Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team did their part to save energy, and also control the peloton during the 298km Milan-San Remo on Saturday.
Nikolas Maes protected leader Tom Boonen toward the front of the peloton and Stijn Vandenbergh worked to help reel in a nine rider breakaway and keep the pace high.
"I had really good legs, maybe the best legs ever in Milano-Sanremo," Boonen said. "It was always under control and the team did a really good job for me. They kept me in the first 10 to 15 positions in all important moments of the race. Then on the Poggio I was 7th or 8th when we took the corner to go downhill. I was really good, the team was with me, and we were in good position ready to fight for victory. Then, in the first part of the downhill a rider crashed, and I was just behind him. I had to break, and lost 100 meters. Because of that it was impossible to come back. Matteo was fortunately on the other side of the road. He had no problems with the crash that affected me. He was in the first group. In any case I am in good shape and I am ready to fight for the next races in the coming weeks."
Matteo Trentin set himself up well for a top 10 finish in the final corner of the race. Unfortunately, Trentin crashed in a chaotic scene near the finish line.
"I was there all the day in the front," Trentin said. "I felt very good, I was near Tom and our tactics went perfectly. We were together at the top of the Poggio as we planned, but in the downhill a rider crashed in front of Tom. I stayed in the front waiting for Tom, but he didn't come, so I tried to do my sprint. However, a rider touched my wheel and I crashed. I was really disappointed. For a young guy like me, it's a dream to be there and sprint for the biggest race and Italy and for my team. But, there's nothing I can do. The only thing we can do is try to be always in the front and see if one day the victory is realized."
Trentin has scrapes on his body, including his right elbow and gluteal region following the crash in the final corner. While the injuries do not appear to be serious, the team will closely monitor Trentin's condition in the coming days.
Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE), Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannon) and Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan) attacked on the final climb — the Poggio. They just barely managed to stay away in the final meters despite a surging peloton. While Cancellara and Nibali were the skillful descenders that led the trio on the attack down the Poggio, Gerrans outsprinted the two for the victory at Milan-San Remo. Cancellara was 2nd, and Nibali was 3rd.
Boonen was the team's top finisher in 22nd.
"We were present in the moment where we had to be there," Sports Director Davide Bramati said. "Tom and the entire team did exactly what we expected from them. The team today did a great job, and sadly we were not rewarded for what we did. We rode as a strong team but at the end we were a little bit unlucky. I'm very happy about the three riders at their first Milano-Sanremo: Trentin, Nikolas Maes, and Stijn Vandenbergh. These three riders were super. Maes took care of Tom for the entire day and he really did a good job for him, covering him in other moments of the race. Stijn did a good job between Manie and the Cipressa. He kept a nice tempo to maintain the speed really high. It was perfect, the job he did. Matteo was just really unlucky. He showed as a neo professional that he can stay with the best riders in the peloton."