Callum Thornley won the 97th edition of Il Lombardia U23, which concluded in Oggiono, in the province of Lecco. The 22-year-old Scot from Edinburgh, riding for Red Bull BORA-hansgrohe Rookies, fresh off a fifth-place finish in the time trial at the World Championships in Kigali (Rwanda), outsprinted British rider Elliot Rowe (Visma Lease a Bike Development), Frenchman Antoine L’Hote (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development), and Mattia Negrente (XDS Astana Development), with whom he had broken away on the final ascent of Marconaga di Ello, just under 6 kilometers from the finish.
The sprint was launched by Negrente (a strong performance by the Italian), but the rider from Verona made the mistake of starting too early, opening the door for his rivals. Thornley came out on the right side, narrowly passing L’Hote and Rowe, with Negrente just off the podium in fourth place. With bigger gaps behind, the first chasers closed out what was a spectacular and extremely fast edition, raced at an average speed of over 45 km/h.
RACE REPORT
The first attack of the day came from Belgian Verdonck (DL Chemicals Experza), Danish rider Nielsen (ColoQuick), and Austrian Holzknecht (Tirol KTM Cycling Team). Their maximum advantage was 34 seconds before being caught at kilometer 36. The second breakaway of the day formed at kilometer 61, initiated by 13 riders: Roberts, L’Hote, Thornley, Boussemaere, Dodd, Fontaine, Marriage, Pavis, Rowe, Boulet, Kessler, Eckerstorfer, and Negrente of XDS Astana Development, the only Italian in the group.
Climbing towards the Ghisallo, eight riders remained at the front: Rowe, Boussemaere, Negrente, L’Hote, Kessler, Pavis, Thornley, and Eckerstorfer. The breakaway crested with a lead of 2'31" over the peloton, with Belgian Boussemaere (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development) winning the prestigious KOM at Madonna del Ghisallo.
At Villa Vergano, Rowe and Thornley accelerated, followed by L’Hote, Negrente, and Boussemaere. The five riders stayed away until the foot of Marconaga di Ello, where Negrente, Thornley, L’Hote, and Rowe surged toward the final finish in Oggiono.
ARRIVAL ORDER
1. Callum Thornley (Gbr-Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe Rookies)
km 170,6 in 3h 46’40 media/h,159
2. Elliot Rowe (Gbr-Visma Lease a Bike Development)
3. Antoine L’Hote (Fra-Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development)
4. Mattia Negrente (Ita-XDS Astana Development)
5. Louic Boussemaere (Bel- Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development) 32”
6. Cole Kessler (Usa-Lidl Trek Future Racing) 56”
7. Benjamin Eckerstorfer (Aut-Tirol KTM Cycling Team) 1’06”
8. Evan Pavis (Fra-Vendee U) 1’16”
9. Baptiste Gregoire (Fra-Groupama FDJ)
10. Cesar Lopez Perez (Esp-Equipo Finisher) 2’20”
photo credit Rodella 2000
