Miguel Angel Rubiano has been selected for a very strong Colombian team for the World Championships. Today he proved that he is ready for the challenge when he finished 9th in the Coppa Agostoni.

After his excellent Vuelta a Colombia, Colombian National Champion Miguel Angel Rubiano (Team Colombia) worked his way back into the top-10 in Europe on September 17th in Italy, at Coppa Agostoni (Lissone-Lissone, 196 km), finishing ninth in the sprint won by Italian Niccolò Bonifazio (Lampre-Merida) ahead of Grega Bole (Vini Fantini). It is a sign of Rubiano’s improving condition with just 10 days to go to the World Championships in Ponferrada, where he will enter the road race for Colombia.

Team Colombia was down to 7 men before the start because of Carlos Julian Quintero’s forfeit (stomach issues), nevertheless Valerio Tebaldi’s team immediately tried to go on the offensive with Rodolfo Torres, in a 14-man break, soon to be reeled in by the bunch. Right after that, a 9-man move got clear: they reached a 7.18 maximum advantage at km 70, but the peloton’s acceleration in the toughest part of the route shut down the attempt at km 125, on the Giovenzana climb.

On the ascent, Robinson Chalapud showed up by getting into a small group chasing Davide Rebellin (CCC-Polsat) and Diego Rosa (Androni Giocattoli). Once again, though, the main bunch led by Lampre bridged back on every attacker, bringing the situation all together with 20 km to go.

“Differently from Coppa Bernocchi, the route change made Agostoni more suited to fast riders, as the classification shows," Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi said afterwards. "Anyway, the team did its best to seize every opportunity, with Chalapud on the uphill and with Rubiano in the sprint.”

Tomorrow, Thursday September 18th, the Trittico Lombardo will draw to a close with Tre Valli Varesine (200 km).