Race Report: The primary monument of the season, the longest one-day race of the yr and the winner is Mathieu van der Poel. With an enormous soar on the prime Poggio, the Dutchman dropped like a stone and couldn’t be caught. Philippo Ganna out-sprinted Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogačar.
Mathieu van der Poel gained the 114th version of Milano-Sanremo. The Dutchman broke away from Filippo Ganna, Tadej Pogačar and Wout van Aert on the prime of the Poggio after which soloed to victory. Filippo Ganna got here second, Wout van Aert third and Tadej Pogačar fourth.
The win for Mathieu van der Poel
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Final yr’s winner – Matej Mohorič with a dropped submit
The course
The 2023 Milano-Sanremo begins in Abbiategrasso. After roughly 30 km on flat roads alongside the Ticino River, it merges again onto the ‘conventional’ course in Pavia. From there, the race as soon as once more takes the route that has related Milan to the Riviera di Ponente for over 110 years, by Ovada and the Passo del Turchino, dropping into Genoa in Voltri. From there, it rolls westwards, by the ocean, following the Statale Aurelia by Varazze, Savona, Albenga (avoiding the Manie climb, which solely featured within the route from 2008 to 2013) and Imperia. In San Lorenzo al Mare, previous the basic sequence of the Capi (Mele, Cervo and Berta), the peloton will negotiate the 2 climbs which have entered the race route in latest many years: the Cipressa (1982) and the Poggio di Sanremo (1961). The Cipressa is simply over 5.6 km lengthy with a gradient of 4.1%. The extremely testing descent leads again all the way down to SS 1 Aurelia.
2023 Milano-Sanremo profile
Remaining kilometres
The ascent of Poggio di Sanremo begins with 9 km remaining to the end (3.7 km, common gradient lower than 4%, most 8% within the phase earlier than attending to the highest of the climb). The street is barely narrower, with 4 hairpin turns within the first 2 km. The descent is testing, on asphalt switchback roads, slender at factors and with twists and turns so far as the junction with SS 1 Aurelia. The ultimate a part of the descent enters city Sanremo. The final 2 km are on lengthy, straight city roads. There’s a left-hand bend on a roundabout 850 m from the end line. The final bend, main into the house straight on the Through Roma, is 750 m from the end line.
2023 Milano-Sanremo map
Because the race left Abbiategrasso and nonetheless in neutralised zone, there was a crash. Not simply any rider, however prime favorite Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian was in a position to proceed with just a few dust on his shoulder. Quickly after the beginning, a number one group of 9 riders rapidly fashioned.
Single chainring for Wout van Aert (52 x 10/28)
Sanremo winner and Tudor biking staff proprietor – Fabian Cancellara in the beginning
Jan Maas of Jayco AlUla was joined by his teammate Alexandre Balmer, Aloïs Charrin (Tudor), Alexandr Riabushenko (Astana Qazaqstan), Samuele Zoccarato & Alessandro Tonelli (Inexperienced Undertaking-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), Samuele Rivi & Mirco Maestri (EOLO-Kometa) and Negasi Haylu Abreha (Q36.5). They took a lead of about 3 minutes forward on the peloton, the place Jos van Emden (Jumbo-Visma), Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Jacopo Mosca (Trek-Segafredo) set the tempo.
One of many prime favourites in the beginning – Wout van Aert
Two double World champions and Milano-Sanremo winners – Gianni Bugno and Julian Alaphilippe
Not a fantastic begin for Tadej Pogačar, he fell within the neutralised zone
The race remained the identical for a very long time. Solely on the Passo del Turchino was there one thing to report: A crash together with Julian Alaphilippe. The winner of Milano-Sanremo was unscathed, however needed to change bikes. Then it was a protracted chase for the Frenchman to return to the peloton. On the descent of the Turchino, the place Maciej Bodnar crashed and needed to abandon, Trek-Segafredo had lifted the velocity.
Leaving the beginning city of Abbiategrasso
The Pogačar followers have been out
The early kilometres have been misty as ordinary
After the descent it was all quiet within the peloton. The break’s lead, which was all the way down to 1:30 at one level, grew once more to only underneath 3 minutes. UAE staff Emirates had additionally come to the entrance to assist the opposite groups within the pursuit. The tempo picked up additional because the Capo Mele, the primary of the three Capi, hove into view. The distinction to the escapees had shrunk to 1:10 on the foot.
