Image 1 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) celebrates his win at Milan - San Remo. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 2 of 146 Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) descends the Passo del Turchino (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 3 of 146 Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 4 of 146 Stefano Garzelli (Acqua&Sapone - D'Angelo&Antenucci) after the race. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 5 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) atop the podium. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 6 of 146 Diego Caccia (ISD - Neri) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 7 of 146 Alessandro Ballan (BMC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 8 of 146 Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre - Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 9 of 146 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma Lotto) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 10 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) with his son on the podium. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 11 of 146 Alessandro Petacchi steps up to the podium. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 12 of 146 Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) after the finish (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 13 of 146 Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas - Doimo) heads to the finish (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 14 of 146 Damiano Cunego (Lampre - Farnese Vini) after the race (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 15 of 146 Daniele Bennati (Liquigas - Doimo) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 16 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 17 of 146 Alessandro Ballan (BMC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 18 of 146 Stefano Garzelli and Luca Paolini discuss the race afterward (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 19 of 146 Francisco Ventoso (Carmiooro NGC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 20 of 146 George Hincapie (BMC) after the race (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 21 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 22 of 146 Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 23 of 146 Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 24 of 146 Luca Paolini (Acqua & Sapone) had been an outsider for Milan-San Remo (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 25 of 146 A focussed Tom Boonen (Quick Step) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 26 of 146 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) descends (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 27 of 146 George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 28 of 146 Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) used Milan-San Remo to help rebuild his form after a knee injury (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 29 of 146 Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) descends off Le Mànie (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 30 of 146 Fabrice Piemontesi (Androni Giocatolli) leads the breakaway (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 31 of 146 Tom Boonen (2nd, Quick Step), Oscar Freire (1st, Rabobank) and Alessandro Petacchi (3rd, Lampre-Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 32 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) celebrates his win with his son (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 33 of 146 The 2010 Milan-San Remo peloton (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 34 of 146 The peloton gets ready for the gun in Milan (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 35 of 146 The peloton makes their way towards the Italian coast from Milan (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 36 of 146 Grey sky above, Black Sky below. Edvald Boasson Hagen (left) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 37 of 146 Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre - Farnese Vini ) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 38 of 146 Sacha Modolo (Colnago - CSF) after the sprint (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 39 of 146 Paul Martens waits for some assistance from his Rabobank team. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 40 of 146 Riders take a high speed downhill corner. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 41 of 146 Sacha Modolo (Colnago-CSF) would go on to a top five finish. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 42 of 146 The peloton (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 43 of 146 Philippe Gilbert followed by Filippo Pozatto. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 44 of 146 Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) after the finish. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 45 of 146 Damiano Cunego (Lampre - Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 46 of 146 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 47 of 146 Filippo Pozatto (Katusha) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 48 of 146 Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti Diquigiovanni) takes a turn at the front. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 49 of 146 The peloton on the way from Milan to San Remo (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 50 of 146 Race over, the mechanics set to work. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand) Image 51 of 146 Linus Gerdemann (Milram) (Image credit: Stephen Farrand) Image 52 of 146 Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) was left with too much to do at the finish (Image credit: Stephen Farrand) Image 53 of 146 A weary looking Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) after Milan-San Remo (Image credit: Stephen Farrand) Image 54 of 146 If it weren't for the Sky kit and cycling helmet you'd swear Chris Sutton had spent a day working in a mine (Image credit: Stephen Farrand) Image 55 of 146 The peloton (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 56 of 146 Ian Stannard (Team Sky) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 57 of 146 Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) after the stage (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 58 of 146 Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 59 of 146 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma Lotto) goes on the attack. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 60 of 146 Filippo Pozatto (Katusha) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 61 of 146 Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas - Doimo) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 62 of 146 Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky) stands up on his pedals (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 63 of 146 Mark Cavendish (HTC - Columbia) corners in the peloton (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 64 of 146 Marco Bandiera (Katusha) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 65 of 146 Paul Maertens gets some help from his Rabobank team. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 66 of 146 Gregory Henderson (Team Sky) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 67 of 146 The peloton (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 68 of 146 Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua&Sapone - D'Angelo&Antenucci) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 69 of 146 The group containing all the favorites. