Milan San Remo 2008

Adding to his two world time trial titles, his 2006 triumph at the 'Hell of the North', and seven days in the yellow jersey at last year's Tour de France where he also won twice, Fabian Cancellara was in seventh heaven after winning the 99th running of Milan San Remo, the first classic of 2008 - . Report and Results

Fabian Cancellera (Team CSC)

"I've dreamt so much of winning here. And now I've done it!" said the Swiss, who also won his first major stage race last week in Tirreno-Adriatico.

Fillipo Pozzato - Fabian Cancellera - Phillipe Gilbert

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Steven Spielberg had written the script
Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara said he will continue spreading his victory horizons after claiming his second major victory on Italian soil inside a week, at Milan-San Remo.

Finishing on the podium of the Tour de France may be a long-term ambition for the Swiss rider, born to Italian parents. But for now the 27-year-old powerhouse from Berne is happy to savour a first win at Italy's biggest one-day classic, before looking ahead to the Tour of Flanders in two weeks time.

Last week Cancellara claimed a first major stage race win at the week-long Tirreno-Adriatico, where his time trialling skills proved decisive.

At Milan San remo the skills that have won him the past two world titles were again on display, Cancellara pulling away from a small leading group inside the final two kilometres to stun the entire sprint field. It was Switzerland's first victory in the race known as the 'Primavera' since Erich Maechler triumphed 21 years ago.

"Everything happened as though it was a film, as though Steven Spielberg had written the script," said Cancellara, overjoyed to have come over the finish line on his own with a few seconds to spare on a small group of chasers. "I looked behind me because I wanted to make sure I had won the way I had.

Sprinters creamed off
The last rider to win San Remo like that was (Andre) Tchmil in 1999. "But he done a solo attack for 800 metres, while I did two kilometres." Cancellara had spent the earlier part of this season honing his climbing skills in California. And that early season work came in handy on the Le Manie climb, included by organisers in a deliberate attempt to toughen up a race which many felt was finishing in bunch sprints far too often.

"We all knew the new climb would change things. It was there that the tempo was fastest, and that creamed off a lot of the sprinters," added Cancellara. "Even I had trouble keeping pace."

After the Cipressa climb, where Italian Olympic champion Paolo Bettini had pulled a few riders with him after a solo attack, Cancellara asked his CSC team to up the pace.

Bettini's group were eventually caught, and after several attacks in the closing 10 km Cancellara waited for the right moment to pounce. "It wasn't the kind of attack you can plan that morning in the team bus, it was pure instinct. It was the same kind of attack that I used to win at Compiegne."

Tour of Flanders
This year, Paris-Roubaix - won last year by his Australian teammate Stuart O'Grady - is also on Cancellera's mind. "What I did at Roubaix, I can do again," he added. "But my main objective for the classics season is the Tour of Flanders. In the past I've made a lot of mistakes but I feel ready and think I can win it."

Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas)

Italian Filippo Pozzato, the 2006 winner, sprinted to second place ahead of Belgium's Philippe Gilbert with Italian Davide Rebellin claiming fourth. Last year's winner, Oscar Freire of Spain, finished eighth to register his worst result on the race in eight participations. He also won in 2004.

Pozzato had braided his hair prior to the race, in the supposed hope of gaining an aerodynamic advantage on his rivals. In the end, it was the moment of hesitation among the contenders who failed to keep tabs on Cancellara prior to his surge for the line which proved far more decisive.

"We knew we couldn't give Cancellara any kind of advantage in the finale," said a disappointed Pozzato.
"I think we could have caught him if we'd all pulled together, but everyone was thinking about their own race. It's a missed opportunity."

Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram)

The Team Milram sprint duo of Erkz Zabel and Alessandro Petacchi both lost out; "I had good legs, but not good enough to stay with the front guys on the Poggio," admitted Milram's Italian sprint star Alessandro Petacchi, who made the futile decision of waiting for teammates to help him close the gap.

Alessandro Petacchi said; "Actually we were doing quite well. I held myself back on the Poggio, because I was speculating on a mass sprint. Unfortunately the breakaway group worked well and was able to maintain its minimal lead to the end."

Milram Team Manager Gerry Van Gerwen gave some indication of Petacchi's form when he said after the race; "Petacchi complained of a cold and a bad sore throat before Milano-Sanremo."

Erik Zabel (Team Milram)

Erik Zabel remarked; "Together with Fabio Sabatini I tried to close the gap to the leaders. Unfortunately their lead was too big. We did everything we could, but this time our tactics just didn't work."

Christian Knees (Team Milram)

Christian Knees of Milram: "I could support Erik and Alessandro up to the last climb. It was a very difficult race today, and especially the new climb Le Manie cost a lot of strength. Unfortunately we couldn't be involved in the finale as we had planned. After such a strenuous day of such an extremely long race, that is naturally disappointing."

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