Cycling: Jasper Philipsen won the Monument Milan – Sanremo. The Belgian was able to prevail in the sprint from a small group of favorites ahead of Michael Matthews and Tadej Pogacar.
Philipsen wins with a strong tiger jump
The first monument of the year goes on Jasper Phillipsen (Alpecin – Deceuninck). The Belgian was able to advance from Pavia to Sanremo in a race worth seeing after 288 kilometers Michael Matthews (Jayo – AlUla) from Australia and Tadej pogacar (UAE) from Slovenia. Before that, there were numerous unsuccessful attacks up the Poggio and on the flat passage afterwards. Finally, the hill-strong sprinters were able to claim victory at the 115th edition of Milan – Sanremo. Ultimately, a much better executed tiger jump saved Jasper Philipsen's victory in the photo finish. The Belgian is celebrating his first triumph at a monument, having already won six stages of the Tour de France in his career.
Attack of the Italian Second Division
In the southwest of Lombardy, 35 riders started the race at the first monument of the season, around 175 kilometers from Milan. For last year's winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck), the 115th edition of Milan-Sanremo started anything but smoothly. The Dutchman had to change his bike several times. However, since the pace was relatively leisurely at the beginning, the world champion did not panic. Later, eleven drivers were able to unite in an escape group.
Lidl – Trek & Alpecin – Deceuninck take responsibility
The Italian Lorenzo Germani (Groupama – FDJ) dropped back from the leading group after a few kilometers because the peloton signaled that they would not give up a big lead today. At the front there were three men each from Corratec - Vini Fantini and Polti - Kometa, as well as two from VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè. A professional each from the two WorldTour teams Movistar and dsm-unternehmenich PostNL completed the breakaway group. However, the peloton – mostly led by Lidl – Trek and Alpecin – Deceuninck – never left the group more than three minutes ahead.
The outliers at Milan-Sanremo 2024
- Davide Baldaccini (Corratec – Vini Fantini)
- Valerio Conti (Corratec – Vini Fantini)
- Kyrylo Tsarenko (Corratec – Vini Fantini)
- David Bais (Polti – Kometa)
- Mirco Maestri (Polti – Kometa)
- Andrea Pietrobon (Polti – Kometa)
- Alessandro Tonelli (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè)
- Samuel Zoccarato (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè)
- Sergio Samitier (movistar)
- Romain Combaud (dsm-unternehmenich PostNL)
UAE takes over 50 kilometers from the finish
With around 50 kilometers to go, the UAE Team Emirates took the reins and increased the pace. Ten kilometers later we entered the Capo Berta climb and the first well-known professionals had to give up. European champion Christophe Laporte (Visma – Lease a Bike) was just as unable to follow the tempo dictated by the men in white alexander kristoff (Uno-X Mobility), who won here in Sanremo in 2014. Shortly before the Cipressa, the UAE Team Emirates lost their order a little, but found it again and pushed forward in the person of Isaac del Toro (UAE) set the pace again. Other drivers fell victim to this increased speed. sprinter jonathan milan (Lidl – Trek), for example, had to admit that this race was not ideal for him. The lead of the breakaways also fell to less than 20 seconds.
Pogacar is running out of helpers
Even before reaching the top of the Cipressa, the remaining peloton shifted down a gear. With Issac del Toro (UAE) has captain Tadej pogacar (UAE) used up its penultimate helper. Just there Tim Wellens (UAE) could stay with him, the really big increase in speed in the middle of the Cipressa had to be given up. With only a few seconds left, the breakaways stormed down the slope. Sergio Samitier (Movistar) and Andrea Pietrobon (Polti - Kometa) fell in a fast right-hand bend, which also brought the escape group's venture to an end. Only David Bais (Polti – Kometa) didn’t want to give up yet. The Italian, who had already been caught, attacked again and almost made it into the Poggio as the first professional. But the peloton, which had grown again to around 40-50 men, placed him a few meters ahead.
Only the preliminary decision is made at Poggio
With Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor), a German was the first professional to drive into the Poggio. Then forced Tim Wellens (UAE) set the pace as planned before his captain Tadej pogacar (UAE) launched its attack. With 6,5 kilometers to go, a few riders were able to follow the two-time tour winner. The Slovenian only tried again 200 meters from the summit. He fell a few meters away Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck) into the descent. There was a small gap behind it thomas pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers). But the Briton was able to close this almost easily with his downhill skills. Afterwards, other riders were able to reconnect - and in the last two kilometers the fight for victory at Milan-Sanremo began again.
Philipsen wins thanks to a perfect tiger jump
Matej Mohoric (Bahrain – Victorious) – 2022 winner tried first. Matteo Sobrero (Bora – hansgrohe) made the next attack. He pulled on his rear wheel thomas pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), who looked like the winner shortly before the finish. But then the locomotive took over Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck) together with Jasper stuyven (Lidl – Trek) still for a decision in the sprint. Mads pedersen (Lidl – Trek) opened on the right side of the road. But it was on the far left Michael Matthews (Jayco – AlUla), who was significantly faster. Only Jasper Phillipsen (Alpecin – Deceuninck) was able to push past thanks to his better executed tiger jump. The Belgian thus wins his first monument after six stages in the Tour de France.
#replay / #MilanoSanremo
The final sprint of this 115th edition: Michael Matthews was on the line with Jasper Philipsen (ADC). Tadej Pogacar (UAD) arrives on the premier podium on the monument. pic.twitter.com/Dg1RXSoovQ— Renaud Breban (@RenaudB31) March 16, 2024