Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team riders Dario Cataldo and Kevin De Weert did more than just survive the brutal, rainy, 255km Il Lombardia on Saturday — which included the 1.9km, 15.8% average gradient, 25/27% maximum ramp Muro di Sormano — they made the lead group. De Weert was also strong enough to attack on the Madonna Del Ghisallo (8.58km, average gradient of 6.2% and maximum ramp of 14%).
De Weert had as much as a 50" gap on the lead group, but unfortunately, with his lead dwindling, he crashed on a hairpin turn while descending. He got up and kept riding, but was quickly caught.
Cataldo remained in the lead group going into the final 10km, but once Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha Team) attacked, he could not sustain the pace of the chase group. Rodriguez won solo with Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) placing 2nd and Rigoberto Uran (Team Sky ProCycling) taking 3rd.
