Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Victorious) has won Milan-Sanremo with an attack descending the Poggio after UAE Team Emirates had shredded the field as far out as the Cipressa. After his team had driven on the front, UAE Team Emirates star turn, Tadej Pogačar, then attacked repeatedly on the Poggio but to no avail.
Mohorič - who used a dropper post to lower his saddle to make him more aero going downhill - was among a front group of about 15 riders intact at the top of the last climb. He then went down the hill so quickly he briefly went off road. Later, when he looked like he had the race won, with about 1km to go he suffered a heart-stopping moment when he appeared to slip his chain.
But nothing could stop the Slovenian, who swept in to ride an incredible finale after UAE Team Emirates made the final 30km as hard as possible and effectively whittled the peloton down to less than 20 riders.
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Mohorič's win today was very similar to Sean Kelly's second victory in Milan-Sanremo in 1992 when the Irishman's descent of the Poggio, in pursuit of lone leader Moreno Argentin, was equally fearless.
Today, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) attacked in pursuit of Mohorič in the final 1km but had to be content with 2nd place. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix) confirmed his return to top condition by taking 3rd place at the end of 293km of action.
It was Van der Poel's first race of the 2022 road season and his first competitive outing for almost three months after his back injury wiped out his cyclocross season.
How it unfolded
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) took it up very early on the Poggio, putting in a first attack with 8.2km to go after his team had earlier driven the pace on the Cipressa and blew the field to pieces.
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When Pogačar made that first move going up the Poggio, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) stuck to his wheel. A gap then opened behind those two, which was closed by Van der Poel, with apparent ease.
After the group had come back together, Pogačar attacked again with 7.7km to go and for a third time with 7.2km remaining. Once those two attacks failed, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) jumped with 7km to go before Pogačar went again just 400 metres later.
With 6.3km to go it was Søren Kragh Andersen (Team DSM) who made his move. He put in a strong and sustained attack that continued until the top of the climb and was arguably more damaging than any of Pogačar's efforts.
Going over the Poggio summit, with 5km to go, Kragh Andersen led the way with Pogačar in his wheel, followed by Van der Poel and Van Aert. There was then a gap of just a couple of lengths to the remains of the peloton, numbering no more than 15 riders.
On the descent of the Poggio, Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Victorious) took it up immediately and absolutely flew through the first section; getting to the front of the group and then riding away. While Pogačar was initially on his fellow countryman's wheel, he couldn’t close up to him and it was left up to Van Aert to try and reduce the gap.
However, that gap grew bigger rather than reducing and when they came off the descent onto the flat for the final couple of kilometres, Mohorič had a few seconds in hand. He was fully committed as the chase behind him was marked by a lack of cooperation.
Mohorič then suffered his very nervous moment when his chain came off with 900m to go. But somehow he pressed on and the chain appeared to right itself in the nick of time.
Inside the final 1km, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) went after the lone leader and while he almost got across, it was Mohorič who hung on for a glorious win. Turgis was next at two seconds, with Van der Poel in 3rd place on the same time.
More to come.