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 70 of 146 Diego Caccia (Team ISD - Neri) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 71 of 146 The peloton (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 72 of 146 Riding by the sea (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 73 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) faces the press after his Milan-San Remo victory (Image credit: Stephen Farrand) Image 74 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 75 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) after the race). (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 76 of 146 Riders scramble to reconnect on a descent (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 77 of 146 The peloton rolls along by the sea. (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 78 of 146 The face of the final 50km at Milan-San Remo (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 79 of 146 The peloton streams round a hair-pin (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 80 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) takes the inside line (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 81 of 146 The favourites stay close on the descent off the Poggio (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 82 of 146 Freire, Petacchi, Boonen and Cancellara are all present and accounted for (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 83 of 146 Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) gave it his best shot both up and down the Poggio (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 84 of 146 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) leads through a corner (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 85 of 146 Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) rode like a man possessed today (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 86 of 146 Liquigas rode a strong Milan-San Remo, unfortunately for the Italians Oscar Freire (Rabobank) would rule the day (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 87 of 146 Chris Sutton (Team Sky) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 88 of 146 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) is interviewed after the race. (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 89 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) on the podium. (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 90 of 146 Tom Boonen (2nd, Quick Step), Oscar Freire (1st, Rabobank) and Alessandro Petacchi (3rd, Lampre-Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 91 of 146 Tom Boonen (2nd, Quick Step), Oscar Freire (1st, Rabobank) and Alessandro Petacchi (3rd, Lampre-Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 92 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) was a little bit happier once he got to the podium (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 93 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) looks disappointed after finishing second (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 94 of 146 Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 95 of 146 Agony and ecstasy (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 96 of 146 Oscar Freire pumps his fists at the finish (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 97 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) wins the 101st Milan-San Remo (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 98 of 146 Oscar Freire sprinted to an emphatic victory (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 99 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) inches closer to his third win at Milan-San Remo (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 100 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) shows his rivals a clean pair of heels (Image credit: Sirotti) Image 101 of 146 Oscar Friere's young son looks up at race winner dad. (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 102 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Oscar Freire (Rabobank) exchange post-race congratulations (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 103 of 146 The Milan - San Remo podium (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 104 of 146 The top three finishers stand atop the podium. (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 105 of 146 Mark Cavendish (HTC - Columbia) speaks after the finish. (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 106 of 146 Mark Cavendish (HTC - Columbia) gets a post-race hug. (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 107 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) before the start (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 108 of 146 Riders chat before the start (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 109 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) at sign in. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 110 of 146 Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 111 of 146 Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) before the start (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 112 of 146 Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) rides to the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 113 of 146 Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen is introduce. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 114 of 146 Emanuele Sella (Carmiooro-NGC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 115 of 146 Juan Antonio Flecha and David Millar talk before the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 116 of 146 Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre-Farnese Vini) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 117 of 146 Peter Velits (HTC - Columbia) rides to the start (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 118 of 146 Milan - San Remo winner Oscar Freire (Rabobank) (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 119 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) led the final mad dash to the line ahead of Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com) Image 120 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) wins in San Remo. (Image credit: Riccardo Scanferla) Image 121 of 146 Marco Frapporti (Colnago - CSF) rides to the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 122 of 146 Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) before the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 123 of 146 Michael Barry (Team Sky) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 124 of 146 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma - Lotto), a pre-race favorite (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 125 of 146 Thomas Lovkvist (Team Sky) and George Hincapie (BMC) before the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 126 of 146 Team Sky heads to the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 127 of 146 Johan Van Summeren (Garmin - Transitions) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 128 of 146 Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) at sign in. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 129 of 146 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 130 of 146 Daniele Bennati (Liquigas - Doimo) before the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 131 of 146 Marzio Bruseghin (Caisse d'Epargne) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 132 of 146 Belgian Tom Boonen (Quick Step) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 133 of 146 Belgian National Champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 134 of 146 Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini) before the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 135 of 146 Mark Cavendish (HTC - Columbia) speaks with reporters prior to the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 136 of 146 Sprint ace Tyler Farrar (Garmin Transitions) heads to the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 137 of 146 Mark Cavendish (HTC - Columbia) won in 2009. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 138 of 146 Murilo Fischer (Garmin - Transitions) before the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 139 of 146 Oscar Freire (Rabobank) prior to the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 140 of 146 Fumiyuki Beppu (RadioShack) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 141 of 146 Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 142 of 146 Tom Boonen (Quick Step) before the start. (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 143 of 146 Italian champion Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 144 of 146 Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas - Doimo) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 145 of 146 Oscar Gatto (ISD - Neri) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 146 of 146 Racers before the start of Milan - San Remo (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) claimed his third and most emphatic victory in the Italian Classic, Milan-San Remo, on Saturday afternoon. The Spaniard positioned himself perfectly for a sprint finish from a select group of 25 riders to defeat race favourite Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini).

