Esteban Chaves wins Tour of Lombardy, capping big season for ORICA-BikeExchange

ESTEBAN Chaves has crowned a glorious season for ORICA-BikeExchange with victory in the Tour of Lombardy.

Esteban Chaves was too good in the Tour of Lombardy — a 241km race from Como to Bergamo. Picture: AFP

ESTEBAN Chaves has crowned a glorious season for ORICA-BikeExchange with victory in the Tour of Lombardy.

The first Colombian to win a “monument”, Chaves added the famed Italian showpiece to his second place at the Giro d’Italia and third place at the Vuelta a Espana.

His breathtaking triumph follows Mathew Hayman’s win at Paris-Roubaix — and again underlines OBE as a legitimate World Tour powerhouse.

Chaves attacked at the base of the penultimate climb, the Selvino, before prevailing in a three-up sprint against Diego Rosa (Astana) and Rigoberto Uran (Cannonade-Drapac).

“It was a dream for me to win Il Lombardia,” Chaves said. “I can’t believe I’ve won this race. This is a monument.

“When I turned professional, I settled down here in Bergamo. I knew the roads but I wasn’t sure if I could win today.

“In the final, I tried to make a difference on the cobbles but Rigoberto (Uran) followed so I had to stay calm and go for the sprint, which is not my forte but I gave everything and I’m so happy that I made it.

Colombian Esteban Chaves crosses the finish line ahead of Diego Rosa during the 110th edition of the giro di Lombardia (Tour of Lombardy). Picture: AFP

“Today was a really amazing result for me and I can say that dreams come true, but this is not accidental this is because all of the team worked for this result.

“This team is truly special because they work with the heart and when you work with the heart you can achieve these results. So it is thanks to ORICA-BikeExchange for believing in me.”

Apart from victory in two of the five monuments — Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege are the others — OBE has excelled on all three Grand Tours.

Chaves led the Giro before finishing second, while Adam Yates was fourth overall at the Tour de France, also claiming the best young rider jersey.

And with four stage victories at the Vuelta to Simon Yates, Dane Magnus Cort (twice) and Jens Keukeleire, OBE stamped itself as a force.

OBE has posted 26 wins for the season, including 17 at World Tour level, OBE has produced 11 different winners (Caleb Ewan is the most prolific with five), it also has the most placings at the highest level.

With a slew of hand-picked recruits primed to join it next season, OBE is poised to get even stronger.

Orica-BikeExchange 2016 Grand Tour results:

Giro d’Italia — 2nd overall (Esteban Chaves), 1 stage win (Esteban Chaves)

Tour de France — 4th overall (Adam Yates), 1 stage win (Michael Matthews)

Vuelta a Espana — 3rd overall (Esteban Chaves), 4 stage wins (Magnus Cort 2, Jens Keukeleire, Simon Yates)

Monument wins:

Paris-Roubaix — Mathew Hayman

Il Lombardia — Esteban Chaves

Originally published as Esteban Chaves wins Tour of Lombardy, capping big season for ORICA-BikeExchange