In 2014, Dan Martin won his second Monument when he won Il Lombardia after a late attack. The Irishman had been part of a star-studded break that went clear on the descent of the Bergamo Alta.
Also included in the group were Alejandro Valverde, Rui Costa, Tim Wellens, Samuel Sanchez, Michael Albasini, and previous winners of the race Philippe Gilbert and Joaquin Rodriguez.
Inside the final kilometre, as the riders were preparing for the sprint, Martin surprised the others when he attacked up the right-hand side from the back of the group. The others hesitated giving him the opportunity to pull clear and he had enough time to throw his arms in the air at the finish in Bergamo.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) finished second, while Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) rounded out the podium in third.
“It’s just incredible to win it after all the bad luck this year,” Martin told Velonews afterwards. “The team believed in me all the way. To win this is just, ah, incredible.
“I actually planned to attack on the last climb but I couldn’t get through. There were too many people. I needed to try something and the opportunity happened. I just had to go as hard as I could and not crash in the last corner, as I did at Liège.”
Results
1 Daniel Martin (IRL) Garmin–Sharp 6h 25′ 33”
2 Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team +1″
3 Rui Costa (POR) Lampre–Merida +1″
4 Tim Wellens (BEL) Lotto–Belisol +1″
5 Samuel Sánchez (ESP) BMC Racing Team +1″
6 Michael Albasini (SUI) Orica–GreenEDGE +1″
7 Philippe Gilbert (BEL) BMC Racing Team +1″
8 Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) Team Katusha +1″
9 Fabio Aru (ITA) Astana +1″
10 Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) Ag2r–La Mondiale +14″
