Alexandr Kolobnev Third In Lombardia - Philippe Gilbert Strongest
Category: Global NewsThis year's edition of the season's last race in the ProTour, Giro di Lombardia with start in Varese and finish in Como, was 242 kilometers stretching around Lake Como with detours passing the nearby mountains, which obviously made the course harder and more entertaining for the TV viewers.
Team Saxo Bank participated with a very strong line-up consisting of Anders Lund, Chris Anker Sørensen, Alexandr Kolobnev, Gustav Larsson, Jens Voigt, Nicki Sørensen, Jakob Fuglsang and Karsten Kroon, who today did his last race in the Team Saxo Bank jersey.
On top of the Madonna del Ghisallo-climb 44 kilometers from the finish line Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) was the only man in the front while a hard chasing field with changing teams as engines was trying to make the peloton slimmer.
On the descent a small group caught the Vacansoleil-rider while Team Saxo Bank's Gustav Larsson shortly after wrenched himself free from the main field and went alone to the front group now consisting of Gustav Larsson (Team Saxo Bank), Dan Martin (Garmin), Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil) Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Mauro Santambrogio (Lampre) and Dries Devenyns (Quickstep).
On the second last climb, Civiglio, turbulence roamed in the front group where several attempts to create a solo life in front were formed. Every time, Team Saxo Bank's Gustav Larsson fought heroically and made it back to the front. Behind, the World Champion, Cadel Evans (Lotto) turned up the throttle and immediately created havoc in the peloton. But the crucial and decisive gap was not created until the Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel) took the lead and with a few handfuls of riders, amongst them Team Saxo Bank's Jakob Fuglsang, closed the gap up to the front group.
On the last climb, Battaglio, Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) launched an attack but Jakob Fuglsang (Team Saxo Bank) closed the gap and now formed a trio with the Astana-rider and Mauro Santambrogio (Lampre).
From behind, Philippe Gilbert (Lotto) suddenly came thundering and passed and dropped the trio with Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel) on his wheel. Both Alexandr Kolobnev and Jakob Fuglsang now represented Team Saxo Bank in the chasing group.
On the finish line, Philippe Gilbert (Lotto) once again turned out to be the clearly strongest rider and won Giro del Lombardia 2009. Alexandr Kolobnev (Team Saxo Bank) pushed his bike across the finish line and finished in an excellent third place after an impressive and self-effacing preparation by teammate Jakob Fuglsa