Post Milan – San Remo News & Notes

Freire to retire, Boonen would like one more chance to beat him, Boasson-Hagen derailed by stomach troubles and more…

• Spaniard Oscar Freire (Rabobank) surprised the favourites to win the Milan-San Remo classic for the third time on Saturday, this time besting Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Alessandro Pettachi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) in a group sprint.
• Boonen, the pre-race favorite acknowledged that Friere was strongest today. “I had a great race, I did my best, I did all I had to do,” the Belgian champion told RaiSport. “I managed to take the wheel of Oscar Freire, but today (he) was the strongest. And the sprint speaks for itself. Congratulations to Freire.”
• When asked about winning the race next year, Boonen first said that maybe he should wait until Freire retires, but then said he would like to beat him just once.
• Petacchi says that he felt strong on the Poggio and the Cipressa climbs and was happy with his third place.
• Freire was happy for the win, but said that 2011 will definitely be his last season.
• Last year’s winner Mark Cavendish, who has been looking out of form this season, was dropped on the Cipressa climb some 25 km from the finish line. “It was not easy today,” said the Briton of HTC-Columbia. “It all went wrong at the foot of the Turchino, where I had a mechanical problem. My entire team sacrificed to bring me back. It went better than expected. Next year I will win in the rainbow jersey.”
• The promising Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway, who won the final stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico race earlier this month, suffered a stomach upset and gave up his winning bid for his new Sky Team in the Cipressa climb.
• Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) attacked and gave all on the Poggio, but when it came to the final sprint, had little left. He ended up ninth. “Played and lost,” sighed Philippe Gilbert from Milan-Sanremo. “With Oscar Freire and Daniele Bennati on the line, a sprint duel was not a good idea.”
• Filippo Pozzato tried to go solo, but could not make it work against an overwhelming platoon. “We had agreed that I would attack in the final phase, as we previously would have not succeeded. I’ve tried on the Poggio, but the wind prevented me. I was subsequently released, but there was nothing more to do. I’m happy with my performance. The strongest wins.”

Tags: Alessandro Pettachi, daniele bennati, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Filippo Pozzato, HTC-Columbia, Lampre, Lampre-Farnese Vini, Mark Cavendish, Milan-San Remo, omega pharma-lotto, Oscar Freire, Philippe Gilbert, Quick Step, Rabobank, tirreno-adriatico, Tom Boonen