Welcome to the first monument of the Season it is Milano San-Remo!
Here is the full startlist for the day
The orangisers are expecting Dainese and Italian glory today with last year's winner Vansevenant being given a disrespectingly low startlist number he will be looking to change that perception on the Poggio.
And we are underway at La Classicissima di primavera
After 10km we have our early attack
Finkst Forbes Matsuda Johansen Kogut Per
A real mix of experienced Flat beasts in Finkst, Forbes, Matsuda and inexperienced riders in Johansen, Kogut and Per
Van Aert, Hermans, Zukowsky and Kajamini
take up the pacing duties in behind.
As with most editions of the race there has been no action and at the Passo del Turchino the gap is 6"40 to the break and well in hand for the peloton
We skip to Capo Mele at 53km to go the first climb of the action and the breakaway is all together with a gap of 1"20.
make the actions clear here putting 3 riders on the front they want a tough finale for Vansevenant and nothing else will do that will suit Lopez, Mohoric and Bagioli behind but will this tactic drop any sprinters.
It has one effect and thats to catch the break on the Capo Cervo the 2nd of the coastal climbs though currently the entire field is together its now Schelling making the pace hard a man built for the Mountains.
Schelling continues onto the Capo Berta with some help from De Vos and interesting wrinkle as Ackermann will need a hard pace but not as hard Vansevenant and can Specialized manage the balance between the two?
Schelling has been a man possessed and blows up De Vos on the Cipressa 5.6km at a good percent anyway so we will never know this is an incredible ride from the Dutchman that won't show up on the points totals. Gayral takes the odd turn from him up the climb but only the early breakaway have currently been dropped.
Over the top of the Cipressa and Dainese senses an oppurtunity and must be feeling good he's put Rickaert in front of him with Groves on his wheel down the descent hoping for good position on the Poggio.
Ackermann clearly has a plan as well as Skujins swarms to the front with Kloppenborg and Romo not as much of a flat rode beast but very dangerous on the Poggio.
Siric, Zijlaard and Rota are following as the group is very much in a mixed formation currently.
Our world champion clearly senses this and has attacked Boutopoulos has 25km to go and 4km to the Poggio; it's a bold attack, but a man who has built a career now of daring escapes feels it's worth it.
Boutopoulos quickly has 25s on the peloton this has to be a dangerous move but no one is blinking currently behind
Abrahamsen wants to join the attack though and Bagioli and Duric are having none of that and are sprinting to get onto his wheel thats really putting the hurt on coming into the Poggio.
Bax puts the final nail into the coffin of that move coming into the Poggio. The lead positions are mostly sprinters now as we go to the overhead view before the Poggio.
Bax leads in and Siric nail his colours to the mast in front of Philipsen its all in for Cedevita on the Belgian
Bax moves over at the first hairpin and Pidcock decides thats his time to make a move, Vansevenant is well aware of the move and is tracking
Vansevenant blows right by Pidcock its Evenepoel and Boutopoulos on his wheel but the Belgian is putting in some big moves, Bagioli is the next wheel and then sprinters are lined out.
Vansevenant can't break the group though and amazingly its now Boutopoulos again going for an attack Bagioli is aware and for the first time today we see Lopez in 3rd wheel.
Lopez needs to follow this move though BIG Attack Bagioli, Gesbert is inbetween but he looks in trouble and soon has to let the wheel go Lopez fights to come round but is also dropped by the Italian.
Bagioli is over the Poggio but it's seconds as Groves decides he has to close that on his own! Lopez continues well positioned, and Kubis, Ackermann look very dangerous in behind, having been comfortable up the climb.
Zijlaard a tired looking Vansevenant, Dainese and Philipsen all remain well postioned.
Kanter, Ovsyannikov, Conca and Boutopoulos who's now piloting Farantakis because he hasn't done enough work already apparently are in the next wave.
Further down the group and with ground to make up is Halvorsen, Per, Evenepoel and Pidcock
the latter two clearly suffering from their attacks
It's still Bagioli in front though and Vansevenant must have found a 2nd wind as he puts Bax in front of him on the descent the organisers are calling this 4s gap but it looks like nothing.
