A great triumph for Joaquim Rodriguez in the final Monument classic race of 2012, the “Giro di Lombardia”. The leader of Katusha Team attacked with ten kilometers to go at the last climb in Villa Vergano (3 kilometers long, 7,4% average, 15% max), which nobody could answer to. The first chasing group tried to close the gap in the following descent, but with no luck. In the end Rodriguez took a fantastic solo win, 9” ahead of Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) in second position, and Rigoberto Uran (Sky) in third on the podium.
With this win Rodriguez managed to take the lead of UCI World Tour Individual Ranking. With just one World Tour race to go, “Tour of Beijing”, the Spanish rider has 692 points: Bradley Wiggins (Sky) is second with 601 points, while Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) is third with 410.
“This is the most important triumph of my whole career” Rodriguez said in Katusha’s press release. “This for me was a perfect season: I won “Fleche-Wallonne”, I took the second position in “Giro d’Italia”, the third place in “Vuelta a Espana”. After that I did my best in order to get ready for World Championships and “Giro di Lombardia”: in the former my performance was so and so, but in the latter it was a triumph. Today I was feeling in great shape: in fact I made my teammates work during all the crucial moments of the race. When I saw that all my rivals were tired and I felt so great, I realized I had a great chance to win. Villa Vergano uphill suited me a lot: I managed to make the difference, to tell the truth I thought that somebody could join me in that attack, but instead nobody could answer and that makes this victory even greater. I think I was one of the favorite riders since the beginning: I was fighting for a double goal, to win this prestigious competition and to take the lead of UCI World Tour Ranking, and I managed to. So I’m really happy”.
Race Results
(2012) - Giro di Lombardia
Burgamo to Lecco (251km)
29 Sep 2012| Position | Name | Nationality | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin | ESP | KATUSHA | 6:36:27 |
| 2 | SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel | ESP | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | 9 |
| 3 | URAN, Rigobero | COL | SKY PROCYCLING | |
| 4 | SANTAMBROGIO, Mauro | ITA | BMC RACING | |
| 5 | Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sergio | KHM | SKY PROCYCLING | |
| 6 | HESJEDAL, Ryder | CAN | GRS | |
| 7 | MOLLEMA, Bauke | NED | RABOBANK | |
| 8 | ZAUGG, Oliver | SUI | RADIOSHACK-NISSAN | |
| 9 | CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto | ESP | SAXO BANK | |
| 10 | KESSIAKOFF, Fredrik Carl Wilhelm | SWE | ASTANA | |
| 11 | QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander | COL | MOVISTAR | |
| 12 | PELLIZOTTI, Franco | ITA | ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI | |
| 13 | CUNEGO, Damiano | ITA | LAMPRE - ISD | 35 |
| 14 | KOLOBNEV, Alexandr | RUS | KATUSHA | 57 |
| 15 | CLARKE, Simon | AUS | ORICA-GREENEDGE | |
| 16 | MARTIN, Daniel | IRL | GRS | +1:23 |
| 17 | VAN AVERMAET, Greg | BEL | BMC RACING | +1:25 |
| 18 | PERAUD, Jean-Christophe | FRA | AG2R LA MONDIALE | |
| 19 | RABOTTINI, Matteo | ITA | FARNESE VINI | |
| 20 | DI LUCA, Danilo | ITA | ACQUA & SAPONE | |
| 21 | DUARTE AREVALO, Fabio Andres | COL | COLOMBIA - COLDEPORTES | |
| 22 | MARCZYNSKI, Tomasz | POL | VACANSOLEIL-DCM | |
| 23 | RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Miguel Angel | COL | ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI | |
| 24 | Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, Carlos | COL | ACQUA & SAPONE | |
