Milan - San Remo 2016: Arnaud Démare takes first Monument in his career

At 295 kilometres, the first Monument of the season is played out between Milan and San Remo. It boils down to a chaotic bunch sprint at the Via Roma. Gaviria hits the tarmac, thus diminishing his own and Sagan's chances. Arnaud Démare rises to the challenge and he powers to the win, besting Ben Swift and Jurgen Roelandts on the line. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Milan – San Remo

1. Arnaud Démare (fra)
2. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
3. Jurgen Roelandts (bel) s.t.
4. Nacer Bouhanni (bel) s.t.
5. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
6. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
7. Heinrich Haussler (aus) s.t.
8. Filippo Pozzato (ita) s.t.
9. Sonny Colbreli (ita) s.t.
10. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.

Race report
15 minutes into the race and Tjallingii, Bagdonas, Tvetcov, Maestri, Barta, Hurek, Kluge, Bono, Conti, Peron and Coledan are off. In the first hour of racing they force a 10’35” gap, while the average speed is 47.1 kmph. Then the peloton reacts to bring the lead down to 1 minute at Capo Berta. In the peloton Michael Matthews and Arnaud Démare hit the tarmac when heading for the Cipressa.

While climbing the Cipressa Tjallingii, Bono, Coledan, Barta and Maestri are the last riders to be reeled in. Cavendish is dropped from the pack. Visconti and Stannard attack with Oss, Sabatini and Montaguti bridging the gap, but at the foot of the Poggio the peloton is once again bunched. Matthews and Démare made it back to the pack.

Andrea Fedi is the first to attack at the Poggio. Gallopin gives it a try and then it’s Kwiatkowksi-time. He is the first to crest with the best descenders in the pack close behind. Nibali, Sagan, Cancellara… Spartacus accelerates with 1.5 kms left to bring Kwiat back, but to no personal avail as he escorts the sprinters more or less into their comfort zone. With 1 km left Boasson Hagen attacks with Van Avermaet, Gaviria and Sagan on his wheel. Gaviria crashes knocking Sagan off his line.

Jurgen Roelandts leads out the disrupted sprint, but he has no chance when Demare comes storming past to snatch the victory. Ben Swift finishes second at half a bike length.