Milan-San Remo - Demare picks his way through chaos to win

FDJ's Arnaud Demare picked up the biggest win of his career in the 107th Milan-San Remo, taking advantage of a late crash involving Fernando Gaviria (EQS) in the late stages.

Gaviria, fresh from a stage win last week in the Tirreno-Adriatico, was hotly tipped for success in the Monument on the Italian Riviera. As he moved for a better position when well placed with a few hundred metres left, he clipped the wheel of Greg van Avermaet (BMC), sending the Colombian tumbling, and holding up several others, including Peter Sagan (TNK).

The race took place in the fine Italian sunshine, unlike in recent runnings of the race, although Mother Nature did have a trick up her sleeve, a landslide around Arenzano necessitating a detour at short notice.

Several crashes occurred throughout the race, with Marco Haller (KAT) Julien Vermote (EQS) and Federico Zurlo (LAM) all hitting the floor in individual crashes on the Capo Mele. Another involved Demare, Peter Kennaugh (SKY) and the in-form Michael Matthews (OGE), and looked to have kiboshed the hopes of Demare and Matthews.

As the peloton came down the final descent, Michal Kwiatkowski (SKY) made a bid for a solo victory, but was reeled in, thanks largely to the efforts of Fabian Cancellara (TFS). Cancellara attempted to break away himself, but there were too many sprinters around him to allow a break.

Edvald Boasson Hagen (DDD) led into the final stretch as the sprinters played cat and mouse, Gaviria's crash was the trigger for the sprint, with Nacer Bouhanni first to make the move, looking to have a clear run before losing his chain, robbing him of any chance, and leaving him pounding his handlebars as he coasted home.

Instead it was Demare who popped out from the slipstream of Jurgen Roelandts (LTS), outsprinting Sky's Ben Swift to take a massive win.

milanosanremo.it

As well as a personal triumph for Demare, the win was also historic for his FDJ team, who had never won a Monument since its inception in 1997. Coincidentally 1997 was the last year a Frenchman won a Monument before today, with Laurent Jalabert's win at Il Lombardia.

Race winner Arnaud Demare (FDJ):“This is incredible. There are days like this one in which everything works despite the occasional hiccup, like crashing at the bottom of the Cipressa. I made it across at the bottom of the Poggio and the entire way I felt fantastic. I'm delighted to win Milano-Sanremo. This is a big one and has been running for over a century. It's extraordinary. I'm extremely happy.”

Race results
1. Arnaud Demare (FDJ) 6:54:45
2. Ben Swift (SKY) + :00
3. Jurgen Roelandts (LTS) + :00
4. Nacer Bouhanni (COF) + :00
5. Greg van Avermaet (BMC) + :00
6. Alexander Kristoff (KAT) + :00
7. Heinrich Haussler (IAM) + :00
8. Filippo Pozzata (STH) + :00
9. Sonny Colbrelli (BAR) + :00
10. Matteo Trentin (EQS) + :00