| 25 | ANACONA GOMEZ, Winner | COL | LAMPRE - ISD | |
| 26 | NIBALI, Vincenzo | ITA | LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE | +1:30 |
| 27 | VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Gorka | ESP | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | |
| 28 | BASSO, Ivan | ITA | LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE | +1:50 |
| 29 | BARDET, Romain | FRA | AG2R LA MONDIALE | +2:10 |
| 30 | CATALDO, Dario | ITA | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP | +2:14 |
| 31 | BAKELANTS, Jan | BEL | RADIOSHACK-NISSAN | +2:26 |
| 32 | NIEVE ITURALDE, Mikel | ESP | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | +2:38 |
| 33 | TIRALONGO, Paolo | ITA | ASTANA | +3:00 |
| 34 | NOCENTINI, Rinaldo | ITA | AG2R LA MONDIALE | +3:03 |
| 35 | MARCATO, Marco | ITA | VACANSOLEIL-DCM | |
| 36 | ANTON HERNANDEZ, Igor | ESP | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | +4:07 |
| 37 | NORDHAUG, Lars Petter | NOR | SKY PROCYCLING | |
| 38 | FARIA DA COSTA, Rui Alberto | POR | MOVISTAR | |
| 39 | TEN DAM, Laurens | NED | RABOBANK | +4:09 |
| 40 | MORI, Manuele | ITA | LAMPRE - ISD | +5:06 |
| 41 | ULISSI, Diego | ITA | LAMPRE - ISD | |
| 42 | PIRES, Bruno | POR | SAXO BANK | +7:29 |
| 43 | SÖRENSEN, Nicki | DEN | SAXO BANK | |
| 44 | PAULINHO, Sergio Miguel Moreira | POR | SAXO BANK | |
| 45 | SÖRENSEN, Chris Anker | DEN | SAXO BANK | |
| 46 | TOSATTO, Matteo | ITA | SAXO BANK | |
| 47 | HOOGERLAND, Johnny | NED | VACANSOLEIL-DCM | +10:14 |
| 48 | GIORDANI, Leonardo | ITA | FARNESE VINI | |
| 49 | MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel | ESP | KATUSHA | |
| 50 | WELLENS, Tim | BEL | LOTTO BELISOL | |
| 51 | LOSADA ALGUACIL, Alberto | ESP | KATUSHA | +11:23 |
| 52 | BOSISIO, Gabriele | ITA | UTENSILNORD NAMED | +13:11 |
| 53 | BENNET, George | NZL | RADIOSHACK-NISSAN | +20:03 |
| 54 | BILBAO, Peio | ESP | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | |
| 55 | HERMANS, Ben | BEL | RADIOSHACK-NISSAN | DNF |
| 56 | HORNER, Christopher | USA | RADIOSHACK-NISSAN | DNF |
| 57 | POPOVYCH, Yaroslav | UKR | RADIOSHACK-NISSAN | DNF |
| 58 | ROHREGGER, Thomas | AUT | RADIOSHACK-NISSAN | DNF |
| 59 | ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar | ESP | RADIOSHACK-NISSAN | DNF |
| 60 | GADRET, John | FRA | AG2R LA MONDIALE | DNF |
| 61 | BONNAFOND, Guillaume | FRA | AG2R LA MONDIALE | DNF |
| 62 | BERARD, Julien | FRA | AG2R LA MONDIALE | DNF |
| 63 | GEORGES, Sylvain | FRA | AG2R LA MONDIALE | DNF |
| 64 | MONTAGUTI, Matteo | ITA | AG2R LA MONDIALE | DNF |
| 65 | CHIARINI, Riccardo | ITA | ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI | DNF |
| 66 | ERMETI, Giairo | ITA | ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI | DNF |
| 67 | FELLINE, Fabio | ITA | ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI | DNF |
| 68 | OCHOA, Carlos José | VEN | ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI | DNF |
| 69 | SELLA, Emanuele | ITA | ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI | DNF |
| 70 | SERPA PEREZ, Jose Rodolfo | COL | ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI | DNF |
| 71 | DAMUSEAU, Thomas | FRA | ARG | DNF |
| 72 | HUGUET, Yann | FRA | ARG | DNF |
| 73 | SPRICK, Matthieu | FRA | ARG | DNF |
| 74 | FRÖHLINGER, Johannes | GER | ARG | DNF |
| 75 | GENIEZ, Alexandre | FRA | ARG | DNF |
| 76 | GESCHKE, Simon | GER | ARG | DNF |
| 77 | DUMOULIN, Tom | NED | ARG | DNF |
| 78 | LUDVIGSSON, Tobias | SWE | ARG | DNF |
| 79 | CODOL, Massimo | ITA | ACQUA & SAPONE | DNF |
| 80 | DONATI, Alessandro | ITA | ACQUA & SAPONE | DNF |