We are onto the Via Roma! are going wild Bagioli in the Tricolore has extended his gap to 10s it would be one of the most famours wins could he pull this off?
Bax is still flying out the corner with Vansevenant the notable changes in the front wave Boutopoulos has lost Farantakis on the way down and Pidcock has made a massive amount of ground and dragged a barely seen Pedersen with him both are now in great postions.
Bax is still going but the pace of Bagioli is just as good and gap is not moving. We learn that Farantakis had dropped onto Cullaigh wheel another to appear from nowhere.
On the right Trakhov emerges with Mohoric and Tikhonin they had been around Banaszek but he has been dropped. other dropped include Per, De Lie, Halvorsen, Aleotti (team was working for Kubis instead) and Aniolkowski
The Fastned plan becomes clear ATTTTACCCKKK Vansevenant
Bagioli has another kick in him though, Vansevenant is trying to close that last 2s
And whats going on behind!!!!!?? Bax has tried to attack upto the group of 2 ahead but all he's doing is dragging Mohoric with him
Siric looks the only one capable of going with this the Sprinters are all lined out but Philipsen puts trust in his pilot and follow the wheel.
To add to the drama Trakhov is attacking on the other side of the road the carnage is real
UNDER THE 1km to go KITE
Bagioli is still holding Vansevenant and it's still Bax chasing them down with Mohoric. Well Siric has Philipsen in the perfect place Dainese is fighing Ackermann for the wheel content behind them Cullaigh, Kanter, Groves
and Zijlaard.
On the right during the leadouts Trakhov, Evenepoel, Lopez are all still attacking.
Bax looks under his should and flicks the elbow for Mohoric but looks right and see's what he's done as Siric begins his leadout he's brought the race back together 700m to go Bagioli is still fighting.
its still Bagioli and Vansevenant at 500m but the gap is shrinking, Vansevenant darts right to break the slipstream of Siric who also moves with him. Bagioli though is also moving right in front and it's becoming congested behind. Philipsen still in the prime spot with Dainese, Ackermann, Groves, Kubis and Conca and from absolutely last in the group at the start of the Via Roma Peak is now in position.
Siric just avoid a weaving Bagioli and so does Philipsen but behind real carnage.
Dainese stops pedalling and loses a bike length but Ackermann absolutely shunt into the Italian their sprints are over and then moves over Kubis
Groves spots the danger and slingshots to the left of everyone while it's opened up like the red sea for Peak on his left and others who followed.
Philipsen goes once their round but it's Groves and Peak with all the momentum, Dainese is starting to hit the afterburners but is it too late.
Groves is puliing away could it be?
It is, It is! History on the Via Roma a second monument in history (in the MG timeline) and a new star is born Groves has done the impossible and the Australian team has an Australian winning a monument truly magical stuff.
Australia will become the 10th country to have multiple riders for the same nationality win a monument, joining: Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and USA. With Groves joining the Caleb Ewan at the 2023 MSR.
Peak has edged out Philipsen for 2nd in a close battle with Dainese arguably unlucky in 4th
Kanter in 5th and Farantakis in 6th where two of those fortunate to avoid the scrummage on the other side of the road and both can count themselves looking after picking up poor positions or ignoring their leadout in Farantakis's case.
Conca grabbed 7th with Cullaigh in 8th also applicable for not picking up the best position.
Siric the MVP of the final sprint to get his teammate in position is 9th though still moving right on the road and blocking Kubis, Ackermann once more leaves 10th to Zijlaard. Pedersen in 13th also got blocked but not to the extent as the other.
Ovsyannikov is 14th on the wildcar, then a surprising Stewart gets 15th.
Pidcock 16th, Bagioli 17th, Gesbert 18th, Lopez 19th, Trakhov 20th. in a line of puncheur with Bagioli so close to glory he will be disappointed.
Vansevenant in 23rd will have some words with Bax who may have cost him a strong chance at a podium.
And there it is history for Australia a second monument (in MG timeline) for the country with there own PT team a magnificent achievement for the Country and their new cycling superstar.
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history (in the MG timeline) and a new star is born .png)
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