Kristoff wins Milan-San Remo

Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) won the 105th Milan-San Remo taking the sprint ahead of Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) and Ben Swift (Team Sky). He easily pulled away in the closing meters after a perfect leadout from his teammate Luca Paolini.

It was the biggest career win for Kristoff, who became the first Norwegian to win the race.

As expected, the race once again came down to a mass sprint, with most of the top names making it through to the end. However, Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) finished only fifth, last year's winner Gerald Ciolek (MTN Qhubeka) ninth, and heavy favourite Peter Sagan (Cannondale) only 10th in a rain-affected race that split and regrouped several times as the peloton tackled a more traditional looking edition of the race.

The top sprinters had all survived up until the foot of the final climb of the Poggio, at which point an attack from Vincenzo Nibali - who had attacked on the Cipressa - was neutralised. John Degenkolb unluckily punctured near the base of the climb but Team Sky, BMC and Belkin all attempted to split the field on the fast run-in to Sam Remo. It was Katusha who took control. Paolini powered to the front inside the final kilometre at a crucial moment when discipline and calmness were required.

Omega Pharma tried to position Cavendish on the right hand side and although he had enough power to overtake an fading Sacha Modolo, he was powerless to stop Kristoff from charging for the line in a sprint reminiscent of Oscar Friere's last win here in 2010.

Wet, wet, wet

The riders were served a taste of the conditions they would face during the race as they headed to the sign-in close to the Arco della Pace at the end of Corso Sempione. Showers and grey skies alternated in rapid frequency, with riders covered in rain jackets, leg warmers and gloves.

The riders rolled out from central Milan at 9:50 am as planned, with the official race start on the edge of the city in Via della Chiesa Rossa. With the 8.5km transfer and the 294km race route, the riders covered over 300km.

The roads and the Milan tram tracks were wet and slippery, with Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) crashing. He hurt his elbow and was forced to quit the race before it had officially begun.

The attacks came as soon as the flag as dropped, with Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin), Jan Barta (Netapp-Endura) the first to jump away. David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) was keen to get in the move in what is his final Milan-San Remo. However he was chased down and teammate Nathan Haas jumped across as a breakaway of seven riders formed.

The peloton was looking for a controlled race and let the magnificent seven go and they quickly gained a minute. The seven were Matteo Bono (Lampre Merida), Haas (Garmin-Sharp), Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF), Antonio Parrinello (Androni Giocattoli), Tjallingii (Belkin), Barta (NetApp-Endura) and Marc de Maar (UnitedHealthCare).

By the time the riders reached Pavia, after 35km, the break already had a gap of seven minutes. It reached 10 minutes after 45km but then the peloton began to react, with the first hour of the race covered at 47.7km/h.

Cannondale led the pursuit, with additional help from several other teams. However occasional rain showers dampened their enthusiasm and soaked the riders. A hailstorm also hit the race on the gradual slopes of the Passo Turchino, with temperatures falling to 5 degrees Celsius, but the gradual climb up from the Lombardy plain did little to change the race.

The break emerged from the 180m long Passo Turchino tunnel with a lead of eight minutes and a view of the Mediterranean offered hope of a dry finale. However it was not to be and spring had not yet arrived on the Italian Riviera. The rain returned as the riders headed west along the Aurelia coast road. Eating and drinking would be as vital as riding a tactically perfect race.

Peter Sagan stopped for a mechanical problem but was soon on his way and his Cannondale team continued to work on the front, with help from Orica-GreenEdge, Giant-Shimano and Trek Factory Racing.

As the riders reached the 175km point of the race, with still more than 100km to go, Boem struggled at the back of the break with cramp. All the seven breakaway riders were fatigued and wet after making a huge effort together, an effort of glory and sacrifice for their teammates rather than of personal ambition.

Before the second feed zone, at 70km to go, the break was reduced to just five riders. First Boem was dropped, then Haas sat up after an unfortunate puncture. After five hours of racing, much of it in the rain, the average speed was still above 42km/h. The gap between the breakaway and the peloton was down to 6:00 as the first capi climb, the Capo Mele, neared.