| 81 | CIAVATTA, Paolo | ITA | ACQUA & SAPONE | DNF |
| 82 | MASCIARELLI, Andrea | ITA | ACQUA & SAPONE | DNF |
| 83 | MIHOLJEVIC, Vladimir | CRO | ACQUA & SAPONE | DNF |
| 84 | TABORRE, Fabio | ITA | ACQUA & SAPONE | DNF |
| 85 | BRAJKOVIC, Janez | SLO | ASTANA | DNF |
| 86 | GAVAZZI, Francesco | ITA | ASTANA | DNF |
| 87 | GRIVKO, Andriy | UKR | ASTANA | DNF |
| 88 | DYACHENKO, Alexsandr | KAZ | ASTANA | DNF |
| 89 | PONZI, Simone | ITA | ASTANA | DNF |
| 90 | ARU, Fabio | ITA | ASTANA | DNF |
| 91 | GILBERT, Philippe | BEL | BMC RACING | DNF |
| 92 | BALLAN, Alessandro | ITA | BMC RACING | DNF |
| 93 | FRANK, Mathias | SUI | BMC RACING | DNF |
| 94 | CUMMINGS, Stephen | GBR | BMC RACING | DNF |
| 95 | MORABITO, Steve | SUI | BMC RACING | DNF |
| 96 | SANTAROMITA, Ivan | ITA | BMC RACING | DNF |
| 97 | POZZOVIVO, Domenico | ITA | COLNAGO - CSF INOX | DNF |
| 98 | BRAMBILLA, Gianluca | ITA | COLNAGO - CSF INOX | DNF |
| 99 | DELLE STELLE, Christian | ITA | COLNAGO - CSF INOX | DNF |
| 100 | BATTAGLIN, Enrico | ITA | COLNAGO - CSF INOX | DNF |
| 101 | PASQUALON, Andrea | ITA | COLNAGO - CSF INOX | DNF |
| 102 | PAGANI, Angelo | ITA | COLNAGO - CSF INOX | DNF |
| 103 | LOCATELLI, Stefano | ITA | COLNAGO - CSF INOX | DNF |
| 104 | COLBRELLI, Sonny | ITA | COLNAGO - CSF INOX | DNF |
| 105 | ATAPUMA HURTADO, Darwin | COL | COLOMBIA - COLDEPORTES | DNF |
| 106 | CHAVES RUBIO, Johan Esteban | COL | COLOMBIA - COLDEPORTES | DNF |
| 107 | LAVERDE JIMENEZ, Luis Felipe | COL | COLOMBIA - COLDEPORTES | DNF |
| 108 | OSPINA NAVARRO, Dalivier | COL | COLOMBIA - COLDEPORTES | DNF |
| 109 | PANTANO, Jarlinson | COL | COLOMBIA - COLDEPORTES | DNF |
| 110 | ROMERO CORREDOR, Jeffry Johan | COL | COLOMBIA - COLDEPORTES | DNF |
| 111 | RODRIGUEZ GALINDO, Michael | COL | COLOMBIA - COLDEPORTES | DNF |
| 112 | LANDA MEANA, Mikel | ESP | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | DNF |
| 113 | MINGUEZ AYALA, Miguel | ESP | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | DNF |
| 114 | TXURRUKA, Amets | ESP | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | DNF |
| 115 | POZZATO, Filippo | ITA | FARNESE VINI | DNF |
| 116 | DE NEGRI, Pier Paolo | ITA | FARNESE VINI | DNF |
| 117 | FAILLI, Francesco | ITA | FARNESE VINI | DNF |
| 118 | MAZZANTI, Luca | ITA | FARNESE VINI | DNF |
| 119 | PRONI, Alessandro | ITA | FARNESE VINI | DNF |
| 120 | BALLONI, Alfredo | ITA | FARNESE VINI | DNF |
| 121 | CASAR, Sandy | FRA | FDJ-BIG MAT | DNF |
| 122 | FEDRIGO, Pierrick | FRA | FDJ-BIG MAT | DNF |
| 123 | PINEAU, Cédric | FRA | FDJ-BIG MAT | DNF |
| 124 | ROY, Jérémy | FRA | FDJ-BIG MAT | DNF |
| 125 | PINOT, Thibaut | FRA | FDJ-BIG MAT | DNF |
| 126 | JEANNESSON, Arnold | FRA | FDJ-BIG MAT | DNF |
| 127 | VEIKKANEN, Jussi | FIN | FDJ-BIG MAT | DNF |
| 128 | VICHOT, Arthur | FRA | FDJ-BIG MAT | DNF |
| 129 | HAAS, Nathan | AUS | GRS | DNF |
| 130 | HOWES, Alex | USA | GRS | DNF |
| 131 | LE MEVEL, Christophe | FRA | GRS | DNF |
| 132 | STETINA, Peter | USA | GRS | DNF |
| 133 | TALANSKY, Andrew | USA | GRS | DNF |
| 134 | WEGMANN, Fabian | GER | GRS | DNF |
| 135 | CARUSO, Giampaolo | ITA | KATUSHA | DNF |
| 136 | GUSEV, Vladimir | RUS | KATUSHA | DNF |
| 137 | PAOLINI, Luca | ITA | KATUSHA | DNF |
| 138 | TROFIMOV, Yury | RUS | KATUSHA | DNF |
| 139 | BONO, Matteo | ITA | LAMPRE - ISD | DNF |
| 140 | NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw | POL | LAMPRE - ISD | DNF |
| 141 | MARZANO, Marco | ITA | LAMPRE - ISD | DNF |
| 142 | LLOYD, Matthew | AUS | LAMPRE - ISD | DNF |
| 143 | CAPECCHI, Eros | ITA | LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE | DNF |
