Joaquim Rodriguez, Giro di Lombardia

Once bitten, twice shy the old saying goes, but when you are as good as Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez, it does not matter how alert your rivals are to your climbing prowess. The diminutive Spaniard won at Il Lombardia the previous year, conquering the Wall of Sormano and the Villa Vergano to solo to victory, and with it the number one spot in the UCI WorldTour rankings. Approaching this year’s Classic of the Falling Leaves, a repeat performance would see him top the UCI world rankings again, but this time his card was marked.

Purito had only victory on his mind however, as a stunning effort by his team mates, including Daniel Moreno, caught a brave lone attack by Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and brought the bunch back together heading into the final climb. The stage was set for a repeat performance, but his rivals were keen to ensure he did not get it his own way as a number of attacks were launched off the front. But only one attack stuck – the perfectly timed assault by Purito with 10km remaining, on the wet, twisting ascent of the Vergano. With the tears of his narrow World Championship defeat still on his mind, Rodriguez was not to be denied again, holding off the counter-attack of compatriot Alejandro Valverde to win by 17 seconds and top the world once more.