The gap was under three minutes as the peloton hit the Capo Berta, with the break down to only three riders. The rain let up as the Cipressa approached but the roads were still wet, and it had rained so heavily at the finish that the road was covered with several inches of water, a potentially dangerous situation which organizers hastened to clear away.

The hard conditions took their toll, as reports came through that Omega Pharma-QuickStep was starting to lose its sprint train, although Cavendish was still holding on.

On the Cipressa, Bono was the first to be dropped. Some 1:30 behind them, Cannondale led the way up, stringing out the field and with riders falling off the back with regularity. Nibali took off with 25km to go and quickly picked up a lead on the winding wet road. In no time he had caught and passed Bono.

As the road rose, the gap to the initial break continued to fall. The bad weather didn't seem to bother Nibali, who calmly made his way up to the two remaining leaders, catching and passing them with 20km left.

More and more riders tried to jump away from the chasing group, but Cannondale did their best to hold things together with Alessandro De Marchi providing Sagan with crucial support. Nibali built his lead up to 49 seconds with 15km to go, as Tjallingii tried unsuccessfully to follow.

Sky moved up to the front of the chase, riding for Edvald Boasson Hagen, and the gap had fallen to 20 seconds with 10km - and the Poggio - still to go. Nibali had started to fade and at the foot of the climb; he only held a 13-second advantage.

Lotto led the furious chase, catching the Astana rider on the ascent with 9km to go, but it was Trek's Fabian Cancellara who took off next with Gregory Rast, along with Enrico Battaglin of Bardiani going clear. There was a brief volley from Gilbert but he was unable to make an impression as up ahead as Rast and Battaglin tried to forge clear. They were caught near the top of the climb and it was Lars Petter Nordhaug (Belkin) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) who attempted to split the field on the treacherous descent.

Andre Greipel had lost contact on the climb but bravely fought back before the run-in to the line.

