Tour of Lombardy 2015: Nibali solos to victory

The 109th edition of the Tour of Lombardy is marked by a tough finale with a barage of intensive climbing. Vincenzo Nibali attacks in the drop of the Civiglio and he powers to glory. Dani Moreno is second, Thibaut Pinot third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Tour of Lombardy 2015

1. Vincenzo Nibali (ita)
2. Daniel Moreno (spa) + 0.21
3. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.32
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.46
5. Diego Rosa (ita) s.t.
6. Mikel Nieve (spa) s.t.
7. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.56
8. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
9. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.
10. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) + 1.10

Race report
Without Joaquim Rodríguez, winner in 2012 and 2013, the pack leaves Bergamo in cold and wet conditions. After the usual turmoil in the first kilometres Jan Polanc and Stefan Schumacher initiate the break. They are accompanied by Matteo Busato, Marco Canola, Oscar Gatto, Cesare Benedetti, Simon Geschke, Dennis van Winden, Pierpaolo De Negri and Enrico Barbin. The eleven race to a maximum advantage of 8’30”, reached halfway, and there it lingers for a while.

At the Madonna del Ghisallo the gap is down to a few minutes after an attack by Kwiatkowski, Wellens, Gesink, Slagter, Verona and Izagirre. Canalo and Benedetti leave the front group to be first to crest with Van Winden, Barbin and Busato 0’18” down. The group Kwiatkowski follow at 2 minutes. Astana is leading the chase.

While climbing to Sormano Van Winden, Barbin and Busato rejoin the front. When hitting the Wall of Sormano Kwiatkowski et al are half a minute down, while the peloton is at 1’30”.

Canola and Benedetti are alone again at the super-steep climb, but they are brought back by the chasing group. Kwiatkowski and Wellens are first to crest and a group with Nibali is close behind. In the drop Kwiat and Wellens widen the gap to 0’40”, but once at the Civiglio they are caught. Astana was leading the chase and now Nibali and Rosa attack one after the other, thus bringing down the numbers in the new front group. Only Chaves, Pinot, Nibali, Rosa, Moreno, Nieve and Valverde left upfront.

Nibali attacks several times, but when he doesn’t get clear he escapes in the drop. Smart thinking as he is a downhill-specialist. The Italian powers to a 0’43” lead. At the last climb, San Fermo della Battaglia, Thibaut Pinot and Daniel Moreno go after him. The Spaniard leaves the Frenchman and he crestst with a 0’13” deficit over the Shark of Messina. But the drop is Nibali-territory and the win is his!