Jasper Phillipsen dominated the 115th edition of Milan-San Remo. Tadej Pogačar did not manage the attack with one kilometre to go and finished in third place

Belgian Jasper Phillipsen managed to win the Milan-San Remo cycling monument. The 26-year-old cyclist was most successful in the finishing spurt and thus enjoys his first victory in one of the five cycling monuments.

Tadej Pogačar attacked but did not take the win

Milan-San Remo is one of the five biggest classic one-day races. This year was the 115th edition and last year’s winner Mathieu van der Poel from the Netherlands took part in the race.

The other four races that have earned the “monument” designation are the Tour of Flanders, which has already had 107 editions, and Paris-Roubaix is the oldest race ever with 120 editions. Lutych-Bastogne-Lutych has 109 editions. The last monument is the Giro di Lombardia, which has been running for 117 years.

The record holder is the legendary Eddy Merckx with 19 first places. In addition, he is the only cyclist in history who has managed to dominate three races in one edition.

He even did it four times, in 1969, 1971, 1972 and 1975. The first Grand Classic was held on Saturday and the record holder with seven first places is none other than Eddy Merckx. Although this race is designed more for classics or spurters, the list of winners also includes Grand Tours specialists.

Six years ago, Vincenzo Nibali won here, for example, or Julian Allaphilippe in 2019. In this year’s edition, last year’s winner Mathieu van der Poel or Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar are among the biggest favourites. The latter had just attacked in Saturday’s 288km race with about a kilometre to go, but his attacks were always countered.

The spurt was the deciding factor

In the end, a larger group reached the finish and the final spurt was the deciding factor. There, Jasper Phillipsen attacked from behind, narrowly outsprinting Austran Michael Matthews and Pogacar. Phillipsen is thus enjoying his first victory on one of these monuments.

And Tadej Pogačar, after his 5th place from 2022 and 4th place from last year, finished 3rd today. A delighted Phillipsen revealed immediately after the finish how incredible it feels to win this race.

“I am proud and happy. It was a fast race, I felt good the whole time. I was confident. Everything had to be perfect. I’m really happy that I managed to win,” he let out.

Milan-San Remo (WorldTour) – 288 km

• 1. Jasper Phillipsen (Belgium/Alpecin) 6:14:44
• 2. Michael Matthews (Aussie/Jayco)
• 3. Tadej Pogačar (Slovi./UAE Emirates)
• 4. Marius Pedersen (DK/Lidl-Trek)
• 5. Alberto Bettiol (It./EF Education) – All the same time

Source: UCI, Milan – San Remo.it