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Ireland’s Dan Martin storms to Tour of Lombardy victory

Garmin-Sharp rider times late sprint to perfection

Dan Martin won the Tour of Lombardy with a late sprint. Photograph: James Startt/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Dan Martin won the Tour of Lombardy with a late sprint. Photograph: James Startt/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
Sun Oct 05 2014 - 17:08

Ireland's Dan Martin timed a late sprint to perfection to claim his first Tour of Lombardy victory on Sunday.

The Garmin-Sharp rider, who came fourth in the race last year, finished ahead of Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) to win the 108th edition of the one-day race.

Portugal's Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) finished third at the end of a hilly 256-km trek from Como to Bergamo.

After safely tackling the final climb up the Bergamo Alto, the 28-year-old Martin attacked with 450 metres remaining and caught his rivals off guard to snatch the win.

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Dutchman Pieter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge) and Belgium's Ben Hermans (BMC) formed a two-man breakaway and built up a slender lead after navigating their way over the key climb of Berbenno.

But the duo were caught by the main peloton five kilometres from the finish as they made their way up the final climb of the Bergamo Alto.

A host of riders, including BMC's Philippe Gilbert who was aiming for a third Lombardy win, launched attacks on the road into Bergamo but they were all powerless to resist Martin's late burst to the finish line.

Martin said: “I love this race, it’s one of my favourite races. To get second and crash in the last corner last year, it’s incredible to win it after all the bad luck this year.”