With 2km to go, many of the top names were still there as the mass sprint was set up. Katusha led the way to the 1km marker. Gilbert shot up the left hand side, and Cavendish put in his shot, but it was Kristoff who took the win with the Norwegian pulling away in the closing meters for a convincing win.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha6:55:56
2Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 1 - Cell 2
3Ben Swift (GBr) Team SkyRow 2 - Cell 2
4Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 5 - Cell 2
7Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 8 - Cell 2
10Peter Sagan (Svk) CannondaleRow 9 - Cell 2
11Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin SharpRow 10 - Cell 2
12Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 11 - Cell 2
13Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 13 - Cell 2
15Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Yoann Offredo (Fra) Fdj.frRow 15 - Cell 2
17Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 17 - Cell 2
19Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 18 - Cell 2
20Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory RacingRow 19 - Cell 2
21Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 20 - Cell 2
22Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 21 - Cell 2
23Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 22 - Cell 2
24André Greipel (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 23 - Cell 2
25Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Team Europcar0:00:06
27Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin Sharp0:00:07
28Davide Appollonio (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:34
29Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team SkyRow 28 - Cell 2
30Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-Merida0:00:40
31Thomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:00:54
32Nicki Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 31 - Cell 2
33Luca Paolini (Ita) Team Katusha0:01:12
34Arnaud Demare (Fra) Fdj.fr0:01:22
35Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto BelisolRow 34 - Cell 2
36Mauro Finetto (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 35 - Cell 2
37Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:01:33
38Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team0:01:35
39John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano0:01:54
40Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:09
41Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:02:38
42Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto BelisolRow 41 - Cell 2
43Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:03:14
44Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:03:15
45Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Oscar Gatto (Ita) CannondaleRow 45 - Cell 2
47Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:22
48Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:03:36
49Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge0:03:50
50Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - Qhubeka0:04:10
51Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Trek Factory Racing0:05:08
53Marc Demaar (Ned) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 53 - Cell 2
55Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin Sharp0:05:23
56Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing Team0:05:29
57Robert Förster (Ger) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Dayer Uberney Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 58 - Cell 2
60Mickael Delage (Fra) Fdj.fr0:05:34
61Marco Marcato (Ita) Cannondale0:06:03
62Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale0:06:06
63Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli0:06:20
64Manuel Belletti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli0:06:23
65Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team SkyRow 64 - Cell 2
66Diego Rosa (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 65 - Cell 2
67Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 66 - Cell 2
68Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 67 - Cell 2
69Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 68 - Cell 2
70Hayden Roulston (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 69 - Cell 2
71Nicolas Roche (Irl) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 70 - Cell 2
72Sébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM Cycling0:07:49
73Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 72 - Cell 2
74Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team0:07:51
75Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Team Katusha0:10:04
76Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team KatushaRow 75 - Cell 2
77Kiel Reijnen (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 77 - Cell 2
79Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 78 - Cell 2
80Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 79 - Cell 2
81Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Johan Le Bon (Fra) Fdj.frRow 81 - Cell 2
83Maximiliano Ariel Richeze (Arg) Lampre-MeridaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Jos Van Emden (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 83 - Cell 2
85Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Fdj.frRow 84 - Cell 2
86Dries Devenyns (Bel) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 85 - Cell 2
87Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 86 - Cell 2
88Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 87 - Cell 2
89Svein Tuft (Can) Orica GreenEdgeRow 88 - Cell 2
90Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano0:11:42
91Jan Barta (Cze) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 90 - Cell 2
92Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 91 - Cell 2
93Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 92 - Cell 2
94Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 93 - Cell 2
95Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team EuropcarRow 94 - Cell 2
96Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Marco Coledan (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 96 - Cell 2
98Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin SharpRow 97 - Cell 2
99Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 98 - Cell 2
100Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 99 - Cell 2
101David Boucher (Fra) Fdj.fr0:14:33
102Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 101 - Cell 2
103Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Movistar TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Merhawi Kudus Ghebremedhin (Eri) MTN - QhubekaRow 103 - Cell 2
105Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin Sharp0:17:59
106Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Androni GiocattoliRow 105 - Cell 2
107Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 106 - Cell 2
108Rick Flens (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Christopher Jones (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
110Rafael Andriato (Bra) Yellow FluoRow 109 - Cell 2
111Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 110 - Cell 2
112Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 111 - Cell 2
113Eugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek Factory RacingRow 112 - Cell 2
114Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFIgnatas Konovalovas (Ltu) MTN - QhubekaRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Meintjes (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) MTN - QhubekaRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFJay Robert Thomson (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFSteve Chainel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Gretsch (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFOmar Bertazzo (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Frapporti (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFAntonio Parrinello (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFGianfranco Zilioli (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFEnrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFMaxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFAlexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFEnrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFNicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Canola (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFFilippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFStefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFJonathan Hivert (Fra) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFPeter Velits (Svk) BMC Racing TeamRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFMaciej Bodnar (Pol) CannondaleRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFDamiano Caruso (Ita) CannondaleRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFAlan Marangoni (Ita) CannondaleRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFPaolo Longo Borghini (Ita) CannondaleRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFWilliam Bonnet (Fra) Fdj.frRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFArthur Vichot (Fra) Fdj.frRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFNathan Haas (Aus) Garmin SharpRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Millar (GBr) Garmin SharpRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFStefan Denifl (Aut) IAM CyclingRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Pelucchi (Ita) IAM CyclingRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Lövkvist (Swe) IAM CyclingRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFDiego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFManuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFLuca Wackermann (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFLars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto BelisolRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFPim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto BelisolRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFAndrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar TeamRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFJose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFEnrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFJasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFIljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFAlessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFMark Renshaw (Aus) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFBrett Lancaster (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFMathew Hayman (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFJens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdgeRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFBryan Coquard (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFJerome Cousin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFTony Hurel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFVincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFBryan Naulleau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFBjorn Thurau (Ger) Team EuropcarRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFTom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFAlbert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFVladimir Gusev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFGatis Smukulis (Lat) Team KatushaRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFAngel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Team KatushaRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFIker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFDavid De La Cruz Melgarejo (Spa) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFZakkari Dempster (Aus) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFErick Rowsell (GBr) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFPaul Voss (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFDario Cataldo (Ita) Team SkyRow 187 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 188 - Cell 2
DNFGabriel Rasch (Nor) Team SkyRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFGeraint Thomas (GBr) Team SkyRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFRoman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 192 - Cell 2
DNFLucas Euser (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 193 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Frattini (Ita) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 194 - Cell 2
DNFDaniele Colli (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 195 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Failli (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 196 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Ponzi (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 197 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Rabottini (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 198 - Cell 2
DNFFabio Taborre (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 199 - Cell 2

 

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