The rain and tough course in Lombardy didn’t see the best of Dan Martin today
By Brian Canty
Ireland's Dan Martin has finished 16th in today's Tour of Lombardy in Italy, coming over the line one minute and 23 seconds behind race winner Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).
It was a gutsy performance from Martin all day in horrendous conditions but he failed to improve on his second place finish from last year, tailing off a select group of favourites inside the final eight kilometres.
Martin told stickybottle earlier this week he believed there was a "big result" in him but he appeared to struggle for large parts of the race, hardly surprising given the sharp and frequent attacks of Rodriguez, Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale).
Indeed, such attacks caused the main peloton to explode on the brutally steep Colma Di Sermano and one of the biggest casualties was recently crowned world road race champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing), who later crashed and abandoned.
Advertisement
Martin, it must be said, tailed off more than once but never panicked. Instead he chose his own tempo before eventually regaining contact on at least two occasions.
However, as the race went on - all 250 kilometres of it - Martin had more of a presence as rider after rider dropped back and out of contention, leaving a group of around 30 strongmen heading into the final climb.
Related News
There had been a 10-man break up the road but this was reeled in, though not before two riders from the escape - Romain Bardet (AG2R) and Alberto Losada (Katusha) - went for glory. But again that was neutralised by a hungry but depleted pack behind.
Crucially for Martin, he had Giro d'Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal to assist him as the race approached the finish and although the Canadian tried a brief counter-attack, it appeared he was restrained and told to work for Martin, which to his credit he did.
It all looked pretty good for the Irishman as he got rid of his cape and moved towards the front of the select group as the race moved into the last 15km.
However, with the rain pelting down, Rodriguez sensed his chance and escaped on the day's final climb of the Salite di Ello - Villa Vergano. A frantic chase led by Team Sky's Rigoberto Uran and Sergio Henau along with Contador followed, but Rodriguez was able to stay away.
Crucially, after the climb Martin was absent from the group just behind Rodriguez and second place went to Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), with Uran taking third.
Martin heads to China on Tuesday for the Tour of Beijing where he'll be hoping for better luck.
Tour of Lombardy – 251km
1 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 6:36:27
2 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:00:09
3 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
4 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team
5 Sergio Lui Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling
6 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Sharp
7 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
8 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Radioshack-Nissan
9 Albert Contador (Spa) Team Saxo Bank / Tinkoff Bank
10 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro Team
11 Nairo Alex Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team
12 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
13 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:00:35
14 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Katusha Team 0:00:57
15 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
16 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin – Sharp 0:01:23
17 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:01:25
18 Jean Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
19 Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
20 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
Topics
