Continuing his string of successes this season Tasmanian Matthew Goss (HTC-Highroad) has won this year’s classic Milan–San Remo in a time of 6:51:10, beating World Time Trial champion and 2008 Milan–San Remo winner Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) in to second and Omega Pharma-Lotto’s Philippe Gilbert in to third. Reigning champion Óscar Freire (Rabobank), who also holds wins for the 2004 and 2007 edition, came badly unstuck early with rear wheel problems that lost the kind of valuable time that was never going to see him regain pace for a fourth win.
The first Milan- San Remo was held in 1907 organised by Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport at a time when it wasn’t known if the course was physically possible (1905 Tour of Lombardy winner Giovanni Gerbi was sent out to test it.) It became an almost instant favourite and has been held yearly – with the exception of 1916, 1944 and 1945 war years – ever since. Italy holds the record for most victories on the course with 50, whilst legendary rider Eddy Merckx still maintains his record number of wins with 7 (1966 & ‘67,1969,1971 & ‘72,1975 and his last in ‘76).
Full results available here: www.uciprotour.com
