Oliver Zaugg powers to take victory of Giro Di Lombardia 2011- Cycling News
Leopard-Trek team’s Oliver Zaugg displayed an excellent performance and easily outclassed Daniel Martin to take hold of his first victory of the season at Giro Di Lombardia 2011 on Saturday, October 15.
The race started and finished in Lecco. The 30-years-old Swiss cyclist launched attack in the last ten kilometres and set the fastest time record of 6 hours, 20 minutes and 2 seconds to cover the distance of 241 kilometres.
Recently, Oliver Zaugg earned the ninth place in Tour d’Emilie and eighth place in Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli. He also landed the fifteenth spot in Tour de Suisse and Volta a Catalunya in 2009.
Zaugg told the media, “Ever since I started racing, my job has been to help my captains. The team believed that my condition was good, and they gave me a chance today. They designated Jakob and me as captains together. I am incredibly grateful that the team
gave me a shot in a race like Lombardy".
A group of six cyclists, Claudio Corioni, Andrea Pasqualon, Johan Van Summeren, Yukiya Arashiro, Mikel Astarloza and Omar Bertazzo, made their breakaway lead before the much dreaded incline, Valcava climb.
Prior to the Valcava climb, the six cyclists gained a lead of eight minutes while Liquigas and Nibali managed to get close to the group.
However, in Colma di Sormano climb, the gap was down to less than two minutes and Nibali pushed forward as the leaders took drinks while four cyclists, Gilbert, Luca Paolini, Jakob Fuglsang and Mauro Santambrogio, followed him.
Michael Rogers and Steve Cummings increased their pace and gained a lead over Thomas Lofkvist and Nibali.
Martin also demonstrated brilliant skills but in the final kilometre, he failed to maintain his pace, resulting in Zaugg crossing the finish-line first.
Martin concluded his race as the runner-up with 8 seconds down ahead of Rodriguez Oliver.
Oliver commented, "I remained calm with Nibali off the front. I proved at Beghelli that I had the form. A tactical error cost me the result. It happens often for me that my best form comes at the end of the season. I always come out of the Vuelta really
fresh".
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli team’s Giovanni Visconti was in seventh place with a difference of 16 seconds ahead of Gilbert.
Luca Paolini (Katusha Team), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) and Dario Cataldo (Quickstep Cycling Team) were in eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth place, respectively.
A number of cyclists did not finish the stage, including Davide Malacarne (Quickstep Cycling Team), Bauke Mollema (Rabobank Cycling Team) and Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank Sungard).
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