Sanremo: Oscar Freire, always when it matters

People have a tendency to always consider 34-year-old Spaniard Oscar Freire a dark horse nowadays, and this year was no different. Freire had won Milano-Sanremo already twice in 2004 and 2007, and today he added number 3 by clearly outsprinting Tom Boonen, Alessandro Petacchi and Daniele Bennati and a dozen others of an elite first group.

Once again, Freire had not put his cards on the table in the preparatory races like the Tirreno-Adriatico. Yes, he was around but contrary to the other top sprinters he did not test himself. But when a late charge from first Nibali and then Pozzato was brought to a halt, it was Freire who had the best position behind Bennati to start the final sprint to the line. Boonen gave it all but never even came close to passing the Spaniard and had to settle for a career-best second rank in Sanremo. Petacchi still beat Bennati for third place.

My race pick Edvald Boasson Hagen ended in a disappointing 106th place, more than six minutes down. But the three other names I put forward (Boonen, Hushovd and Iglinsky) all finished in the top 8 :-)

On the Poggio it was Philippe Gilbert who dropped the bomb as expected, followed by Pippo Pozzato, but the headwind prevented them from opening up a substantial gap. Last year's winner Mark Cavendish already got dropped on the Cipressa.

Links

Oscar Freire on wikipedia
Gazzetta TV highlights Milano-Sanremo 2010