102nd Giro di Lombardia - HC

Italy, October 18, 2008

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Ballan and Sanchez smile before the race.
• Ballan takes a drink to get hydrated before take-off.
• Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) poses for the fans
• Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli won the Coppa Italia and is also a close contender for winning the longest team name award.
• Damiano Cunego was banking on his Lampre team to deliver him to victory.
• Cunego rides by the bike statue.
• Sanchez was happy to be at the start
• Cadel Evans gave it one final hooray before heading towards home.
• Bettini is popular as ever
• Bettini is still a star despite being retire.
• Everybody wants his autograph.
• The riders take the start at 11:00
• Ballan and Cunego are the two Italian darlings
• Matteo Bono before the start.
• Leonardo Bertagnolli (Liquigas) was chilly in the morning
• Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) ready to attack.
• Robert Gesink (Rabobank) had no pressure as there were not enough mountain for him to shine.
• Paolo Tiralongo (Lampre) tried to stay warm
• Andrea Tonti (Quick Step) heads to the sign-in.
• Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) before the start
• Mauro Finetto (CSF Group Navigare) ready to go
• Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) had some bad luck this season.
• Andrea Noè (Liquigas) ready to end the season.
• The bunch rides along Lago di Como.
• The peloton in the picturesque villages in northern Italy.
• Gimme my food – but the Lampre soigneur seems not the be used to hand out something to a guy in white and Ballan stayed hungry.
• Lake Como is nice for a vacation and nice for some bike racing.
• The bunch passes Lake Como
• Cunego set the first blow at the climb up to Civiglio.
• Cunego during the decisive moment when he dropped his companions on the descent.
• Cunego attacks the others on the descent of the Civiglio.
• Cunego gives it his all in the break.
• The fans helped Cunego by cheering him on like crazy.
• A tifosi gets a great picture of the storming Cunego.
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) climbed very well and looked very much at ease with his bike.
• Chris Horner (Astana) and Daniel Moreno (Caisse d'Epargne) tried to catch Cunego.
• Cunego looked in control as he climbed out of the saddle and danced on his pedals.
• Damiano Cunego wins his third Giro di Lombardia.
• Blowing kisses across the line Cunego takes a well-deserved win.
• Cunego celebrates his win
• Cunego takes number three and everyone felt like the perfect season closer.
• Janez Brajkovic (Astana) celebrated his second place in style.
• Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) leads in the chasers some half minute later.
• Janez Brajkovic (Astana) was happy with second place.
• Cunego was jubilant after his exploit.
• Cunego receives the winner's prize.
• Cunego celebrates on the podium
• Yep, number three for me
• Cunego with his wife Margherita

Images by Riccardo Scanferla

• Damiano Cunego had plenty of time to celebrate
• A delighted Damiano Cunego wins his third Giro di Lombardia
• You haven't lost that winning feeling... As Cunego takes the 102 Giro di Lombardia
• Ohhhhh yeah! Or something like that... For Damiano Cunego
• Third time lucky for Lampre's diminuitive rider Damiano Cunego
• Another great day for this Italian as Damiano Cunego wins a third Lombardia title
• Fists pumping, arms swinging, Damiano Cunego arrives at the finish
• Looking good as always was Ale Ballan, who finished 14th
• Italians love a world champion, especially if it's one of their own
• Attention is on the new world champ, Alessandro Ballan (Lampre)
• While his team-mate would win Lombardia there was plenty of attention on Ballan
• Looking a little perturbed was Florent Brard (Cofidis)
• The usual scrum surrounded Damiano Cunego after his win
• A satisfied-looking Cunego surveys the media attention around him
• The calm before the storm for eventual winner Damiano Cunego
• Cunego and his wife embrace after his win
• Damiano Cunego looked good throughout the entire race on his way to the win
• Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) was riding his last race for the team
• Alessandro Ballan on the Ghisallo
• Cunego was sitting pretty on the Ghisallo climb
• Quick Step's Davide Viganò workd hard on the Ghisallo
• Gruppo compatto ahead of the Chisallo
• Danilo Hondo (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) finished in 56th
• The gorgeous Lago di Como provided the backdrop for a beautiful race
• The race organisation proved itself hospitable of the media
• Luca Paolini (Acqua e Sapone) didn't make it to the finish
• Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) before the start
• 'Gee, it's dark in here, boss...' Ballan has a chat in the tunnel to the team boss
• Another year, another podium appearance for Damiano Cunego
• The Lombardia podium (l-r): Janez Brajkovic, Damiano Cunego and Rigoberto Uran
• Damiano Cunego salutes the crowd after winning another Lombardia crown
• Giovanni Visconti is presented after the race
• Samuel Sanchez and Alessandro Ballan before the start
• Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) finished in 35th - not bad, Gibo

Images by Régis Garnier/www.velofotopro.com

• Cadel Evan (Silence Lotto) chats with journalists in the start in Varese
• French hope Mickael Cherel (Française des Jeux) looks happy to be in Varese for his first Giro di Lombardia
• Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) with some fans before the start
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) wins the Giro di Lombardia for the third time
• Damiano Cunego was one happy camper after his win
• The podium (l-r): Janez Brajkovic (Astana), Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne)

Images by Sirotti/www.sirotti.it

• Sanchez in his golden outfit
• Cunego and Ballan were close by each other
• Ballan takes the descent
• The bunch near Lake Como.
• The peloton rides away from the Lake up into the hills.
• The bunch powers along
• Euskaltel put the team into the paceline.
• The attack by Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) stirred things up.
• Simoni quickly separated himself from the bunch.
• Simoni was joined by teammate Michele Scarponi.
• But it was Stefano Garzelli (Acqua Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) who did most of the work later and Simoni was quickly dropped.
• Garzelli rode a good race
• Garzelli on the move
• Ballan made his move on the Ghisallo.
• Ballan passes the top of the Ghisallo climb and rides by the chapel.
• Simoni passes the chapel at the top of the Ghisallo.
• Ballan was tired towards the end of the race.
• Things got a tad dark in the tunnel.
• Lampre kept things in check for the final phase of the race.
• Cunego makes it number three
• Cunego wins after a brilliant solo attack.
• A happy Damiano Cunego delivers another win for Lampre.
• Janez Brajkovic (Astana) won the sprint for second and celebrated like he had won the race.
• Brajkovic showed off his skinny body
• Cunego's smile belied the effort that is clearly visible in his face.
• Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) heads to the line.
• Number three for Cunego.
• The podium with Cunego in the centre and second placed Brajkovic on then left, as well as Daniel Moreno (Caisse d'Epargne) on the right.
• Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) wins the Challenge Weber