Patrik Sinkewitz, who is awaiting a judgement from the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following the conclusion of his trial, took victory at the three-day 42nd Settimana Lombarda.
The German road champion Greipel won virtually on his doorstep. "We really wanted to win the race today. Every victory is something special, but to win for a Belgian team in Brussels is something special," explained the Rostock-born rider after his 13th win of the season. Milan-San Remo winner Gerald Ciolek (Pulheim) finished sixth.
Sinkewitz, who faces a lifetime ban for doping if convicted by the CAS, had won the first two stages of the tour in northern Italy as a soloist. At the end in Bergamo, the captain of the third-class Meridiana team settled for twelfth place and secured a lead of 1:21 minutes over the Croatian Radoslav Rogina in the final standings.
According to the National Anti-Doping Agency NADA, the Hessian had tested positive for growth hormones in 2011. However, the German Court of Arbitration had doubts about the scientific reliability of the limits set out in the WADA Code and acquitted the former T-Mobile pro. NADA had lodged an appeal against this.