Despite several spirited attempts by riders to get away on the ever-decisive Poggio, the favourites all regrouped in the three-kilometre dash towards the finish. Liquigas entered the final kilometre at the front, but it was a cagey Freire who benefited most from the lime green lead-out as he leapt out from third wheel to finish a bike length clear of Boonen.

"I think I deserved to win my first win Milan-San Remo because Zabel wasn't the same rider he had been," said Freire, as he compared his 2004 and 2007 wins with his latest title. "The second Milan-San Remo went really went and I did a great sprint. This year it was the same. I think I had good form. I was scared of the finish because it wasn't on the Via Roma, which I prefer. Fortunately it went well."

Snap, crackle and pop on the Poggio

The sprint finish defied pre-race predictions of late attackers being able to stay away, though, it was not for lack of trying. A nervous-looking peloton appeared willing to delay hostilities on the Cipressa, and despite a move by Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) towards the top of the penultimate climb, it wasn't until the Poggio that all-out war commenced.

A bold move by Yoann Offredo (Francaise des Jeux) on the descent off the Cipressa was met just kilometres later, on the Poggio, with a stampede from a Stefano Garzelli-led peloton. As the Acqua & Sapone man swung off, Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) tore off the front of the race, with Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) launching their own counter-attacks.

Pozzato led the race over the summit, but as he began the descent, the proximity of his rivals made it clear that a sizable group was going to make it to the finish. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) led a hair-raising descent into San Remo and although he took Pozzato, Gilbert, Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) and Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank) with him, the race once again came back together as the terrain flattened out for the final kilometres.

Freire admitted afterwards that this regrouping was key to his eventual victory. "The most difficult moment for me was on the descent of Poggio," he said. "Pozzato got a gap with five or six others. I was scared they'd stay away. Then when he attacked I knew I had to just find a good wheel because I couldn't chase him. That was the only way I could win was in a sprint."

A final flourish from Nibali was answered by Pozzato, who went clear with two kilometres to go. After a moment's hesitation by the pack, Liquigas took responsibility for drawing the Italian Champion back once more as its team led the way into the final kilometre. Around a minute later, Freire slid out of their slipstream and sprinted across the line for yet another famous victory at La Classicisma.

"The statistics say that Milan-San Remo finishes more often than not in a sprint and so the sprinters have to wait for the sprint. There are always attacks, for sure, but there always are a lot of sprinters who want a sprint finish. A team like Liquigas could have done everything, go on the attack or wait for the sprint. They opted for a sprint but we all took advantage of that.

"When I started the sprint I knew I was in a good position and had good legs for it," he said. "I'd been worried about being blocked in like two years ago but this time the right people were up there for the sprint and I found the right wheel. Bennati went, but I don't think he had the legs today."

And so it begins

Just under seven hours earlier, the peloton had left a drizzly Milan for their journey to the coast. With the flag pulled in, the customary early attack followed just three kilometres down the road. Unsurprisingly, it was an all Italian affair as Fabrice Piemontesi (Androni Giocatolli), Aristide Ratti (Carmiooro NGC) and Diego Caccia (ISD-Neri) used the outskirts of Milan to make good their escape.

With almost 300 kilometres on the day's agenda, the trio were given a wide berth. Lampre-Farnese Vini, Liquigas-Doimo, Katusha and HTC-Columbia were the teams patrolling the front of the peloton behind, but their tempo was tranquil enough to allow the leaders to push out to over 22 minutes. However, as they approached the Passo del Turchino the leaders' time gap commenced its gradual retreat.

