PHILIPPE GILBERT’S BID to add a third Tour of Lombardy crown to his collection, a week after being crowned world champion, ended 80 km from the finish due to a crash in today’s race.
Gilbert, the former Belgian champion who rides for BMC, was one of several riders who came down on the descent of the steep Muro di Sormano, made slippery by the rain, around 80 km from the finish.
The Belgian continued racing for several kilometres but finally got off his bike to hitch a lift to the finish in a team car.
Gilbert’s victory chances at the time of his crash were intact, despite a 20sec deficit to a small chasing group which notably contained Alberto Contador, Bauke Mollema, Joaquin Rodriguez, Rigoberto Uran and Vicenzo Nibali).
