled over the line two minutes later, completely empty after his huge effort.

 

"On the downhill before Servino I led the way in the elite group and I was feeling ready for the final part of the race, but suddenly I had this stomach problem and couldn't ride so smooth in the last kilometers, as every turn of the pedal made me suffer. For that reason, it became a matter of surviving until the finish, and to come 12th in these conditions makes me happy", explained Brambilla, who put an end to his successful season (three victories and 14 top-10 placings) at Il Lombardia.

 

"We were prepared and motivated for today. Our team worked hard and did a great job to deliver Gianluca in a good position for the finale", said sport director Davide Bramati, who followed the Etixx – Quick-Step riders from the car. "Going into the last hour, it was obvious that everybody was cooked, due to the tough course and intense racing. Unfortunately, Il Lombardia was over for Gianluca with 30 kilometers to go because of those stomach problems. We came close to a good result and it's a pity for what happened, but we must take things as they are and keep our confidence and motivation for our next appointments."

 

Costly descent for Costa in Lombardy

Rui Costa was the best rider for LAMPRE-MERIDA in Il Lombardia. The Portuguese rider reached the finishin 15th position at 5’02”.

 

The good performance by Rui Costa lost its winning potential on the descent from Sant’Antonio Abbandonato, when the main group was split and the Portuguese rider was in the second part. Despite an intense attempt to chase the front group, Rui Costa could not bridge the gap.

 

Ulissi was close to the top 20, reaching the finish in 22nd position at 8’10”.

 

“During the week I recovered from a cold and today my legs were good and the feelings were right," Rui Costa explained. "The race was very demanding and the speed in the first part of the course was extremely high and no breakaway succeeded to go clear.

 

"Unfortunately, I paid a bit in the moment when the group was split while doing a descent: I really pushed hard in order to bridge the gap and try to obtain a place in the top ten but the battle was intense also in the group ahead of me and I failed to join it."

 

Katusha: Lombardia shows that Mamykin will become a big rider

Despite not being part of the final selection of the day, Team KATUSHA had many good riders on the 240km course from Como to Bergamo, most notably young Matvey Mamykin, 21, Sergey Lagutin and Pavel Kochetkov.

 

”This was a crazy, hard race. I’ve been at so many Lombardias in my life, but I’ve never seen such a hard course. Between kilometer 127 and 224 there was not one single meter of flat. In total the riders had more than 5500 altitude meters of climbing. It was crazy. But Mamykin, Lagutin and Kochetkov did a good race. Mamykin was especially good at his young age. He attacked at 60km from the finish, and of course it would have been better to not do that because he was dropped on the last climb. But that’s youth and that’s what gaining experience is all about. I won’t say that he would have won without his attack, but Matvey would have stayed in the front group. This was a great experience for him for the future. Matvey will become a big rider,” said sports director Claudio Cozzi.

 

Matvey Mamykin finished 16th. 

 

The 110th “Race of the Falling Leaves” marked the end of the UCI WorldTour calendar of racing with KATUSHA’s Alexander Kristoff ranking seventh on the year behind overall leader Peter Sagan. In the teams ranking, Team KATUSHA is sixth. 

 

Hesjedal and Schleck reflect on their careers after final race in Lombardy

Ryder Hesjedal and Fränk Schleck both ended their respective careers Saturday in the final Monument of 2016, arguably the hardest Il Lombardia ever held. Trek-Segafredo caught up with both, right after each was presented with a special bottle of Astoria sparkling wine in recognition of their illustrious careers, to find out what it feels like to finish their final race and officially begin retirement.

 

Ryder Hesjedal said:

 

"This champagne is really nice; I feel pretty lucky. To have Fabian here too, who already stopped earlier this year [Cancellara will finish his last race at Japan criterium- ed], and to share this day with Fränk is very special. I always looked up to him as a rider. To be on this team this year was really enjoyable for me, I had a great time.

 

"Yeah, last race today, and it was a super hard race. I really wanted to finish it today, but realistically I know how things work on the road. I don’t know how many guys finished in the end [61 from  200  starters – ed], but you definitely had to have good legs, and I didn't so it was impossible. I still enjoyed every moment out there.

 

"What can I say? It's done. Now I will unwind, reflect, and look to the future. I am moving back to Canada, back to friends and family and the next part of my life.

 

"To win the Giro is still the highlight for sure, and I will always cherish that victory and that race. The first long, hard climb today was in a stage of that Giro and I didn’t realize it, but remembered once I was on that climb. Although, I was suffering more today!  But that's what it's all about to come here, to do these final classic races in Italy. People asked me why I didn't stop after Montreal, and sure that would have been nice to be in Canada and finish like that, but for me, cycling is more global, and Italy is special in cycling and special to me. I wanted to come here and suffer on Italian roads one more time, and I certainly did that today. I am complete with that."

 

Fränk Schleck said:

 

"I did the race full gas, and everyone told me that I need to enjoy the last kilometers because it's going to be something special, and I was waiting to feel this special moment, but nothing really happened. I just felt really tired like I normally do at the end of a race. But then when I came to the bus there was a nice reception from the boys, the team, the fan club, and some family, my kids, my wife, and they reminded me that this is it!

