Tour of Lombardy 2019: Bauke Mollema solos to victory

Bauke Mollema strikes on the penultimate climb of Il Lombardia to solo to his first win in a Monument. Alejandro Valverde and Egan Bernal round out the podium. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Tour of Lombardy 2019

1. Bauke Mollema (nld)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.16
3. Egan Bernal (col) s.t.
4. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
5. Michael Woods (can) + 0.34
6. Jack Haig (aus) s.t.
7. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
8. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 0.50
9. Pierre Latour (fra) s.t.
10. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.

Race report
Under sunny skies the riders roll out from Bergamo. Fausto Masnada, Davide Ballerini, Enrico Barbin, Cesare Benedetti, Rémi Cavagna, Toms Skujins, Petr Rikunov and Marco Marcato jump to form the lead group. The eight crest the Colle Gallo more than 5 minutes ahead of the peloton before the gap continues to almost 6 minutes.

Masnada goes alone on the Madonna del Ghisallo. He crests the summit in first position before Skujins rejoins him in the descent. Bob Jungels goes after the leaders just before the top of the Ghisallo and makes contact just before the Muro di Sormano. Yet, the peloton is less than 1 minute in arrears.

The leaders are caught on the Muro before an elite group with Majka, Woods, Latour, Sosa, Ciccone, Kuss, Gaudu, Nibali, Valverde and Roglic reach the summit together.

The lead group grows to approximately thirty riders in the descent. Yates, Bernal, Haig, Fuglsang, Wellens, Dan Martin, Benoot, Formolo, Buchmann, Kelderman, Mollema and Molard are on board.

Wellens and Buchmann jump clear when they reach the bank of Lake Como. The duo puts 45 seconds into the main group. More riders come across in the undulating section towards the last two climbs.

The climb to Civiglio is pre-decisive. Two-time winner Nibali drops back, while Buchmann heads out alone before the peloton brings him back. A Valverde attack is neutralised by Roglic before Mollema strikes. He opens up a gap of 30 seconds, which melts away when Latour and Woods open fire in the chasing group.

Yet, Mollema widens the gap to 45 seconds in the descent before Roglic goes after him on the flat before the last climb. The Slovenian is caught by Valverde, Fuglsang, Woods and Bernal. The five reach the summit 20 seconds behind the Dutchman.

Mollema holds on to his lead on descent to win the race 16 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde and Egan Bernal.

Another interesting read: route 2019 Tour of Lombardy 2019.