Aleksander Kristoff wins the 2014 Milano-San Remo at a bunch sprint ahead of Fabian Cancellara and Ben Swift.
Kristoff showed his mettle by outsprinting strongman Cancellara and Britain’s Ben Swift and Mark Cavendish.
Photo © Getty Images
Yes, you read that right. Kristoff ahead of Cancellara and Swift at a bunch sprint. In adverse conditions, although not quite as poor as the 2013 race, it became a strong man’s finish as Kristoff burst to the front at just the right moment.
The race was animated by a four-man breakaway, but the real action began on the slopes of the Cipresśa, where Astana’s Vincenzo Nibali went on a charge to test his legs. It was perhaps a shock from a man who hadn’t shown much in the way of form so far this year, but he became a prominent figure as soon as he reached the descent as he left the remnants of the original breakaway behind.
The gap opened to 50 seconds and he held on until halfway up the Poggio, by which time the sprinters teams had taken control of the peloton and organised a chase. Inevitably, new attacks went off the front once Nibali was reeled in, and BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet was at the centre of it.
It was to no avail though, even with attempts by various others including teammate Philippe Gilbert, and it was clear that the peloton was geared for a bunch sprint with the likes of Gerald Ciolek, Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish in the pack ready to pounce.
André Greipel was a man who did not figure however. Struggling up the final climb, he was absent and used all his strength to return to the peloton, but it was too late to mount a serious challenge for victory.
That left the rest of the challengers to fight it out and for a moment, it looked as though Mark Cavendish might take a second Milano-San Remo title. However, even with his trademark streamlined sprint, it seemed he had also had his legs deadened by the Poggio climb and inclement weather conditions and was only able to hit the front momentarily and too early. He’ll be pleased that he was able to climb better than Greipel here to put himself in a position to win considering his lack of training for the event and his late start to the season. Once the disappointment has passed will be able to see the promise for the grand tour sprints to come.
Next up came the podium placers: Kristoff hit the front following excellent lead out work from Katusha team mate Luca Paolini and there was nothing to stop him, a combination of good legs and great timing putting him first across the line. Behind him came a charging Fabian Cancellara, who was visibly annoyed at the missed opportunity at the bunch sprint having seen Cavendish falter. Following the race, Cancellara commented that he had raced for a sprint when no opportunities to make a break transpired on the Poggio and proved here that on the right day he could figure once again in the cobbled classics to come should they end in a sprint.
Third place went to Team Sky’s Ben Swift who showed good composure to take a maiden podium at a monument race. Certainly one for the future, Swift will now try to build on this as Sky’s main sprinter for the rest of the season and establish himself among the big sprinters on the world stage.
The classics season has only just begun to bare it’s teeth!
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