The young Colombian rider Carlos Alberto Betancur won with merit this Classic race, after a breakaway attempt with Swiss rider Oliver Zaugg that lasted 2 laps (9km each) and which presented the tough ascent of Colle di S. Luca (220m of climbing at 10.8% average gradient).

 

The race, in my opinion one of the most beautiful in the international calendar, included 5 ascents of the Bolognese "wall": the peloton rode most of them at a considerable pace, with times ranging from 6'30 "(VAM = 2030 m/h) and 6'15 "(VAM = 2110 m/h).

 

Betancur and Zaugg did the 4th ascent in 6’05” (VAM = 2170m/h), whereas the last passage was done in 5’50” (VAM = 2250m/h) by the Colombian, confirming his excellent climbing and endurance skills. 

Mollema, Uran, Rebellin came after Betancur, climbing only 6" faster than him.

 

Each edition of the race is a different story, but it could be interesting to report some of the best performances on the Colle di S. Luca of the last few years:

 

- 5’30”  F. Schleck (2007), Evans (2009)

- 5’31”  Rebellin (2007)

- 5’32”  Di Luca  (2008)

- 5’35”  Horner (2007)

- 5’40”  Riccò (2007), Gesink, Fuglsang, Lovkist (2009), Pellizotti, Menchov (Giro 2009)

- 5’48” Cunego (2007)