Sanremo It is known as the city of flowers. Its coast, the ever-present sun, and the festival dedicated to floral ornaments consecrate it as an eminently spring-like city. There is a reason why it is also known as the Riviera di Fiori. A legendary, historic race that crosses the north of Italy from wintery Lombardy to the springtime province of Imperia, nicknamed the Spring Classic. is the Milan-San Remo, a hymn to endurance cycling and the surprise at the disturbing end that awaits. And in this 2023 the protagonist was van der poelwho reigned again.
Boring for some, the most eager applicants to the Monument deny the almost three centuries of kilometers that they have to ride and manage to reach the decisive and hectic moment. Everyone knows that, in the Cipressa, and above all, in the Poggio, the tricks of victory are at stake. The long history of this classic has its end sealed before the notary of the experience. There is no chance for the premiere.
Was Sagan in 2017 who added the most modern outcome. Since Demaré’s victory a year earlier, there has not been a mass sprint finish. For decades there were many who won by the millimeter. But since that demarcation of peter saga a few meters from crowning the well-known Poggio, pursued by a young alaphilippe and the Polish Kwiatkowsky, the script has remained unchanged, changing only the main actors.
The crucial moment arrives
Cypress disappointed. The precedents to the first stumbling block were predictable. Authorized leaks, whips and dosing stops. I affirm that she disappointed because a furious attack from Pogacar was expected with contained emotion. The fans clamored from the sidewalks, as well as in front of the televisions, for a new exhibition of the Slovenian. Last year’s strategy was scrapped by the heavy favorite. Pogacar reserved. All the wheels and minds would rush to the last steep obstacle in order to avoid the prominence of the sprinters and their respective pitchers.
Van Aert, Filippo Ganna, Van der Poel, Pedersen, Mohoric and Sorensen they were suspicious of Pogacar, escorted by Wellens. They were not wrong in their mistrust. Pogacar wanted the fourth Monument from him and was going to try it at any time. He gave Tim Wellens the green light to unleash all the fury on him, forming a crackling group.
Mohoric As he gave up, Pedersen, who hates this race, could not withstand the merciless attack. Only the Van couple, Filippo Ganna, and an interested Sorensen, a comrade in the ranks of the most famous grandson of the platoon, remained, with obvious and serious difficulties.
It was all or nothing. pogacar He played his trick on the last bullet. Maybe he fell a few meters. It is impossible to know where and when the best time was. The Classicissima is probably the most difficult race for the Slovenian to win due to its type and characteristics. The expected flash was useless. When Van Aert neutralized Pogacar, a dream foursome was formed, completed by Ganna and Van der Poel. Alea boasts est.
Van der Poel shows off
I mentioned it in advance. van der poel he was hiding. Since his world championship in Cyclocross, he went unnoticed by the races. He was barely seen in the Tirreno Adriatico. It is evident that he was preparing to deliver the coup in San Remo. With five kilometers to go, in the last sections of the ascent, before drawing the first curve of the decisive descent, the Dutch beast broke in, destroying all the parameters in the form of watts. Impossible to cushion the blow. Elegance on the bike, positioned in the most aerodynamic way possible, a pedal show that allowed him to scratch seconds on each line. We were witnessing the definitive coronation of this emperor of the classics, who promises to continue for the glory of this sport.
Van der Poel added his third monument on Via Roma in San Remo. An uncontested victory. Anthological, as the context deserves and appreciates, place and historical framework of such a cycling work.
