Milan-San Remo: Gerald Ciolek wins epic race after snow wreaks early havoc

Gerald Ciolek sprinted to victory in an epic edition of Milan-San Remo that will live long in the memory after being blighted by heavy snow.

The riders rolled out of Milan for the season's first Monument in cold and wet conditions, but the weather deteriorated as the route headed south-west and they were soon racing in heavy snow and ice. Up ahead, the climb of Passo del Turchino at mid-distance was being covered in a thick layer of snow and with racing not possible in such conditions, organisers took the decision to neutralise the race 25km prior in Ovada. Riders duly climbed off their bikes and stepped aboard team buses with their faces distorted by the cold and helmets coated in ice. The restart was initially set for the coastal town of Arenzano, but it was later moved to Cogoleto, with the crucial climb of La Manie bypassed.

Stannard to the fore

The day's six-man breakaway was allowed to resume with the gap of seven minutes 10 seconds that they had built up before the neutralisation, and they held out until 30km, eventually buckling under relentless pressure from Team Sky. An innocuous crash all but ruled out Geraint Thomas' hopes of victory, but Stannard soon took up the British charge. The Team Sky rider first helped reel in an attack from world champion Philippe Gilbert on the descent of the day's penultimate climb, the Cipressa, and then attacked himself to form a three-man breakaway with Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) and Eduard Vorganov (Katusha). Only Stannard and Chavanel were left at the top of the concluding Poggio climb, but the duo were eventually caught 2.9km from the finish by a four-man group containing Sagan (Cannondale), Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard), Luca Paolini (Katusha) and Filippo Pozzato (Lampre-Merida). Stannard found the energy to attack again 1.7km from home, but he was hauled back by Sagan, who consequently led out the sprint but was overtaken at the death by the charging Ciolek. Milan-San Remo result 1 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka, 5:37.20
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale, same time
3 Fabian Cancellara (Sui) RadioShack-Leopard, st
4 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha, st
6 Ian Stannard (GB) Team Sky, st
7 Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC, st
8 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, +14secs
9 Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
10 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Sky, st