Bauke Mollema beats Egan Bernal to win the Tour of Lombardy

Dutch rider Bauke Mollema crossed the line alone on the banks of Lake Como to take victory ahead of the race favourites with a solo break from 20km in cycling's season-ending Tour of Lombardy on Saturday

Bauke Mollema beats Egan Bernal to win the Tour of Lombardy

Dutch rider Bauke Mollema crossed the line alone on the banks of Lake Como to take victory ahead of the race favourites with a solo break from 20km in cycling's season-ending Tour of Lombardy on Saturday.

Mollema attacked during a lull on the second-to-last climb with 18 kilometers to go, taking a 20-second advantage over the Civiglio and held his lead through the descent and final ascent to take one of the most significant victories of his career.

"I can't believe I've won a Monument," said the rider from Groningen who won a stage of the Tour de France in 2017, and the San Sebastian classic in 2016.

Tour de France champion Bernal, ten years younger than the winner, was content with a podium finish, "Mollema was the strongest today, it was a tough race but I loved it and hope to win one day."

Mollema became the first Dutch winner since Hennie Kuiper in 1981.

"I knew I had to go, the others were more explosive than me, so I had to," said Mollema, of his early break on the penultimate climb.

Mollema’s attack came after Trek-Segafredo played an aggressive race, first with Toms Skujins in the breakaway, and then when Skujins was eventually caught, Giulio Ciccone pushed the pace over the steep Sormano climb to make the first crucial selection of the 243-kilometer race.

Valverde, 39, settled for his third second-place finish in the race.

2019 Tour of Lombardy Top 10

1 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 5:52:59
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:16
3 Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) Team Ineos
4 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana pro Team
5 Michael Woods (Can) Ef Education First 0:00:34
6 Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
7 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma
8 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:50
9 Pierre Latour (Fra) Ag2r la Mondiale
10 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-Fdj