Larsson gives his all for Kolobnev

Swede Gustav Larsson allowed his Saxo Bank teammates to fight with the favourites at the Giro di Lombardia yesterday in Como, Italy. Alexandr Kolobnev took the sprint for third after teammate Larsson's escape in the final 30 kilometres, including the race's final two climbs.

"Jakob [Fuglsang] and Alexandr were our two leaders, and they did pretty good. I was out there just to keep our team covered in the breakaway, which was good for us," Larsson told Cyclingnews.

Larsson escaped with Mauro Santambrogio (Lampre), Daniel Martin (Garmin), Dries Devenyns (Quick Step) and Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil) after the Ghisallo climb, 40 kilometres to race. Larsson lost contact with the others at the start of the Civiglio climb, but remained with the group of favourites that was chasing.

He attacked before San Fermo to form a new three-man lead group: Alexander Vinokourov (Astana), Santambrogio and teammate Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank). The trio stayed away until six kilometres to race, 300 metres from the top of San Fermo, where Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) started his winning move.

"I was on the limit when I got there. I tried to help the group, but I did not have anything for the climbs," continued Larsson. "The first one [Civiglio] went okay, but on the last one [San Fermo] I could not continue. I had to push myself hard and I was suffering to the finish."

Larsson finished in 37th, 2:01 behind Gilbert, but Kolobnev made the podium and Fuglsang finishes 16th. He ends his season at the Japan Cup on October 25.

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