Milan San Remo: Ciolek upsets to form guide

2013_RALEIGH_Militis_Banner_March15_600

Gerald Ciolek of a litle know South African team won a monument in cycling beating favourites Peter Sagan and Fabian Cancellara. Ian Stannard 6th, Cavendish 9th,

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2013_MilandSanremo

PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

Report – Gerald Ciolek made history today by winning one of cycling’s monuments, Milan Sanremo in ‘epic’ conditions. The race is the longest in the world at 298km. The day of the race was especially hard as weather conditions forced organisers to stop the race after nearly two hours of racing because of snow and very low temperatures.

The race, with riders in their team buses, was moved to a safer location with the run in to the finish via the Cipressa and Poggio staying the same and six riders ((Lars Bak, Maxim Belkov, Pablo Lastras, Filipo Fortin, Matteo Montaguti and Diego Rosa) held a gap of more than seven minutes on the re-start. Hard tempo riding from the main field steadily brought them back and a select group of some 40 riders were all together at the start of the final climbs when the fireworks really began.

Video of the final 10k

The race ‘hotted’ up when British RR champion Ian Stannard (Sky) attacked on the Cipressa descent along with Quickstep’s Sylvain Chavanel and Russia’s Eduard Vorganov. The three held a 30-second lead as they tackled the final Poggio climb, 10km from the line. Stannard and Chavanel dropped Vorganov on the descent towards San Remo before being caught by pre-race favourites Cancellera, Sagan, Italy’s Luca Paolini and underdog Ciolek.

Sitting safely at the back of the group, the German was the smarter of the two after Sagan launched his sprint from a long way out and with his legs running out of gas, Ciolek came between him and Cancellera to clinch his best win to date.

2013_Milan San Remo Snow

White out – epic conditions not seen for a while in a classic in Milan San Remo. Photo: PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

Third German to win Milan San Remo

After the four-time winner Erik Zabel and Rudi Altig, Ciolek is the third German winner in San Remo.“It’s unbelievable,” said Ciolek after crossing the finish line. “This is an unbelievable success for us and just an incredible day. We just came here as a wildcard and now we’re standing here with the trophy. This is great. I knew I had to follow all the best riders on the Poggio and it worked out perfectly.”

“When I chose this team, people wondered why I would join a Pro Continental team but it’s just been unbelievable. The coaching and staff on this team is so professional. I have never seen management care so much for the riders. I am happy to be on this team,” an elated Ciolek explained.

“I was in the comfortable position that I was not the top favorite and everyone paid attention to Sagan. I was in the final sprint in just the right position. It was on the Poggio that I realized it could work today, “said Ciolek of the the greatest success of his career. “I think we did everything right today!”

2013_Milan San Remo Finish

Sagan – the favourite beaten and outsmarted

“Maybe today wasn’t my day” explained Sagan “Races are won and lost, but you always have to try. It was the first classic of the season, my first objective. I arrived to play my hand and I take it as a good signal looking ahead to the next one”.

“It was a real strange race. It was freezing, snow, rain, and then the bus transfer. Surely Ciolek was a surprise, but San Remo is a race like this… you think about the favorites and then an outsider wins. Near the finish I expected a move from Cancellara and thought I was the fastest, but I underestimated the group. I worked too hard earlier and paid for that in my legs. I jumped too early in the sprint and paid for that too. I’m disappointed, but it’s also an experience. A second place in an important classic like Milan-San Remo is not bad” added Sagan.

Fabulous Fabian

Third placegetter Fabian Cancellara said of the race on his teams website “Such a strange race. Before the feed zone I thought I was going to have to stop because I was freezing. Then I went back to the car, changed my gloves, got renewed confidence and motivation from the car and kept going.”

Cancellara continued, reflecting on the work from his Radioshack Leopard Trek teammates: “It was a really great team effort. They were warriors. I didn’t expect to finish so well in this race. I had some bad moments today so I’m happy with third place. In fact, I’m happy to be at the finish at all. Ciolek won but everyone is a hero today.”

“I think of the real Milano-SanRemo like when you start with the sun like yesterday in training, then arriving here in Sanremo without taking a break in the bus along the way so it was a crazy day. We’ve seen so many races cancelled recently because of snow, and then today we had to drive around the Turchino in the bus because of snow.”

