Milano - Sanremo 2024, one day monument, March 16

[tobydawq]

I heard the French commentators say that Alaphilippe may have had a flat tire in the last km, has this been confirmed?

He definitely created a weird gap in front of him in the two last corners. What a shame. It was nice to see him in that group.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I'm with Roy

 

[ppanther92]

He definitely created a weird gap in front of him in the two last corners. What a shame. It was nice to see him in that group.

I thought he looked really on ease on the Poggio, but never fully on the front. So expected a slightly better sprint from him. Interesting if true. Would like to see him back.

 

[Sciatic]

Monument season really kicked in.
Must say I've been fully enjoyed from the gun to the finish.

Milano - Sanremo being fully merciless as in most editions.

90% coffee pleasure and enjoyment of the beautiful surroundings here for 6 hours.
Myself drove the last half of the route by car during summer holidays now many years ago and stayed 7 great days at the Hotel Ariston Montecarlo with the swimming pool at the bottom of Poggio climb, borrowed the hotel's bikes (+20kg heavy 3-gear bikes and of course tried climb several times, as well and other climbs in the area - I was flying on my local hills with my far lighter race bike back home ).

And then the last 10% with full excitement and the ups and downs.
Can't hide my disappointment with Ganna's mechanical at most crucial moments.
Had visualized in dreams Ganna following Mohoric's wheel in an escape on the last part of the descent with Ganna winning a two man sprint. But it was not ment to be.
Just as I, as a Dane, could not hide my concern about Mads Pedersen's "strongman demonstration" on Cipressa, not saving everything for il Gran Finale. However, he would not stand as the winner anyway as the final unfolded. Not with Bling and Jasper back in the front group.

That's part of the ruthlessness of this race - and I love it for that.

The talks and writings about changing the route and spicing it up with a sea of extra climbs.
A polite "no thanks" from here.
This is the classic harbinger of spring, La Primavera. Just as this monument should be.
As the riders say - the easiest monument ridden, but the hardest to win.

Nota bene: Only objection from here would be to place the start in Milan instead of Pavia - hope they are back with the classic start in Milan next year.

Congratulations to Alpacin. They ran the race smartly.

Lovely hearing about your stay in San Remo—part of the fun watching is imagining spending a couple weeks in any one of the many towns along the route.

 

[Netserk]

After this, it would be nice if we had a rainy edition next year.

 

[Didinho]

Every year Pogi doesn’t win we get a harder race 20km earlier. Attack on the Cipressa or going hard from the bottom of the Poggio.

 

[Volderke]

That's a WAY harder finale; as much as I like Bettiol as a dark horse to surprise I don't think he's going to be able to live with Pog and MVDP at the end. That said, it's why they actually hold the races; if I had to pick anyone beside the big two it would be him or Mads...

No love for Wva…

 

[topcat]

Pogi is also overrated in a downhill. He’s good following wheels but not to stay in front. It doesn’t help if Pidcock and Mohoric are a couple seconds behind. Thought Mathieu would go over him and lead the descent, but he didn’t looked as explosive as last year. But still a massive effort in te last km.

Strong top 10. The expected riders.

As expected Ala finished ahead of MvdP in the top 10.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Say what you want about Remco, but at least he wouldn't be hugging people and taking selfies after loosing a race...

No ..he has some mind blowing phone gesture that no one can decipher when beaten in a stage race he was favourite for ??

No love for Wva…

Who ?

 

[dobrien]

No love for Wva…

I'm waiting for PR for him... honestly, as much as I like him I would not pick him for RVV over Mads or Alberto; those two just seem to have a 'tactically clever' gene that Wout lacks, and that's what anyone not Pog or MVDP is going to need this year.. Just my .02 mind you!

 

[Penninepeddler]

Fun race.

Little takeaways:

van Aert is probably watching from home regretting not coming. Now, he would have probably found a way to come 2nd or 3rd instead of winning... but the way it played out would have likely suited him.

Maybe I underestimated Pidcock, even though I like him... but that was impressive and gives the impression that maybe he could actually win this race one day. If it had been a smaller group without multiple team-mates of other teams to do the work to pull him back... maybe he could have just clung on.

Girmay... was not a million miles away from getting over the top with the group that caught the Pog/vdp/Pidcock "group" at the bottom of the Poggio. Though ofc has been a similar story in each of his three participations... would be interesting if one edition he can stay/catch up before the final flat.

 

[Lequack]

Matthews interview

https://twitter.com/x/status/1769039405769957385

View: https://twitter.com/Milano_Sanremo/status/1769039405769957385?s=20

 

[Salvarani]

Van Aert going on a long ride this evening with so many regrets not turning up here.

 

[joseph89]

Bettiol "Waar is Quick-Step Visma - LAB?"

 

[Netserk]

You were right, @tobydawq. On rewatch, Philipsen was clearly up next to Matthews by the second time Bling could close the door.

 

[search]

Matthews interview

https://twitter.com/x/status/1769039405769957385

View: https://twitter.com/Milano_Sanremo/status/1769039405769957385?s=20

good to see that he brought his daughter not only to the Eurosport interview, but the official one as well. She obviously "loves" the spotlight!

 

[jmdirt]

Matthews interview

https://twitter.com/x/status/1769039405769957385

View: https://twitter.com/Milano_Sanremo/status/1769039405769957385?s=20

Good interview, but I really dislike the questioning: "You just finished 2nd in one of the biggest races in cycling, any regrets?"

 

[Red Rick]

Van Aert going on a long ride this evening with so many regrets not turning up here.

Think that depends on what happens in De Ronde and Roubaix.

Given the rationale he's given for going to altitude now, he may really have felt over his best form in De Ronde the previous times.

 

[tobydawq]

good to see that he brought his daughter not only to the Eurosport interview, but the official one as well. She obviously "loves" the spotlight!

Yeah, she's too old for that.

 

[jmdirt]

I like that other guys aren't just settling for finishing behind the 'big guns'. Maybe JP winning will motivate a few others.

 

[Salvarani]

Think that depends on what happens in De Ronde and Roubaix.

Given the rationale he's given for going to altitude now, he may really have felt over his best form in De Ronde the previous times.

Agreed, but still feels like a missed opportunity.

Both things can be true.

 

[scribers]

Did pog strategically not drag mvp to the line allowing so many back into the mix? That was a remarkable chase to contest the finish from behind them

In hindsight pog might have been the strongest to sprint out of the first few down the hill

 

[dobrien]

Did pog strategically not drag mvp to the line allowing so many back into the mix? That was a remarkable chase to contest the finish from behind them

In hindsight pog might have been the strongest to sprint out of the first few down the hill

If Pog had Pidcock's descending skills that race would have been over.

 

[jmdirt]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCTh35qr8ig

 

[DNP-Old]

If Pog had Pidcock's descending skills that race would have been over.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7aSUs0R0PQ