SAN REMO, Italy (AP) _ Everyone expected a Uphill attack by two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Poga? Ar to decide the Milan-San Remo race.
It turned out that it was a dangerous high-speed downhill attack by Matej Mohoric, another Slovenian rider, who was the winner in the spring classic on Saturday.
After four unsuccessful attacks by Pogacar on the way up to the Poggio, the short but steep climb shortly before the arrival of the long 293 km (182 miles) route, Mohori? accelerates almost as soon as the distorted descent has begun.
Dangerously stuck in the sharp turns on the serpentine route, Mohoric quickly created a small corner in front of small groups that included Pogacar, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel _ three of the most recent riders in the sport.
Mohoric, who travels for the Bahrain Victorious team, has cut so many corners that his two wheels slip at one point. However, he remained upright, establishing a five-second lead at the end of the descent, with 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) to go.
There was another moment that would have led to panic as Mohoric’s chain was let loose on the plane, straight up, but he managed to overcome that as well, and had time to celebrate before crossing the line. Via Roma.
French riders Anthony Turgis and Van der Poel finished second and third, both two seconds behind.
Michael Matthews came in 4th place and Pogacar was 5th, also two seconds behind.
The 27-year-old Mohoric also claimed two stages in the Tour de France last year and won one stage in both the Giro d’Italia and the Spanish Vuelta auf.
“I’ve been thinking about this race for the whole winter,” Mohoric said. “I knew that if I could train right over the winter, and try to be in good shape so as not to fall on the poggio, and to be with the best guys over the top, that I would have a chance at my best. Descent to do and risk a bit but able to hang on to the profit.
Mohoric used a specially designed movable seat, which was seen more often in mountain biking, so that he could gain more control over his bike on the descent.
“The team set up a bike for me and we had that plan for a long, long time,” he said.
The Milan-San Remo is the first of the five “monument” courses in the cycling season. The others are the Tour de Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Lombardy.
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