SAN REMO, Italy – Everyone expected it to be an uphill attack from two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar to settle the race between Milan and San Remo.
It turned out to be a risky high-speed downhill attack from Matej Mohorič, another Slovenian rider who proved to be the winning feature of the spring classic.
After four unsuccessful attacks from Pogačar on the way up Poggio, the short but steep climb shortly before the end of the long 293-kilometer (182-mile) route, Mohorič accelerated almost as soon as the winding descent started.
Mohorič leaned dangerously into the sharp turns of the serpentine route and quickly created a small hole in front of a small group that included Pogačar, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel – three of the most talented current riders in the sport.
Mohorič, who drives for the Bahrain Victorious team, cut so many turns that both of his wheels slipped at one point. Somehow, however, he remained upright and established a five-second lead at the end of the descent with 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) left.
There was another moment that could have led to panic as Mohorič’s chain loosened on the flat and finished straight, but he also managed to overcome it and managed to celebrate before crossing the line on Via Roma.
French riders Anthony Turgis and Van der Poel finished second and third, respectively, both two seconds behind.
Michael Matthews finished fourth and Pogačar finished fifth, also two seconds behind.
The 27-year-old Mohorič also took two stages in last year’s Tour de France and has won one stage in both the Giro d’Italia and the Spanish Vuelta.
“I thought about this race all winter,” Mohorič said. “I knew that if I could train properly during the winter and try to be in good enough condition not to be lost on Poggio and be with the best guys over the top, I would have a chance to do my best. descent. and risks a little bit, but is able to keep winning. ”
Mohorič used a specially designed movable seat that is more often seen in mountain biking so he could gain more control over his bike on the descent.
“The team put a bike up for me and we had this plan for a long, long time now,” he said.
Milan-San Remo is the first of the five “monument” races of the cycling season. The others are Around Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Lombardy.
Slovenia’s Mohorič, not Pogačar, winner Milan-San Remo originally appeared on NBCSports.com