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Photo Essay: 2016 Milano-Sanremo

BrakeThrough Media captured the grit and the glory of the first monument classic of the season, Milano-Sanremo

March 20, 2016 BrakeThrough Media

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2016 — The 2016 edition of Milano-Sanremo returned to its more famous start in front of the grand fountain at the Castello Sforzesco. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Fans basked in the warmth of the morning sun in the Piazza Castello as they waited for the riders to arrive at sign-on. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The Etixx – Quick-Step squad arrived with strong options for the race finale with Zdenek Stybar and teammate Fernando Gaviria both contenders for the prize. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski arrived at Milano-Sanremo as an underdog. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Former Milano-Sanremo winner Alexander Kristoff signed on at the podium ceremony with fresh legs for the race and big aspiratiions for the day. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Peter Sagan started Milano-Sanremo as one of the clear favorites with the rainbow stripes on his back. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The front of the peloton rode down the tree-lined avenue in Pontacurone at kilometer 66 following the breakaway five minutes up the road. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Peter Sagan rode near the head of the bunch with his Tinkoff team around him as the peloton passed the little village of Campo Ligure. Photo: Heinz Zwicky / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The sparkling Italian Riviera shined in the spring-like weather, proving Milano-Sanremo worthy of its nickname “La Primavera” (Springtime). Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Along the Italian Riviera coastline, Milano-Sanremo fans of all types waited for the race. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — A traditional sight in Milano-Sanremo is the snaking peloton on the Italian Riviera at Capo Noli some 200 kilomters in. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — With less than 100 km to go, the bunch ripped along the coastline in pursuit of the day’s breakaway. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Team staff and riders’ families waited at the finish line closely following the live feed 50 meters past the finish line. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The last 250 meter-stretch up the Via Roma stood at the ready in its second year back in the race route after a long hiatus. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — A chaotic finale in Milano-Sanremo that included crashes and mis-shifts opened the door for new faces and a new champion in Arnaud Démare. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Arnaud Démare confirmed his potential with the first classic victory of his young career. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Arnaud Démare rejoiced in disbelief at his monumental accomplishment. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Michal Kwiatkowski made a late race attack, only to be brought back and his chances wiped out inside the final 2 kilometers. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Michael Matthews finished 36 seconds behind race winner Démare after crashing hard on the descent of the Cipressa, shredding his arm heavily on a stone wall. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Sprinter Fernando Gaviria of Etixx – Quick-Step was in with a shot at victory until a crash at his own hands snatched the race away from him inside the last kilometer. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Only meters after the finish on the Via Roma, riders are brought to a dead stop from the massive roadblock – also know as the scrum – of media, soigneurs, and organization officials. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Riders literally had to push their way through the Milano-Sanremo ‘casino’ (chaos) at the finish — Matteo Montaguti struggled to get by photogrphers, VIPs, team staff, and press. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The chaotic bottleneck in the finish area caused upset with many riders including Fabian Cancellara, who saw his plans for the day interrupted in the final kilometer. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Disappointment graced the faces of many riders at the finish line — Edvald Boasson-Hagen of Team DimensionData was no exception. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Vincenzo Nibali held court with the press corps after the finish. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Greg Van Avermaet was another favorite for the day who came up short. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Its not Milano-Sanremo without some prosecco for the champions of the day. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Arnaud Démare was the true definition of ecstatic on the podium as he was crowned champion of the 107th edition of the race. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — The top three finishers in Milano-Sanremo. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — When the race is all said and done, the circus migrates to the team bus compound as fans and media clamor for final moments with the riders. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — At the Tinkoff team compound after the finish riders, slowly made their way back to the bus — a quiet lull fell over many as the day’s events sunk in. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — World champion Peter Sagan signed autographs and brought some levity to the day when he was ambushed by a squad of young Italian girls who asked him in Italian how the race was. His response “Dura!” (Hard!) which made everyone laugh. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Fans pushed in around the Astana team encampment jostling against the stantions for a better view. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

2016 — Before departing for home, Vincenzo Nibali took time to sign jerseys, caps, and bottles for anxious fans. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

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