Quick Step now making themselves visible at the front of the main group, the time gap began to drop. The leaders began the climb with 16:25 and they finished it with a little over 12 minutes. There was no rush to shrink that gap further, and the leaders were still out in front on the slopes of Le Mànie, with 100 kilometres to go. But their advantage was now a meagre two minutes.

While the leaders had been making their way between the Turchino and Le Mànie, the race behind had split after a crash on the descent of the Turchino, with reigning champion Mark Cavendish caught in the latter selection. The Briton's HTC-Columbia squad immediately came to the front in order to limit the damage. While Cavendish's men set to work, Murilo Fischer (Garmin-Transitions), who had also crashed in the incident, left the race with a broken collarbone.

As attention focussed on the gap between the pelotons, the leaders were brought back by the front section of the grim-coated group at 81 kilometres-to-go. Caccia, who had spent more than 200 kilometres out in front, had clearly developed a penchant for that position in the race. The Italian took point duty at the front and controlled the tempo of the 30-strong group for another five kilometres.

With no-one in the mood to push the pace in the front group, the two halves of the peloton reformed. But at 60 kilometres to go AG2R-La Mondiale's Maxime Bouet decided to attempt mission impossible as he fired off the front. The young Frenchman quickly built a 20-second buffer, which he gradually stretched out towards 40 seconds. Dimitri Grabovskyy (ISD-Neri) was one of the first to answer the move as seven riders attempted to bridge across to the lone leader.

Grabovskyy was the only one able to catch Bouet. He made brief contact before storming past the AG2R rider on the Capo Berta. Unfortunately for the Ukrainian, the peloton had started to sharpen the pencil and it wasn't long before he too was recouped after the town of Imperia, with 37 kilometres to go.

With Grabovskyy caught and the peloton once again back to status quo, Milram led onto the Cipressa and into what would be a fantastic finale for Freire.

