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Slovenia signed its first success during the “classicissima”. But it is not the favorite who climbed on the first step of the podium. Matej Mohoric stole the courtesy from Tadej Pogacar.
The Slovenian Matej Mohoric at the arrival of MIlan-Sanremo, Saturday followingnoon.
AFP
A Slovenian won for the first time Milan-Sanremo but it was Matej Mohoric who won the victory on Saturday in the first great classic of the season following a great number in the descent of Poggio.
Tadej Pogacar, his Tour de France winner compatriot, took 5th place in the 293-kilometer “classicissima”.
On the line, Mohoric was 2 seconds ahead of Frenchman Anthony Turgis and Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel.
Belgian Wout van Aert, closely marked, finished in the first group, in 8th place.
A success forged in the descent of the Poggio
Mohoric broke away 4 kilometers from the finish, in the winding descent of Poggio. The Slovenian, one of the great specialists of the exercise, came close to going off the road but widened a gap of 5-6 seconds before benefiting from the mutual surveillance of the favorites in the streets of Sanremo.
Pogacar, who attacked four times in the Poggio, might not provoke the decision in this last difficulty and tipped over the top in a small group of four (with Kragh Andersen, van der Poel and van Aert), with a few meters ahead only of Mohoric and the first group.
I’ve been thinking regarding this race all winter.”
“I’ve been thinking regarding this race all winter,” said Mohoric (27), a former junior and U23 world champion.
The double stage winner of the Tour de France last year, who runs for the Bahrain team, had never won a great classic.
An eight-rider breakaway
In this 113th edition, raced in good weather and a favorable wind in the final, the breakaway of 8 riders launched from the start (Gidich, Zakharov, Rivi, Sevilla, Conca, Tonelli, Tagliani, Zurita) counted up to 7 minutes early.
The Italian Filippo Conca, who suffered from cramps, landed following 260 kilometers and the last survivors, the Italians Alessandro Tonelli and Samuele Rivi, held on until the approach of the Poggio, 9 kilometers from the finish .
“I knew that this race might suit me, that it would be my day”, reacted Mohoric. “I took risks in the descent but that’s what allowed me to go for the victory. It was my only chance, provided I avoided the error.
(AFP)