Giro di Lombardia, Warren Barguil 12th
Despite a mechanical problem in the final part of the race, Warren Barguil finished 12th in Como, the finishing town of the 116th Giro di Lombardia.
Photo GettyImages
Louis Barré
“It went very fast straight away. A big tempo was set on the race from the start by Movistar and UAE, the descents were taken less quickly. A UCI WorldTour rhythm that I discovered on the two Canadian classics, and that I appreciate for my part. Before the Gishallo it was very fast on the flat, it was difficult, I had a little bit of trouble to place myself at the foot of the hill, but once I was on the ascent of the pass, I went up. On the summit it was really strong before the switchback, it broke a bit, but then the guys managed to come back on Warren and me. On the flat parts, afterwards, it was a bit slow and in the bump, I took a break on the descent. I had to plug a hole, which forced me to make another good effort. I managed to get into San Fermo Della Battaglia, and I was still in the peloton at the foot of the Civiglio for my first monument. After that I didn’t have too many legs, I made a mistake with my gearing and it was a bit complicated. I finished with a hunger, but I learned a lot from this Giro di Lombardia and I am very happy to have been able to race and finish my first Monument in my first season in the professional ranks”.
On the line
Warren
“I had good feelings on this Giro di Lombardia. I knew after the 3 Valli Varesine that I wasn’t at the level I was in the last weeks, the same for my sensations. Unfortunately, I had some mechanical problems on this edition of the Lombardy. I had to change my bike before the Civiglio. My saddle on the previous descent was well down, and I felt like I was pedalling like a duck. I couldn’t have taken the win on this Monument, but I would have liked to see how my race would have gone with the ascent of this penultimate difficulty of the day without having suffered this setback. When I started again, I gave everything to try to get a top 10. I finished 12th in Como. I finish my season with good feelings which is a good thing. As far as the Giro di Lombardia is concerned, I will come back to this race next year, it is indeed a classic that I like a lot”.
The debrief’
“I would have liked to see Warren enter the final of this last Monument of the season without any mechanical problem. He was forced to change his bike just before the Civiglio climb. I think he went through a pothole and that made him take his saddle cart down just before this climb. That’s a shame. But that’s the race. Nevertheless he finished 12th in Como, which shows that he is in very good shape at the end of the season. I also want to underline the fact that we still had six riders in the main peloton at the top of the Madonna Del Ghisallo. Warren is not alone in the final of the UCI WorldTour events, even in the most beautiful races of the calendar, but on the contrary he is surrounded and accompanied by his team-mates. I would also like to underline the performances of Louis Barré and Kévin Vauquelin who did a great job in this Giro di Lombardia, which was the very first Monument of their career”.