This farmer had a great view
The break of the day ultimately obtained collectively
The peloton didn’t give the break rather more than 3 minutes
On the Capo Mele, Cherrin needed to drop out from the entrance, however nothing occurred on the climb. It was the identical story on the Capo Cervo. The Capo Berta supplied somewhat extra motion, because the break was thinned down to 5 riders and there have been additionally riders in bother within the peloton. Mark Cavendish and Jonathan Milan, and others, needed to let go the peloton. Alex Aranburu managed to get again to the bunch after a crash.
2009 Sanremo winner – Mark Cavendish
The break was working nicely collectively, however…
No snow this yr
Maestri, Rivi, Tonelli, Balmer, Maas and Zoccorato (who had been dropped) have been caught by the peloton simply earlier than the beginning of the Cipressa, the place there have been extra crashes. Within the first crash was Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe) with a handful of different riders. Later Jan Tratnik (Jumbo-Visma) who was additionally on the bottom.
Campo Ligure getting nearer to the coast
Trek-Segafredo have been doing numerous work within the peloton – Jacopo Mosca and Jasper Stuyven
Eventually, the Mediterranean
On the Cipressa, UAE Staff Emirates took the lead. Felix Großschartner led the peloton and induced some splits, however many riders have been nonetheless in a position to comply with. Arnaud De Lie was in bother. Simply earlier than the highest, Mathieu van der Poel moved to the entrance and was the primary to start out the descent. The Dutchman, along with teammate Søren Kragh Andersen and Matteo Trentin, had a small lead, however didn’t push on. Nils Politt attacked on the run-up to the Poggio.
Nonetheless over 100 kilometres to Sanremo
Coming into the motion space
Savona Sea Cruise ship
Properly earlier than the beginning of the final climb of the day, the German had already been pulled in. With a comparatively massive peloton, the climb began. Bahrain Victorious, the staff of final yr’s winner, Matej Mohorič, was the primary to return to the entrance with a number of riders, however the different massive favourites have been additionally shut. This included Tadej Pogačar, who gave the sign to Tim Wellens to place the stress on, simply over 2 kilometres from the highest.
Time to elevate the velocity within the peloton
Van Aert and the opposite stars moved ahead for the Capi
The peloton was collectively for the Cipressa
The Belgian went ‘full gasoline’ with Pogačar on his wheel. Midway by the climb, Trentin dropped a niche round tenth place, after which Pogačar launched his assault. Ganna closed it, after which Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel additionally jumped throughout. Behind them a gaggle fashioned with Mohorič, Kragh Andersen and Mads Pedersen. Simply earlier than the highest there was a break up on the entrance as Van der Poel shot off the entrance to start out the descent with a small lead.
Arnaud De Lie led on to the Cipressa – Then went out the again
Van der Poel and Kragh Andersen have been on the entrance for the descent of the Cipressa
Pogačar made his transfer on the Poggio – As everybody anticipated
The Dutchman threw himself down the twisting Poggio. His lead on the three behind widened. The victory was his. Van der Poel flew all the way down to the Through Roma with a big margin on the end line. Ganna obtained the higher of Van Aert and Pogačar to take second and Van Aert was third.
Van der Poel solo to the Through Roma
The win for van der Poel – Identical to his grandfather
A giant effort from Ganna for a superb second place
third for Van Aert and 4th for Pogačar
2023 Milano-Sanremo winner, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “A particular win in a particular race. It’s so tough to win right here. I wasn’t hiding at Tirreno-Adriatico, I simply wasn’t on my finest degree. We had a fantastic week of coaching with all of the staff, they did a fantastic job for me. It’s wonderful, we’ll rejoice for positive”
Milamo-Sanremo’23 podium
Milano-Sanremo Consequence:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck 6:25:23
2. Filippo Ganna (Ita) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:15
3. Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
4. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Staff Emirates
5. Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:26
6. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo
7. Magnus Cort (Den) EF Schooling-EasyPost
8. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain Victorious
9. Anthony Turgis (Fra) TotalEnergies
10. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
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