Il Lombardia, Bergamo > Lecco, 257kms
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Il Lombardia sets off from its new start in Bergamo, with the Alta Citta as a pleasing backdrop...
All eyes are on Philippe Gilbert in his first race as World Champion - but he's getting his new jersey very wet now..!
"Don't look at me, I can't help you Phil..!"
Gilbert's new-look BMC bike needs fixing too - but there's no stopping the deluge of water...
The treacherous roads and high speeds have caused a big split in the peloton - Richie Porte is flat-out trying to close a 40-seconds gap for Sky and Rigoberto Uran...
Christophe Le Mevel is chasing flat-out for Garmin and their leaders, Dan Martin and Ryder Hesjedal...
Lars Petter Nordhaug is chasing the chasers on some very slick-looking roads after a bike change...
An escape has been allowed to go after a brutal first hour - Christian Salerno leads about twelve riders towards the Valico di Valcava...
The peloton has eased up now, but the roads are no-less dangerous in the rain...
The escape has gained just three minutes halfway up the Valcava, in these conditions no-one is letting them get too far away...
BMC and Gilbert lead the peloton of just 40-or-so riders on the Valcava...
Gilbert looks strong between De Weert and Quintana as the Muro di Sormano begins...
Alberto Contador has moved to the front as the steepest part of Sormano begins - he has Vincenzo Nibali right next to him...
Nibali is starting to stretch his legs and make other legs hurt a little more...
Suddenly, Joachim Rodrguez is leading the favourites - and they're closing in on the early escape...
Romain Bardet reaches the summit of Sormano first - incredibly he'll stay away until the Madonna del Ghisallo, over 30-kilometres away..!
Rodrguez follows Bardet to the summit about one-minute later - well ahead of all the other favourites...
Gilbert has lost about fifteen seconds on the Sormano - his chase of Rodriguez will see him crash out of the race on the ensuing descent..!
Simon Clarke is still in contention too - maybe it's his call today, maybe..?
Dan Martin is further back, looking cold and miserable in the rain and fog...
The stragglers are in need of a push or more on the Sormano wall...
He's been in the early escape and been caught, now Alberto Losada sets the tempo that has caught Bardet and is chasing a lone escaper...
Kevin De Weert is the lone escaper as the Madonna del Ghisallo rears up in the last hour of racing...
About 35 riders form the main group as it climbs the cloud-covered Madonna del Ghisallo in gentle pursuit of De Weert...
Rui Costa has attacked on the descent to Lake Lecco - he'll be the first to arrive on the final climb...
Gorka Verdugo has attacked and leads the race on the last climb...
As the rain pelts down again, Ryder Hesjedal is chasing hard - and hurting Contador in the process..!
Rodriguez has attacked in the last 100-metres of the climb..!
Hi face says it all - Rodriguez plans on winning this race..!
Joachim Rodriguez celebrates on a very damp day with Sanchez and Uran...
