Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) became the first Norwegian to win Milan-San Remo by out sprinting Fabian Cancellara and Ben Swift at the end of a rain soaked race.
The days break went early in the race with Antonio Parrinello, Nathan Haas, Jan Barta, Nicola Boem, Matteo Bono, Marc de Maar and Maarten Tjallingii opening up a gap that stayed at over six minutes with 70km remaining, losing only Haas to a puncture and Boem who fell off the pace. Nathan Haas later posted this interesting tweet on the secret to making the break.
By Accidentally using heat cream rather then chamois, from identical jar, I found the secret to getting in the break away. Heated agenda
— Nathan Haas (@NathanPeterHaas) March 23, 2014
With 30km to go Vicenzo Nibali (Astana) shot out of the bunch in pursuit of the remnants of the break who by this time were down to two men, de Maar and Tjallingii. Nibali crested the Cipressa only ten seconds down and then quickly joined them on the descent. The bunch of 60 riders was 30 seconds back.
Nibali started the ascent of the Poggio alone, Gregory Rast bridged up then rode past Nibali, then Gilbert attacked reeling in Rast. One of the top favourites, John Degenkolb unluckily punctured near the base of the climb. There was a couple of counter attacks on the descent of the Poggio but the group was all together with 2km to the finish.
Katsuha led under the 1km to go flame rouge with Sagan, 2009 winner Mark Cavendish and Cancellara all near the front. In the final straight Mark Cavendish went early, then faded and was passed by Kristoff who took the win for Katusha. Cancellara took another second place and Cavendish came in fifth. Last years winner Gerald Ciolek finished in ninth place
This is the biggest victory I could imagine. It is the victory that saved my career,” Kristoff
While the beaten Cancellara had this to say “I’m disappointed but satisfied; Sanremo was the usual lottery and I didn’t want to make the same mistakes as previous years when they hemmed me in and I lost my cool. I didn’t make any mistakes. I know I came second, but someone else was faster than me”.
Watch the final moments of the 2014 Milan-San Remo below and an interview with Alexander Kristoff (via Cyclingnews)
Results below video
Results of the 2014 Milan-San Remo – Top 50
| Place | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha | 6:55:56 |
| 2 | Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing | |
| 3 | Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky | |
| 4 | Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Movistar Team | |
| 5 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team | |
| 6 | Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF | |
| 7 | Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team | |
| 8 | Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida | |
| 9 | Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN – Qhubeka | |
| 10 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale | |
| 11 | Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin Sharp | |
| 12 | Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team Sky | |
| 13 | Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team | |
| 14 | Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Garmin Sharp | |
| 15 | Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team | |
| 16 | Yoann Offredo (Fra) Fdj.fr | |
| 17 | Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team | |
| 18 | Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo | |
| 19 | Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek Factory Racing | |
| 20 | Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory Racing | |
| 21 | Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling | |
| 22 | Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida | |
| 23 | Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol | |
| 24 | André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol | |
| 25 | Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team | |
| 26 | Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Team Europcar | 0:00:06 |
| 27 | Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin Sharp | 0:00:07 |
| 28 | Davide Appollonio (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:00:34 |
| 29 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky | |
| 30 | Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 0:00:40 |
| 31 | Thomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team | 0:00:54 |
| 32 | Nicki Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo | |
| 33 | Luca Paolini (Ita) Team Katusha | 0:01:12 |
| 34 | Arnaud Demare (Fra) Fdj.fr | 0:01:22 |
| 35 | Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Belisol | |
| 36 | Mauro Finetto (Ita) Yellow Fluo | |
| 37 | Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team | 0:01:33 |
| 38 | Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | 0:01:35 |
| 39 | John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano | 0:01:54 |
| 40 | Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:02:09 |
| 41 | Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team | 0:02:38 |
| 42 | Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol | |
| 43 | Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani CSF | 0:03:14 |
| 44 | Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team | 0:03:15 |
| 45 | Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team | |
| 46 | Oscar Gatto (Ita) Cannondale | |
| 47 | Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:03:22 |
| 48 | Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team | 0:03:36 |
| 49 | Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge | 0:03:50 |
| 50 | Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN – Qhubeka | 0:04:10 |
Image Source via gazzetta.it
Race report by TBL – The Bike Lane
