Dario Cataldo was happy with his ability to make a break that animated the 255.5km Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.
"I am happy," Cataldo said. "I feel I did a great job today. The training I do now is important so I am in good shape. I look forward to the next races to be 100 percent at the Giro D'Italia, which is one of my main goal for this season."
Cataldo made an initial three rider break less than 40km into the race, and after three riders bridged, the gap grew to slightly more than 12'35" at its largest. However, as the break continued to pass over climbs and the peloton began to chase, the gap quickly fell to 6'45" with 124km to go.
The gap continued to drop, and eventually the break shattered into just three riders with 33.2km to go. Cataldo was initially dropped by Pierre Rolland (Team Europcar) and Vasil Kiryienka (Movistar), but battled his way back to the break a few kilometers later. The three then clung to a gap of less than 20 seconds, and as the peloton worked to catch the group. Rolland kept battling. Rolland ended up in the front group that contested the victory.
Vincenzo Nibali went off the front with slightly more than 19km remaining, and the peloton shattered into several groups in the meantime. It looked like Nibali would solo to victory, but Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana Pro Team) attacked a front group of riders that included Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar), Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) and others. Iglinskiy managed to catch a fatigued Nibali just before the 1km marker and soloed to victory. Nibali rolled in for 2nd, and Enrico Gasparotto won the bunch sprint for 3rd.
Sylvain Chavanel reported he didn't have a good feeling about his condition on Sunday — at least not what is needed to race at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He abandoned after Cote de la Redoute.