| 144 | CARUSO, Damiano | ITA | LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE | DNF |
| 145 | MOSER, Moreno | ITA | LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE | DNF |
| 146 | RATTO, Daniele | ITA | LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE | DNF |
| 147 | SALERNO, Cristiano | ITA | LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE | DNF |
| 148 | SARMIENTO TUNARROSA, Cayetano José | COL | LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE | DNF |
| 149 | MEERSMAN, Gianni | BEL | LOTTO BELISOL | DNF |
| 150 | WILLEMS, Frederik | BEL | LOTTO BELISOL | DNF |
| 151 | DE CLERCQ, Bart | BEL | LOTTO BELISOL | DNF |
| 152 | DOCKX, Gert | BEL | LOTTO BELISOL | DNF |
| 153 | VAN LEIJEN, Joost | NED | LOTTO BELISOL | DNF |
| 154 | VANENDERT, Dennis | BEL | LOTTO BELISOL | DNF |
| 155 | VANENDERT, Jelle | BEL | LOTTO BELISOL | DNF |
| 156 | COBO, José | ESP | MOVISTAR | DNF |
| 157 | PARDILLA BELLON, Sergio | ESP | MOVISTAR | DNF |
| 158 | BRUSEGHIN, Marzio | ITA | MOVISTAR | DNF |
| 159 | GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, José Ivan | ESP | MOVISTAR | DNF |
| 160 | LASTRAS GARCIA, Pablo | ESP | MOVISTAR | DNF |
| 161 | VISCONTI, Giovanni | ITA | MOVISTAR | DNF |
| 162 | ALBASINI, Michael | SUI | ORICA-GREENEDGE | DNF |
| 163 | BEPPU, Fumiyuki | JPN | ORICA-GREENEDGE | DNF |
| 164 | GERRANS, Simon | AUS | ORICA-GREENEDGE | DNF |
| 165 | MEIER, Christian | CAN | ORICA-GREENEDGE | DNF |
| 166 | LANGEVELD, Sebastian | NED | ORICA-GREENEDGE | DNF |
| 167 | MEYER, Cameron | AUS | ORICA-GREENEDGE | DNF |
| 168 | WEENING, Pieter | NED | ORICA-GREENEDGE | DNF |
| 169 | CHAVANEL, Sylvain | FRA | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP | DNF |
| 170 | DEVENYNS, Dries | BEL | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP | DNF |
| 171 | DE WEERT, Kevin | BEL | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP | DNF |
| 172 | GOLAS, Michal | POL | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP | DNF |
| 173 | PAUWELS, Serge | BEL | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP | DNF |
| 174 | VANDEWALLE, Kristof | BEL | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP | DNF |
| 175 | PINEAU, Jérôme | FRA | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP | DNF |
| 176 | SLAGTER, Tom Jelte | NED | RABOBANK | DNF |
| 177 | GARATE, Juan Manuel | ESP | RABOBANK | DNF |
| 178 | KELDERMAN, Wilco | NED | RABOBANK | DNF |
| 179 | KRUIJSWIJK, Steven | NED | RABOBANK | DNF |
| 180 | MARTENS, Paul | GER | RABOBANK | DNF |
| 181 | CLEMENT, Stef | NED | RABOBANK | DNF |
| 182 | PATE, Danny | USA | SKY PROCYCLING | DNF |
| 183 | PORTE, Richie | AUS | SKY PROCYCLING | DNF |
| 184 | PUCCIO, Salvatore | ITA | SKY PROCYCLING | DNF |
| 185 | LÖFKVIST, Thommas | SWE | SKY PROCYCLING | DNF |
| 186 | BOARO, Manuele | ITA | SAXO BANK | DNF |
| 187 | MAJKA, Rafal | POL | SAXO BANK | DNF |
| 188 | BAILETTI, Paolo | ITA | UTENSILNORD NAMED | DNF |
| 189 | FANELLI, Stiven | ITA | UTENSILNORD NAMED | DNF |
| 190 | GIRARDI, Edoardo | ITA | UTENSILNORD NAMED | DNF |
| 191 | MAGGIORE, Gianluca | ITA | UTENSILNORD NAMED | DNF |
| 192 | LAGANA, Sergio | ITA | UTENSILNORD NAMED | DNF |
| 193 | ROCCHETTI, Frederico | ITA | UTENSILNORD NAMED | DNF |
| 194 | VILA ERRANDONEA, Patxi Javier | ESP | UTENSILNORD NAMED | DNF |
| 195 | DE GENDT, Thomas | BEL | VACANSOLEIL-DCM | DNF |
| 196 | LEUKEMANS, Björn | BEL | VACANSOLEIL-DCM | DNF |
| 197 | DENIFL, Stefan | AUT | VACANSOLEIL-DCM | DNF |
| 198 | SELVAGGI, Mirko | ITA | VACANSOLEIL-DCM | DNF |
| 199 | VALLS FERRI, Rafael | ESP | VACANSOLEIL-DCM | DNF |
