Giro di Lombardia (2014) Photos October 5

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New World Champion, Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma - Quick Step), at the pre-race press conference at the Como Yacht Club	“I saw it [Rainbow Jersey] last night and I couldn't sleep because I was thinking what it'd be like to wear it”	“On Monday, I went home and had a really warm welcome at the airport. But I told everyone that I was still focusing on my last race of the season, Il Lombardia. I tried stay relaxed, which was not easy because I was still in shock, although I managed to train normally in my hometown. I haven’t reconnoitred the race route, I only know the profile. But Lombardia is such a hard race, you don’t really race the other riders, you race against the course.”
RCS Sport's Stefano Diciatteo and Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma - Quick Step)	Photo Op with Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma - Quick Step) with Lake Como in the background
Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma - Quick Step) and Race Director Mauro Vegni at the Como Yacht Club

Stage 2:    Full Results and Report

Michal Kwiatkowski signing in for his first race in the World Champion's Rainbow Jersey	Cadel Evans with his young boy before his last European professional race. He's announced he will retire in Australia at the beginning of next year.	Wolrd Champ Michal Kwiatkowski (OPQS) rolling to the start in Como
	Il Lombardia start scene in Como	km 50: the first climb (Madonna del Ghisallo, 8.6 km @ 6.2 %, max 14.0 %) of the day with Lake Como in the background
Madonna del Ghisallo	Madonna del Ghisallo	Madonna del Ghisallo
Cresting Madonna del Ghisallo	Michal Kwiatkowski suffered from cramps today and wasn't a factor near the end of the race	The break led by Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Androni) Miguel Rubiano (Colombia)
The chase in Bracca with the world champ	33 km to go: BMC's Steve Morabito leading the peloton on Berbenno (5.5 km @ 5.3 %, max 10.0 %)	Two men break with a small gap: Pieter Weening (Orica GreenEdge), Ben Hermans (Bmc) on Berbenno
A small break of favorites made it over Bergamo Alta with 5 km to go. It looked like there would be a bunch sprint finish, but Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) caught everyone by surprise by surging from the back with 500m to go and easily taking the win	The winning move: “I saw a moment of hesitation. I don’t think the other riders even knew I was there, because I was in last position all the time. Once I had some speed, I knew I’d get a gap, and then it was a question of don’t crash. I’ve got a history of crashing on the last corner - in Lombardy last year, and in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It’s incredible. I have no words.”	Dan Martin ends a injury/crash prone year on a positive note. “It has been a difficult year, After crashes in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Giro d’italia, I also crashed at the Vuelta, at a really bad moment. Even last week, at the Worlds, people fell in front of me, leaving me out of contention. I’ve mostly had good luck in my career, so it’s normal to have a season of bad luck. The team helped me: they really believed I could win today, so it was easier to stay motivated and train hard coming into these final races. I didn’t want to finish the season without a win. After the Vuelta, I really worked 100% and I wanted to win here or in Beijing, and I’ve won here, so it’s a special victory.”
Finish line perspective	The winning margin	One second later, 2nd Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), 3rd Rui Costa (Lampre - Merida). As a consolation, Valverde now leads the World Tour points standings over Alberto Contador
9th Fabio Aru (Astana) + 1s, last men in the lead break	Crash in the final corner involving the trailing riders	25th Cadel EVANS (BMC RACING) + 46s
34th Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF-SAXO) rubbing his infamous knee after going down in the crash at the final corner	Alberto Contador post-race, no longer the World Tour leader	Your 2014 Il Lombardia / Giro di Lombardia winner, his second monument win in as many years
A childhood dream: “Lombardia is one of my first cycling memories. I remember watching it when I started cycling, with Paolo Bettini winning. It’s incredible to win it now. I’ve been to the Sancuary at the Ghisallo many times. I love cycling history and it’s one of the biggest races of the year, so to have my name on the palmares is incredible. Il Lombardia has always been one of my favourite races. I first saw I could do well in the long races in 2009, when I got 8th at Como. It’s one of the most beautiful classics, although it’s a different type of race. The peloton is tired, but you still have the best climbers in the world. The course makes it beautiful, and it’s great being close to the Worlds: you have a great peloton.”	Your 2014 Il Lombardia podium: 2nd Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) + 1s, Daniel Martin (Garmin - Sharp), Rui Costa (Lampre - Merida) + 1s