News

Photo Essay: Milano-Sanremo becomes another instant classic

The 109th edition of Milano-Sanremo featured ever-changing weather, drama, and a daring solo attack to win.

March 19, 2018 BrakeThrough Media

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

2018 — A new team and fresh results brought out the Viviani fan club to the start in Milan for the 109th edition of La Classicissima. Photo: Eloise Mavian / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Race favorote Peter Sagan arrived at the sign-in under rainy skies and watchful eyes. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — European champion and previous race winner Alexander Kristof lined up as a favorite for the 2018 Milano-Sanremo. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Incessant rain and cold temperatures kept the average speed in the opening hours at a relatively tame pace. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — The peloton was under the shared control of Sky, Bora-Hansgrohe, and Quick-Step Floors throughout most of the day. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Rain and cold temperatures kept the pace of the peloton on a more relaxed tempo for the opening half of the race. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Milano-Sanremo, or La Primavera, continued its tradition as the longest one-day race on the calendar at just shy of 300 kilometers. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Tim De Clerq marshaled the peloton on behalf of his team’s leaders Philippe Gilbert and Julian Alaphilippe. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — The long line of riders indicated the speed of the race was starting to ramp up as the peloton neared the Passo del Turchino. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — The 109th edition of La Classicissima was a roller coaster of weather for the riders over the 294km route. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — World champion Peter Sagan rode in the wake of his Bora-Hansgrohe teammates for much of the day. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — The sun broke out for a few moments during the 7-plus-hour race. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — The peloton passed the iconic village of Campo Ligure all together at the base of the Passo del Turchino. Photo: Eloise Mavian / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Andrei Greipel chased back on the climb of the Passo del Turchino after a crash in the feedzone a few kilometers earlier. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Peter Sagan fans were ready for the Slovak champion despite the tumultuous weather over the course of the day. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — The peloton passed through the seaport town of Savona as the skies opened up again on the riders. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — The long line of the peloton wrapped around the costal cliffs in Noli is one of the most iconic images of the Italian classic. Photo: Eloise Mavian / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Defending champion Michal Kwiatkowski spent most of the day hidden in the bunch around his Sky team. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — As the bunch neared the series of short climbs clustered in the final 50km, the teams of the favorites gathered at the front. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Jurai Sagan drove the pace for his team leader and brother Peter on the Capo Cervo. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — The peloton appeared to be playing a waiting game as the bunch rode together over the Capo Berta, with only the Cipressa and Poggio remaning. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — One last look back from Vincenzo Nibali after a daring attack on the Poggio brought the Italian rider to the finish on the Via Roma alone in grand style. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Vincenzo Nibali stole victory from the sprinters, winning in dramatic fashion in Sanremo on the Italian Riviera. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Emotions hit as Vincenzo Nibali realized he had won his first La Classicissima title. Photo: Eloise Mavian / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — It wasn’t the day Greg Van Avermaet was looking for, but now the Belgian shifts his focus back to the cobbled classics. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

Philippe — It was not his day on the Italian coast, but the classics season is just beginning for Philippe Gilbert. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Former winner Arnaud Demare showed his win was not a fluke and he will continue to battle for the victory again at Milano-Sanemo. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Autralian Caleb Ewan was the fastest of the sprinters on the Via Roma and would likely have taken victory at Milano-Sanremo were it not for Vincenzo Nibali’s bold escape. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Vincenzo Nibali took home the 2018 trophy for Milan-Sanremo. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2018 — Vincenzo Nibali topped the podium in Sanremo at the 109th edition of the spring classic. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

Remco Evenepoel goes solo for sensational UCI Road World Championship victory

Wout van Aert relishes ‘perfect’ day for Belgium as Remco Evenepoel dominates road world championships

UCI Road World Championships: Remco Evenepoel conquers the world

One Way South

The Specialized Team embarks on a three-day bike-camping trip through California.

Keywords:

bikepacking
Camping
Native

Related content from the Outside Network

Mountain Bikers React to Their First Taste of Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer

Video review: BMC URS 01 Two gravel bike

Kiel Reijnen Vuelta Video Diary: The painful decision to abandon

Kiel Reijnen Vuelta Video Diary: Inside a pre-race meeting with Trek-Segafredo