Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Sylvain Chavanel took a chance for victory in a truly epic Milano - Sanremo, as a front group had just caught the original breakaway with 28km to go. He attacked with two other riders, Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) and Ian Stannard (Sky ProCycling), and they established a gap after completeing the 26 corner descent of the Cipressa. The group built up a 25" gap as they reached the Poggio, and eventually it was only Stannard and Chavanel who remained ahead.
Chavanel and Stannard did all they could to stay away, but another highly select group — Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Leopard), Peter Sagan (Cannondale), Gerald Ciolek (Team MTN Qhubeka), and Luca Paolini (Katusha) — attacked and worked their way up to the duo on the descent of the Poggio with 3km remaining in the race.
Attacks flew from Stannard, Sagan, and Cancellara, but each were eventually reeled in as Chavanel waited in the back of the group. Chavanel, in a group of powerful riders including sprinter Ciolek, launched his sprint from the back of the group with several hundred meters to go in hopes of surprising his break mates and winning with a longer effort.
However, it was Ciolek who bested Sagan for the Milano - Sanremo victory. Cancellara was 3rd. The spectacular sprint finish wrapped up a brutal day in which the race was neutralized in the stretch of route between Ovada and Arenzano due to severe weather (cold, snow).
Chavanel was 4th, and with his finish earned the top spot in the UCI WorldTour rankings. Mark Cavendish was also 9th for OPQS. With the top 10 finishes, OPQS is also 2nd in the UCI WorldTour rankings.
After a team bus transfer of riders, and an extended delay, race organizers removed the Passo del Turchino, and Le Manie, and restarted the race at about 15.00 CET. The break for the leaders was 7'10" at the time the race began again.
Tom Boonen, Stijn Vandenbergh, and Niki Terpstra did not take the restart, and Michal Kwiatkowski eventually also abandoned. Riders got off their bikes covered in snow and ice during race neutralization.
"It was a really hard race," Chavanel said. "Super fast, and with the stop and restart, it was pretty strange. This morning at the start I was really motivated, then when we had to start again the motivation was a little gone. But then once I got back on the bike, the pressure started again and I felt immediately good. So I decided to attack. I had really good legs today. The problem was in the last part of the Poggio I had cramps. It was really hard for me to push on my pedals due to the cramps. But I think all riders had the same problem because today we were really at the limit. It was impossible to do more than this. In the final I tried to start my sprint a little early, but the legs were empty at that point. But OK, I was 4th. It's bittersweet when you are so close to winning a big moment as Milano - Sanremo and then you don't win. I'm a little bit disappointed, but at the same time feel really good for the job I did. It shows in the last weeks my hard work is paying off. I am very happy about it. I have also the surprise to be number one in the WorldTour rankings. It's quite nice, a new sensation for me and a new feeling. Only now after the race and a shower, that I realize it's not so bad to be number one in the world even for a week. I am so happy that I've reached my maturity at this time in my career. I feel really good, and I like my job and love riding my bike. As for what's next, we have another World Tour race on Friday, Harelbeke. I will try my best there. We have a strong team, and we will do our best to win the race."
"As for what I did during the race neutralization, I slept," Chavanel said about the race stoppage. "I tried to sleep to recover. Also, I think all of the riders that finished are a little bit heroic. The conditions were really extreme, so I am happy to say I've done it and finished."
"It was cold, but I was OK," Cavendish said. "It wasn’t easy to get back on the bike again, but it was the same for everyone who started. What kept me going was the possibility of winning Milano – Sanremo. We started and we gave everything. I had support from everyone, including Chava. I mean, we went with the plan. We didn’t come away with the win, but I’m happy with how we stuck to the plan of Chavanel going off the front. Ciolek winning wasn’t surprising. He’s the Under 23 World Champion, one of the most talented bike riders I know. He’s definitely come back this year. He’s won a few races and he’s right back up there. He’s a super guy and I’m really happy for him."