 

"I realized it's not just a switch that you turn on or off. I think it will come in the next days that then I will realize that it is finished. The last week that I spent with the team was great. I felt appreciated. The special Emonda they gave me gives me mixed feelings – of course, I love it, it’s a great bike, and it's a really nice present, but it also signifies the end.

 

"I have done 15 years, it was a long journey, and now I felt it was the time to call it.  I am happy with the decision I made. I would be lying if I said I was not afraid of what's coming up. For 25 years, I pushed these two little things on the bike that we call pedals as hard as I can, and that was it. Now things will be very different. 

 

"I have had many highlights and some nice results. Of course, I was not the type of guy that was winning every weekend, but I can look back and say I had some really nice moments. I had some bad periods also, but that's where you build character. In the team we have had some tough times, and you have to get over these moments, and you fight back, and you keep going, and I am proud of that. I am proud of my career, and I have nothing to regret. 

 

"In the next years, I will be with my family, healthy, and enjoy that and give them something back from all these years. Nice moments are easy to enjoy, but it's the hard moments that tell you who you are. I'll let other people be the judge of that, but I hope that people see me as a normal guy from Luxembourg always with his feet on the ground. I am looking forward to bring my kids to school and to do the things that a normal dad does. 

 

"Then I would love to share the passion for cycling. I think this is important, with the name, the career, the experience, I have had, I would love to share this passion. I would like to be an ambassador, to show that cycling is much more than a sport, it's more than the pro circus, that it can be used for transportation, and that it is good for your health."

 

265 watts not enough for Mollema in Lombardy

"That was the hardest Lombardy I ever did,” Bauke Mollema said.

 

"I did an average of 265 watts in almost 7 hours, and I finished 6 minutes from the first - that says enough about how hard the race was."

 

"I tried to make the best of it. I was feeling quite good for a long time and then in the last 50kms the legs were just not there anymore."

 

Not to be for Sky at Il Lombardia

Pete Kennaugh led the Team Sky charge in the final Monument Classic of the season at Il Lombardia.

 

The Manxman hung tough in an ever-dwindling lead group as the final WorldTour event of 2016 played out over a brutal 240-kilometre parcours, eventually finishing 26th.

 

Mikel Landa, Nicolas Roche and Wout Poels were also present up front before the head of the peloton began to fracture on the climb of the Valcava.

 

Anton pushes hard for Dimension Data in Lombardy

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were looking after the interests of Igor Anton today, keeping him protected in the main peloton. Anton was still present in the peloton when the Miragolo San Salvatore began with 55km to go. It was on this climb though when the race favourites started to play their cards.

 

The break was caught midway up the climb and then a few attacks from the peloton saw a 16 rider group go clear over this penultimate climb of the race. Anton just missed the split and was left chasing with Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) and 9 other riders just behind. Unfortunately Anton’s group would not get back as a good few teams had more than 1 rider present in the split and could drive the pace.

 

Anton was the best placed rider, coming home in 27th position, 8 minutes down on the race victor. Not quite the result the team had hoped for in the final World Tour race of the year but it was an incredibly difficult race at that saw only 61 riders credited with a finishing time out of 200 starters.

 

Igor Anton said:

 

”Today was the last race of the year and it is a very special race for me. In the past I have done it 5 times already and it has always been a very, very hard race. Today, it was the hardest Lombardia I have done. I am happy though because I gave my all, I suffered a lot and spent all my energy but I finished in the 2nd group. I would have liked to have been more in the front but it was difficult with guys like Chaves and Uran going so well. My objective was to get to the penultimate or final climb and take it from there, so I am happy that I could do that but the other guys were just stronger today. I am now thinking ahead to the holidays after a long season with this special team.”

 

Off-day for Tinkoff in Lombardu

Michael Gogl was the Tinkoff’s only finisher at the fifth and final monument of the season, Il Lombardia, today in Italy as the team gradually succumbed to a tough day out and a long season for most. The team went into the race with a late change in the line-up, with Alberto Contador not starting due to illness this week, and the guys adapted the plan but couldn't leave their mark on the race.

 

“We tried to get in the break but nothing was getting away despite a hard push,” explained Sport Director Lars Michaelsen after the finish. “Then eventually four made it and the peloton sat up so the break went out to over seven minutes. We could sit in and wait as we had no responsibility to pull but then we were just hoping to make the selection later in the race.

 

“After 190km the tanks were empty for the two left there [Gogl and Rafal Majka] and it was just a case of finishing for Michael Gogl who kept going, but there was to be no result today.”

 

A fast start to the day saw attacks flying for some time, with Tinkoff getting in the mix. Roman Kreuziger was one of the guys who managed to get clear in one of several small groups that pushed hard to get away, but eventually a small group of just four went clear without any Tinkoff jerseys represented.

 

The race brings the UCI WorldTour to a close and with no change at the top of the WorldTour individual classification, World and European Champion Peter Sagan ends the season as the UCI WorldTour number one rider.