MATEJ MOHORIC WON Milan-San Remo after he made a late burst and then held off a strong group which included race favourites Tadej Pogacar and Wout van Aert.
Mohoric, a stage winner on all three Grand Tours, launched an attack on the final descent after around 290 kilometres of riding to claim the season’s first ultra-long, one-day ‘Monument’ race.
The Slovene finished ahead of France’s Anthony Turgis and Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel despite nearly crashing twice on his rapid descent and having a mechanical problem in the final few hundred metres following nearly six and a half hours of cycling.
His attack came after four unsuccessful attempts from Pogacar and another from Primoz Roglic on the Poggio climb, which is traditionally one of the launchpads for the race winner.
Instead, Mohoric defied convention by making the decisive move on the descent. He darted down a winding slope before joining the via Aurelia and crossing the line in front of a shocked and ecstatic crowd.
“I managed to get up the Poggio with the top riders and I thought to myself ‘It’s now or never’, and it turns out it was now,” Mohoric said in Italian to RAI.
“I made a mistake on the final turn as I took it too fast and slid and then I had problems with my chain but thankfully I did it.
“After two years with no fans it was wonderful seeing all the people… It was a really wonderful day.”
Ryan Mullen, Ireland’s only representative in the field, finished 11:15 back in 143rd place.
With big names Julian Alaphilippe, Caleb Ewan, Sonny Colbrelli and last year’s winner Jasper Stuyven all out, Pogacar and Van Aert were the big favourites heading into the race.
Pogacar, aiming to become the first reigning Tour de France champion to win Milan-San Remo since Eddy Merckx in 1976, was in a main group which reduced to little more than 30 riders on the Cipressa climb.
Meanwhile three-time world champion Peter Sagan, who had suffered a mechanical problem, desperately tried to rejoin the leaders on the winding 3km descent from the Cipressa.
UAE Team Emirates rider Davide Formolo led a select peloton for his teammate Pogacar while Jumbo-Visma and Van Aert lurked, a high pace helped by a tail wind setting up an intense finish for the last Poggio climb.
The finale didn’t disappoint as Pogacar tried in vain to push away from his rivals with attack after counter-attack up the hill.
And with all eyes on him and Van Aert, Mohoric made his move, flying past his more famous rivals to take by far his biggest one-day victory.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
