Milan-San Remo glory for Freire
Saturday, 20 March 2010 17:01Spain's Oscar Freire won the Milan-San Remo Classic for the third time in a sprint finish today.
Freire (Rabobank) timed his bid for the line to perfection, winning by two bike lengths from Belgium's Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Italy's Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre).
Mark Cavendish (HTC Columbia) won in sensational fashion 12 months ago, but the Briton was short of form following off-season dental problems and was never in contention, while Team Sky's best-placed rider was Spain's Juan Antonio Flecha in 18th.
Fabrice Piemontesi (Androni Giocattoli), Aristide Ratti (Carmiooro NGC) and Diego Caccia (ISD) were in the day's first break and established a lead of more than 22 minutes in the opening 100km, but the lead was cut in two in the next 50km.
The three leaders were caught with 80km to go and with the crucial climbs of La Cipressa and the Poggio to come.
Yoann Offredo (Francaise des Jeux) forced the pace with 15km to go, but the pack - including all the big names - were in hot pursuit and caught the French rider as they began climbing the Poggio.
The pace was frenetic as the leaders descended into San Remo, and 2006 champion Filippo Pozzato attempted an early break inside the final 3,000m.
But the major players were all in contention in the final straight and Freire, the champion in 2004 and 2007, had too much for his rivals to triumph.
