Double Lombardia victory for Silence-Lotto, says Damiani

Cadel Evans' teamwork and Philippe Gilbert's win in the Giro di Lombardia on Saturday in Como, Italy, was a double win for Silence-Lotto, according to its sports director Roberto Damiani.

"We first worked with [Wilfried] Cretskens, the other riders, [Charles] Wegelius on Ghisallo, [Matthew] Lloyd on Civiglio and then our World Champion, Cadel Evans.  He put himself to work for Gilbert, this is almost as big as the victory itself," Damiani told Gazzetta TV.

Silence-Lotto's riders won five times in three weeks: Evans at the World Championships and Gilbert at the Coppa Sabatini, Paris-Tours, Giro del Piemonte and Giro di Lombardia.

The Belgian team faced criticism at the start of the season for not winning.  Evans gave Silence-Lotto its first win at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali on March 28.  It reached the halfway point of the season with only five wins.

"We talked at the end of August about what had not gone right up to that point," continued Damiani.  "Above all, we had an incredible response from our riders.  There are these moments in life and sport where it seems like you can win even without your rear wheel.  Lombardia was one of those moments."

Italy's Damiani joined Silence-Lotto in 2007.  He worked previously with Mapei, Fassa Bortolo, Liquigas and LPR.

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