Cycling: The first cycling classic of 2015 was held today in long stretches of cold and wet weather. Before the Milan – San Remo race, last year's winners, Alexander Kristoff, Peter Sagan and Fabian Cancellara, were hoping for victory. But Andre Greipel, John Degenkolb and Gerald Ciolek, who won Milan – San Remo two years ago, were also in the starting blocks of the “Classicissima”, which ran over 293 km.
A German who had a podium train before the race and in the end he really came out on top. Giant-Alpecin's John Degenkolb shows he's in great shape at this spring's first classic. In the end Degenkolb left them all behind, the winner of Milan - San Remo 2014, Kristoff, had to witness how the German professional cyclist sprinted out of his slipstream to victory.
The big favorites knocked off in the sprint finish
In the end, John Degenkolb had the better move in the finish, relegating the big favorites in the field, Kristoff, Sagan and Cancellara, to their place. Alexander Kristoff still managed to secure 2nd place, Tinkoff-Saxo's Peter Sagan had to settle for 4th place and Trek-Factory's Fabian Cancellara only managed a 7th place in the end.
In a race that was almost decided in the end, Degenkolb impressively demonstrated how strong a racer he is and how strong both his legs and nerves are. Two years after Gerald Ciolek's victory in Milan - San Remo, a German was again able to secure victory in the Italian spring classic.
Kristoff almost beaten off in the field
Kilometers before the finish, one of the big favorites almost had to admit defeat for this year's victory at Milan - San Remo. Last year's winner Alexander Kristoff von Katusha struggled and rode at the end of the field, but was able to fight back thanks to his team. But in the end it just wasn't enough for Kristoff to win.
Final score Milan-San Remo
1. John Degenkolb (Erfurt) – Team Giant-Alpecin 6:46:16 hrs.
2. Alexander Kristoff (Norway) – Team Katusha
3. Michael Matthews (Australia) - Orica GreenEdge
4. Peter Sagan (Slovakia) – Tinkoff- Saxo
5. Niccolo Bonifazio (Italy) - Lampre-Merida
6. Nacer Bouhanni (France) - Cofidis
7. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) – Trek Factory Racing
8. Davide Cimolai (Italy) – Lampre-Merida
9. Tony Gallopin (France) – Lotto Soudal
10. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway) – MTN Qhubeka
all same time
Victory by Degenkolb makes you want more
It's a year in which cycling in Germany could finally attract more spectators to longer distances. For the first time, the Tour de France will again be broadcast live by a public broadcaster, the Erste. Degenkolb's victory gives hope that doping will no longer be the dominant issue in German cycling, but the victories of clean riders who could and should become new model stars.
Video stream of the last 40km (Ciolek accident from minute 52):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc6GAUHo3_E
[…] Rudi Altig, Erik Zabel and Gerald Ciolek, John Degenkolb was the fourth German to win at Milan – Sanremo in 2015. Started the race as a co-favourite, but then it was […]