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RACE REPORTS: MILAN-SANREMO RESULTS - THE VENGE ARRIVES!
Road Bike Action and AFP
March 19, 2011
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Mathew Goss added to an already successful season with the biggest win of his career
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
Australian Matthew Goss of the HTC-Highroad team claimed the biggest victory of his career when he sprinted to victory in Milan-Sanremo, held over 298km, on Saturday. Bigger news for the bike geeks was that the Aussie was aboard his new Specialized Venge that has just been rolled out the previous day.
Goss proved strongest in an eight-man finish following a thrilling finale which featured several attacks and counter-attacks.
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, the 2008 champion who rides for Leopard-Trek, was second with Belgian Philippe Gilbert of Omega-Pharma finishing third.
Another Belgian, Greg Van Avermaet of BMC, had made a long break for home inside the final 8km but he was reeled in with just over 2km to race, after which several riders had a crack.
Gilbert, a stage winner in the recent Tirreno-Adriatico, attacked inside the final 2km but couldn't hold on to his small advantage and it came down to a final sprint.
Italian Michele Scarponi of Lampre was first to make a bid for home, followed by Gilbert but Goss - the only real sprinter among the finishers - had the legs on all of them and came over the finish with his arms in the air in triumph.
Goss had been part of a select group of riders which had managed to stay at the front and leave the main chasing peloton behind around 70km from home.
Former winner Oscar Friere hits the deck and loses his chance to win.
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
Several other contenders, including British sprinter Mark Cavendish, the winner in 2009, world champion Thor Hushovd and three-time winner Oscar Friere, were caught in the second group and were forced to chase in vain for two hours.
Tasmanian Goss won a stage at Paris-Nice almost two weeks ago, however this victory - his and Australia's first on the race - trumps all his previous career wins.
Milan-Sanremo was first held in 1907 and is one of five one-day classic 'monuments' in cycling.
Results
1. Matthew Goss (AUS/HTC) 6 hr 51min 10sec
2. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/LEO) same time
3. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/OLO) s.t.
4. Alessandro Ballan (ITA/BMC) s.t.
5. Filippo Pozzato (ITA/KAT) s.t.
6. Michele Scarponi (ITA/LAM) s.t.
7. Yoann Offredo (FRA/FDJ) s.t.
8. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) at 03sec
9. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/OLO)
10. Stuart O'Grady (AUS/LEO
AS FOR TEAM HTC...
Goss and teammate Mark Cavendish aboard their new Specialized Venge team bikes
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
After 298 kilometers the Australian outsprinted a group of eight riders in the streets of San Remo to claim the victory ahead of Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Belgium's Philippe Gilbert.
"I knew I'd been going well, I knew I could get a good result, but actually to get the win is incredible." Goss said. "I knew Gilbert was dangerous and would try for an attack on the Poggio [climb], so I rode across to that front group just as we reached the top, and once I was with them I knew I was in with a chance. It was an advantage knowing the route. I live nearby and I've trained over the Poggio a few times in the last few days just to check it again. The descent was fast, but it wasn't too tricky because fortunately it wasn't wet, and with 500 meters to go I just gave it everything I had and hoped for the best."
Goss has had a spectacular 2011 season thus far, with stage victories in the Tour Down Under, the Tour of Oman, and most recently in Paris-Nice. Milan-San Remo is his eighth win of the year so far.
"It's been absolutely incredible," Goss said, "I couldn't have dreamed up a better start to the year."
Following Mark Cavendish's win in 2009, this is HTC-Highroad's second victory in three years in Milan-San Remo, one of cycling's top five biggest one-day races.
HTC-Highroad for Milan - San Remo: Michael Albasini (Swi); Lars Bak (Den); Mark Cavendish (GB); Bernhard Eisel (Aut); Matt Goss (Aus); Bert Grabsch (Ger); Mark Renshaw (Aus); Peter Velits (Svk). |
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