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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
DANIEL MARTIN A SUPERB SECOND IN GIRO DI LOMBARDIA
By Shane Stokes
15 Oct 2011,
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Ireland’s Dan Martin had a superb showing in today’s final Classic of the season, finishing second in the Giro di Lombardia. The race had a surprise victor with Swiss rider Oliver Zaugg (Leopard Trek) attacking on the final climb of Villa Vergano and soloing down to the finish in Lecco, netting the first pro win of his career.
Martin was part of a chase group which was clear over the summit and which was eight seconds behind at the finish. He was quickest in the five-man sprint for second place, taking that comfortably ahead of 2010 world number one Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and last year’s Giro d’Italia champion Ivan Basso (Liquigas).
It’s the best Classic result of the Garmin-Cervélo rider’s career and also the best Irish Classic result since the day’s of Kelly and Roche. However it is also a frustrating conclusion to the season for Martin as he knows that if the group he was in had chased harder, he could well have won the race.
Fellow Irishman and first cousin Nicolas Roche also rode well, although he wasn’t able to stay with Martin’s group on the final climb. He finished in a chase bunch 27 seconds back, netting sixteenth place. Ireland’s third rider in the race, Philip Deignan (RadioShack), wasn’t listed amongst the top 63 finishers. Eight days ago he finished just behind Roche on stage three of the Tour of Beijing, with the two Irish riders taking first and second.
Although today didn’t see him ride as well as he had hoped, he can be encouraged by his Beijing performance and head into the winter in a motivated frame of mind.
Martin and Roche will also have good morale, and will knuckle down to training for 2012 after taking a break from the bike.
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Giro di Lombardia (WorldTour), Milano – Lecco:
1, Oliver Zaugg (Leopard Trek) 241 kilometres in 6 hours 20 mins 2 secs
2, Daniel Martin (Garmin Cervelo) at 8 secs
3, Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Katusha)
4, Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale)
5, Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-ISD)
6, Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago CSF-Inox) all same time
7, Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli) at 15 secs
8, Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma Lotto)
9, Carlos Alberto Betancourt Gomez (Acqua & Sapone)
10, Riccardo Chiarini (Androni Giaocattoli) all same time
Other Irish:
16, Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) at 27 secs
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