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Oscar Freire wins the sprint to the line - Source: Reuters -
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tvnz.co.nz's cycling fanatic Russell van Hyer downs too many expressos as he reviews all the action from the Milan-San Remo classic.
Give that man Oscar a gong!
Well it's started, and it started spectacularly. It's spring classics time again and it just goes to show you just can't write the old fellas off in these races, with Rabobank's Spaniard sprinter Oscar Freire using his head for a well calculated third win at the 101st Milan San Remo.
This race is nicknamed La Primavera (the spring) and it was the view of rain that greeted riders as they opened their curtains before the start of this year's race. It must have been wonderful to think they've got just 298km to ride in the rain.
Caught out Cav
As expected the race really started on the climb of the Cipressa, with HTC-Columbia's Cavendish, last year's winner after an outrageous lunge at the line, started going backwards. Cav had been caught in the wrong side of the split peloton after a crash and the resulting chase didn't help his chances - that and a bit of early season lack of form.
Pozzato over the Poggio
The other favourites held it together until the normal all out sprint up the the last bump, the Poggio, on the outskirts of San Remo. With Cervelo TestTeam and QuickStep holding a fast pace, it was HTC Columbia's Mick Rodgers that kicked it all off, rapidly chased by Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma - Lotto) with the ever classy Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) in tow, even Nibali (Liquigas) had a crack but it was the Italian Pozzato leading the bunch over the top and into the manic descent with the smallest of gaps.
All attacks were pulled back by the final kilometre with Liquigas holding it together ready to lead out their hope Bennati. With the classic big hitters of Cancellera, Gilbert, Petacchi, Pozzato, Boonen and Hoshovd to watch out for, Freire cleverly sat back and waited, launching a well timed gallop, making it look all too easy and finishing two bike lengths ahead of the rest. Just pure class.
A 'Get Well Soon' card goes to Kiwi Greg Henderson (Team Sky) after his crash before the first feed - a couple of stitches apparently needed for his knee.
1. Oscar Freire Gomez (Esp), Rabobank, 298km in 6:57:28
2. Tom Boonen (Bel), Quick Step
3. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita), Lampre-N.G.C
4. Sacha Modolo (Ita), CSF Group-Navigare
5. Daniele Bennati (Ita), Liquigas Doimo
6. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Cervelo TestTeam
7. Francesco Ginanni (Ita), Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti Pvc
Diquigiovanni
8. Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz), Astana
9. Philippe Gilbert (Bel), Omega Pharma-Lotto
10. Luca Paolini (Ita), Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo - all same
time
Rematch at Ghent - Wevelgem
Ah, the smell of full strength Euro ciggies, the taste of full fat frites and mayo and the dull headache of a Belgie beer hangover starts early this year as the Ghent - Wevelgem has moved from its traditional place, sandwiched on the Wednesday between Flanders and Roubaix, to its own 'special' weekend. Which means every weekend for the next five weeks we have a spring classic to look forward to.
The big difference about the beauty of the Alps and Pyrenees of the Grand Tours and the brutality of the spring classics is the ugly deformed geologically bizarre bumps that litter the countryside of northern Europe. These 'bergs', fought so passionately over during the world wars, are now the scene for more battles and sacrifice over the coming weeks. So slippery because of their cobbles, and so stupidly steep you need a granny gear to even get over them, the descents can be just as brutal if they are the slightest bit damp (Belgium, wet in the spring, never!)
The Ghent - Wevelgem normally favours the sprinters of the pack, with the likes of Boonen, Hushovd and Freire obviously on form, although never underestimate an early attack like last year in which new Sky signing Edvald Boasson Hagen stayed away and spoiled the Cav show. Mario Cipollini raced his best ever race here back in 2002, I know, Cipo, racing, in Belgium! Anyway, after braking away from the peloton to catch the breakaway, he then promptly won the sprint - come on! And knowing Cipo he probably took the podium girls for a night out to remember. Let's see if anyone can beat that next week!