Full Results

# Rider Name (Country) Team Result 1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 6:57:28 2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 4 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox 5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 6 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 7 Francesco Ginanni (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 8 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 9 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 10 Luca Paolini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 11 Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank 12 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux 13 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana 14 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Team Radioshack 15 Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank 16 Yoann Offredo (Fra) Française Des Jeux 17 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 18 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling Team 19 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 20 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 21 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 22 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 23 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 24 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 25 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 26 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana 0:00:09 27 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 28 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 29 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha 0:00:18 30 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:00:21 31 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:39 32 Simon Clarke (Aus) ISD - Neri 0:01:35 33 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 34 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 35 Andreas Klier (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 36 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:01:40 37 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team Radioshack 38 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 39 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 40 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Carmiooro NGC 41 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram 42 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions 43 Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 44 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team HTC - Columbia 45 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 46 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha 47 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 48 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha 49 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Caisse d'Epargne 50 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram 51 Markus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram 52 Karsten Kroon (Ned) BMC Racing Team 53 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française Des Jeux 54 Michael Barry (Can) Sky Professional Cycling Team 55 George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team 56 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Team Radioshack 57 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Team Radioshack 58 Jackson Rodriguez (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 59 Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 60 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank 61 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Rabobank 62 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank 63 Oscar Gatto (Ita) ISD - Neri 64 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team 65 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 66 Rene Mandri (Est) AG2R La Mondiale 67 William Bonnet (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 68 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 69 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Carmiooro NGC 70 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 71 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 72 Inaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 73 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox 74 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 75 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick Step 76 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 77 Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 78 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana 79 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 80 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux 81 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne 82 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:01:49 83 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 84 Dimitri Champion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:54 85 Francesco Failli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 0:03:04 86 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:03:13 87 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d'Epargne 88 Steve Chainel (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 0:05:29 89 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 0:06:12 90 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Astana 91 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) ISD - Neri 92 Grégory Rast (Swi) Team Radioshack 93 Thomas Leezer (Ned) Rabobank 94 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank 95 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank 96 Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling Team 97 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Cervelo Test Team 98 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - Transitions 99 Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling Team 100 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Androni Giocattoli 101 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 102 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française Des Jeux 103 Mickael Delage (Fra) Omega Pharma-Lotto 104 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank 105 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Transitions 106 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team 107 Marco Velo (Ita) Quick Step 108 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 109 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 0:10:07 110 Biel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 111 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Team Katusha 112 Daryl Impey (RSA) Team Radioshack 113 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Team Radioshack 114 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team 115 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Team Milram 116 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox 117 Marco Frapporti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox 118 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 119 Mathieu Claude (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 120 Stuart O'grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 121 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team HTC - Columbia 122 Matthew Wilson (Aus) Garmin - Transitions 123 Paul Voss (Ger) Team Milram 124 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini 125 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 126 Allan Davis (Aus) Astana 127 Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo Bank 128 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 129 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling Team 130 Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukr) ISD - Neri 131 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) ISD - Neri 132 Aristide Ratti (Ita) Carmiooro NGC 133 Jure Kocjan (Slo) Carmiooro NGC 134 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Acqua & Sapone 135 Alessandro Fantini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 136 Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 137 Jorge Azanza Soto (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 138 Laurent Beuret (Swi) Carmiooro NGC 139 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Androni Giocattoli 140 Eric Berthou (Fra) Carmiooro NGC 141 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Milram 0:10:18 142 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 0:14:24 143 Olivier Bonnaire (Fra) Française Des Jeux 144 Alessandro Donati (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 145 Valeriy Dmitriyev (Kaz) Astana 0:17:17 146 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 147 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Team Milram 148 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 149 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française Des Jeux 150 Diego Caccia (Ita) ISD - Neri 151 Daniele Ratto (Ita) Carmiooro NGC 152 Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 153 Fabrice Piemontesi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli DNF Michael Albasini (Swi) Team HTC - Columbia DNF Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia DNF Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia DNF Peter Velits (Svk) Team HTC - Columbia DNF Dario Andriotto (Ita) Acqua & Sapone DNF Massimo Codol (Ita) Acqua & Sapone DNF Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale DNF Damiano Margutti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli DNF Sergey Renev (Kaz) Astana DNF Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) BBox Bouygues Telecom DNF Saïd Haddou (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom DNF Alexandre Pichot (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom DNF Damien Gaudin (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom DNF Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team DNF Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team DNF Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Caisse d'Epargne DNF Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne DNF Raffaele Ferrara (Ita) Carmiooro NGC DNF Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervelo Test Team DNF Dominique Rollin (Can) Cervelo Test Team DNF Mattia Gavazzi (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox DNF Manuel Belletti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox DNF Federico Canuti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox DNF Simone Stortoni (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox DNF Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi DNF Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi DNF Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Transitions DNF Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) Garmin - Transitions DNF Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Transitions DNF Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Transitions DNF Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) ISD - Neri DNF Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) ISD - Neri DNF Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini DNF Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo DNF Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto DNF Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Omega Pharma-Lotto DNF Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto DNF Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step DNF Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step DNF Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team DNF Marco Bandiera (Ita) Team Katusha DNF Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha DNF Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Katusha DNF Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Team Radioshack DNF Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank DNF Baden Cooke (Aus) Team Saxo Bank

Nico Mattan on Milan-San Remo:

Some people were surprised that Oscar Freire won Milan-San Remo but I wasn't. The riders went so easy on the Poggio, that it was going to be a bunch sprint and he knows how to win after 298km.

I know Gilbert gave it a go but you could see he was not at 100% and was never going to get away. Pozzato was probably the strongest but there wasn't much he could, with everybody else wanting a sprint finish. Anyway, cycling is not like 15 years ago when riders attacked on the Poggio and stayed away. Now everyone is at a similar level and so Milan-San Remo is not as spectacular. It will probably always end in a group sprint now unless they add an extra climb or move the finish to the top of the Poggio.

In races over 250km, Freire is the best sprinter out there, that's why he won three world titles and now three Milan-San Remo. Boonen was there but he's not really a sprinter like Freire, Cavendish or Petacchi, he's a cobbled classics rider who has a fast finish.

Freire also wanted it more. He'll never win on the cobbles, he doesn't like them, and so he put everything on winning Milan-San Remo. Now it's up to Boonen to prove he's as hungry for another win at the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix.