“I had a number of problems today, namely that I didn’t eat enough after the restart. I would’ve liked to gone to sleep in the bus, but of course that wasn’t possible. We had a plan this morning and I’m one of the leaders of the team so I wanted to finish this. Everyone has done a great job today. Everyone can go home and be a bit of a winner today.”

2013_Milan San Remo Finish

Tight finish after an epic race… Ciolek  beats Peter Sagan and Fabian Cancellera to the line. Photo: PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

British Champion in his element
British Road Race Champion Ian Stannard (sixth in the sprint pictured above) put in a heroic performance in the closing stages to take sixth in an epic edition of Milan-San Remo. The British national champion found himself in a strong position as the race became stretched following the penultimate climb of the Cipressa. Stannard attacked out of an elite group alongside Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) and Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) to lead the race onto the famous Poggio. The 25-year-old continued to attack valiantly despite the move being reeled in on the descent, eventually leading the winning group under the flamme rouge after one more last-ditch attempt to get away. Sixth marked the team’s best showing at La Primavera to date.

Former British RR Champion Geraint Thomas crashed in the latter stages which ruined his chances of winning the race.

2013_Milan San Remo Pdoium

Peter Sagan, Gerald Ciolek and Fabian Cancellera. Photo: PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

RESULT
1 CIOLEK Gerald Team MTN Qhubeka 05:37:20
2 SAGAN Peter Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ same time
3 CANCELLARA Fabian RadioShack – Leopard @ same time
4 CHAVANEL Sylvain Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ same time
5 PAOLINI Luca Katusha Team @ same time
6 STANNARD Ian Sky Procycling @ same time
7 PHINNEY Taylor BMC Racing Team @ same time
8 KRISTOFF Alexander Katusha Team 00:14
9 CAVENDISH Mark Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ same time
10 EISEL Bernhard Sky Procycling @ same time
11 VENTOSO ALBERDI Francisco José Movistar Team @ same time
12 COLBRELLI Sonny Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ same time
13 HAUSSLER Heinrich IAM Cycling @ same time
14 GASPAROTTO Enrico Astana Pro Team @ same time
15 TURGOT Sébastien Europcar @ same time
16 ROELANDTS Jurgen Lotto Belisol Team @ same time
17 BARDET Romain AG2R La Mondiale @ same time
18 DEGENKOLB John Team Argos – Shimano @ same time
19 OFFREDO Yoann Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ same time
20 GATTO Oscar Vini Fantini @ same time
21 BOZIC Borut Astana Pro Team @ same time
22 VICIOSO ARCOS Ángel Katusha Team @ same time
23 LANGEVELD Sebastian Orica GreenEDGE @ same time
24 FLORENCIO Xavier Katusha Team @ same time
25 ROJAS GIL Jose Joaquin Movistar Team @ same time
26 MALACARNE Davide Europcar @ same time
27 RASCH Gabriel Sky Procycling @ same time
28 BENNATI Daniele Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ same time
29 BOUET Maxime AG2R La Mondiale @ same time
30 RAST Gregory RadioShack – Leopard @ same time
31 IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI Gorka Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
32 GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team @ same time
33 POZZATO Filippo Lampre – Merida @ same time
34 RABOTTINI Matteo Vini Fantini @ same time
35 IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team @ same time
36 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team @ same time
37 LöFKVIST Thomas IAM Cycling @ same time
38 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini 00:20
39 JEROME Vincent Europcar @ same time
40 ROGERS Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ same time
41 VICHOT Arthur Equipe Cycliste FDJ 00:56
42 PUCCIO Salvatore Sky Procycling @ same time
43 VORGANOV Eduard Katusha Team @ same time
44 MONFORT Maxime RadioShack – Leopard 02:39
45 MOSER Moreno Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 02:42
46 FERRARI Roberto Lampre – Merida 03:26
47 IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE @ same time
48 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team 03:35
49 CARUSO Damiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 04:40
50 DE MARCHI Alessandro Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ same time
51 MALORI Adriano Lampre – Merida @ same time
52 APPOLLONIO Davide AG2R La Mondiale 05:13
53 SBARAGLI Kristian Team MTN Qhubeka @ same time
54 RENSHAW Mark Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ same time
