Very disappointed to see Nibali fold like that, especially when he looked really comfortable up to about 6km to go.

I suspect the reported gaps had something to do with that though: perhaps they were (not as wide as / coming down faster than) we were being told.

It reminded me rather of that Giro stage last year when Nibali took off strongly with about 30km to go before completely falling apart not far from the finish. It's a pattern that's becoming sadly familiar, though credit to him for trying all the same.

Meanwhile the chasers were just sitting and watching each other on the run-in. Which is an effective way to lose a Monument. Seen so much of that lately.

Interesting to ponder what might have happened after the Roche aux Faucons had not Nibali attacked after Rolland was caught. Voeckler might have come into it a bit more, I think.

Iglinsky was a bit like Gasparotto last week: he capitalised on a situation in which the big guns did not quite have it in the finale. Also because he's been turning over solid top 20 performances in the Classics for some years.

I remember him at the 2010 Ronde: he looked really strong in the group not far behind Boonen and Cancellara but his companions were much weaker and he was too far away to make it count.

My 'rides of the day': Rolland, Nibali, Cataldo

Benotti quotes JV above and it does look like it, doesn't it? The thing that struck me is that it wasn't the first time I've seen it happen to Nibali. Volpi must be pee'd off: he knows how to lose a Classic, though that was through a positive for HCG, so I suppose it doesn't count.

It does sound amateurish not to have Nibali gobble a few powers bars especially after the initial break over the top and then down the decsent but once he hit a flat he should taken on board lots to be keep it going, but there you go.