MILAN (AP) — Philippe Gilbert of Belgium held off the challenge of Michele Scarponi to retain his Giro Di Lombardia title in wet and slippery conditions.
Gilbert finished 12 seconds ahead of Scarponi on Saturday to win the last major race of the season.
He broke clear with just over three miles remaining on the 161-mile course. Gilbert took the lead on the final descent from the 3,687-foot-high Colma di Sormano.
A suggested 10-minute protest before the race did not take place. Some riders spoke of a protest in response to Italy’s anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri’s recent comments that most cyclists use drugs.