55 FELLINE Fabio Androni – Venezuela @ same time
56 HONDO Danilo RadioShack – Leopard @ same time
57 AAEN JORGENSEN Jonas Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ same time
58 GREIPEL Andre Lotto Belisol Team @ same time
59 DENIFL Stefan IAM Cycling @ same time
60 SARAMOTINS Aleksejs IAM Cycling @ same time
61 FINETTO Mauro Vini Fantini @ same time
62 GARCIA AMBROA Ricardo Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
63 TJALLINGII Maarten Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ same time
64 REYNES MIMO Vicente Lotto Belisol Team @ same time
65 PETACCHI Alessandro Lampre – Merida @ same time
66 STYBAR Zdenek Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ same time
67 KEUKELEIRE Jens Orica GreenEDGE @ same time
68 GERRANS Simon Orica GreenEDGE @ same time
69 POPOVYCH Yaroslav RadioShack – Leopard @ same time
70 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas Garmin – Sharp @ same time
71 QUINZIATO Manuel BMC Racing Team @ same time
72 FLECHA Juan Antonio Vacansoleil – DCM @ same time
73 BRESCHEL Matti Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ same time
74 VANSUMMEREN Johan Garmin – Sharp @ same time
75 PIETROPOLLI Daniele Lampre – Merida @ same time
76 CIMOLAI Davide Lampre – Merida @ same time
77 VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team @ same time
78 BOLE Grega Vacansoleil – DCM @ same time
79 GESCHKE Simon Team Argos – Shimano @ same time
80 MADRAZO RUIZ Angel Movistar Team @ same time
81 AZANZA SOTO Jorge Euskaltel – Euskadi 07:49
82 MARTENS Paul Blanco Pro Cycling Team 08:59
83 BANDIERA Marco IAM Cycling 09:20
84 FROHLINGER Johannes Team Argos – Shimano @ same time
85 CANTWELL Jonathan Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ same time
86 O’GRADY Stuart Orica GreenEDGE 09:22
87 WEGMANN Fabian Garmin – Sharp @ same time
88 TAMOURIDIS Ioannis Euskaltel – Euskadi 11:19
89 LAGUTIN Sergey Vacansoleil – DCM 11:21
90 HENDERSON Gregory Lotto Belisol Team 11:29
91 SIEBERG Marcel Lotto Belisol Team @ same time
92 BAUER Jack Garmin – Sharp @ same time
93 MOURIS Jens Orica GreenEDGE @ same time
94 FARRAR Tyler Garmin – Sharp @ same time
95 PRONI Alessandro Vini Fantini 11:39
96 KOREN Kristjan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 11:44
97 FISCHER Murilo Antonio Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ same time
98 BRAVO Garikoitz Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
99 TOSATTO Matteo Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ same time
100 LADAGNOUS Matthieu Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ same time
101 TANNER David Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ same time
102 PARDILLA BELLON Sergio Team MTN Qhubeka 11:46
103 VENTER Jaco Team MTN Qhubeka @ same time
104 CURVERS Roy Team Argos – Shimano @ same time
105 VAN POPPEL Boy Vacansoleil – DCM @ same time
106 VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team @ same time
107 GRAZIATO Massimo Lampre – Merida @ same time
108 VIVIANI Elia Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ same time
109 LINDEMAN Bert-Jan Vacansoleil – DCM 11:49
110 HOWES Alex Garmin – Sharp @ same time
111 PASQUALON Andrea Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ same time
112 BATTAGLIN Enrico Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ same time
113 CASTROVIEJO Jonathan Movistar Team @ same time
114 HULSMANS Kevin Vini Fantini @ same time
115 FLENS Rick Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ same time
116 LARSSON Gustav Erik IAM Cycling @ same time
117 BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Belisol Team @ same time
118 ELMIGER Martin IAM Cycling @ same time
119 THURAU Bjorn Europcar @ same time
120 BELKOV Maxim Katusha Team @ same time
121 GIL MARTINEZ Tomas Aurelio Androni – Venezuela @ same time
122 ROSA Diego Androni – Venezuela @ same time
123 MøRKøV Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ same time
124 COOKE Baden Orica GreenEDGE 11:56
125 VELITS Martin Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 13:09
126 DUMOULIN Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ same time
127 VOECKLER Thomas Europcar @ same time
128 STAUFF Andreas Team MTN Qhubeka @ same time
129 DEMARE Arnaud Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ same time
130 SERGENT Jesse RadioShack – Leopard @ same time
131 KLEMME Dominik IAM Cycling @ same time
132 VEUCHELEN Frederik Vacansoleil – DCM @ same time
133 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ same time
134 CHICCHI Francesco Vini Fantini 15:03
135 ISAYCHEV Vladimir Katusha Team 18:25

 

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