Milan San Remo was returned to the domain of the field sprint Saturday as Oscar Friere ripped the field of top sprinters to take a convincing second overall victory. There was no photo finish and now bike throw to beat a guy who thought he won (Zabel). This time the victory was pretty clear. Friere took advantage of the Milram sprint train and a fast fading Alessandro Petacchi. Staying on Petacchi’s wheel for the sprint down the Via Roma is probably the best spot in the peloton. Especially this year as Petacchi does not seem to have the extra speed he usually does. He is perhaps still suffering from the knee injury incurred at the Giro D’Italia last year. Petacchi has managed a few victories, but he does not have the same form that puts the Jet in AleJet.
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The feast of San Giuseppe is traditional day that San Remo used to be raced on. That day to Americans is known as the day after St. Patrick’s Day. Usually San Remo was raced on the Saturday around St. Giuseppe. This year, San Remo is raced on that day, which would probably mean an Italian victory. Petacchi? Bettini? Astarloa (he is a wannabe Italian)?
Anyway, the anticipation is heating up as websites everywhere have to have some sort of word on the race. The anticipation this year is more intense due to the rivalry that is shaping up between Alessandro Petacchi and Tom Boonen. Since the World Championships in Madrid ended with a dejected Petacchi and a somewhat surpising winner in Boonen, the rivalry was on. There may have been times when the two competed against each other in the past, but this year the competition between the two sprinters seems to take on a new level. They are both looking to win Milano San Remo and there was a bit of trash talking from Boonen who said that Petacchi was not very impressive in Tirreno Adriatico. Oh, snap! Not too intense, but that is as much trash as we are going to get outside of Robbie McEwen and Gilberto Simoni.
So the stage is set, everyone is looking to the two sprinters to duke it out on the Via Roma. This is assuming they make it past the Cipressa in a bunch. It almost seems like a forgone conclusion that the result should contain a man named Boonen and another named Petacchi, either one of which will occupy the top spot. Why even race the race, just have a match sprint in the last 200 meters of the Via Roma and be done with it, save everybodies time while we are at it.
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Oscar Friere came out of the woodwork today to tell the world that his butt sore did not totally derail his career. The Spanish rider who has dealt with the curse of the World Champion more than anyone else riding today claimed a win in the Italian race of the two seas just ahead of another Spanich Classics rider and former World Champion who is coming back from the doldrums, Igor Astarloa.
The finish in Paglieta today saw an change of lead in Tirreno Adriatico as Paolo Bettini crashed out of the race. Il Grillo injured his left hand and right knee after a rider crashed in front of him on a descent.
This is after the race was delayed amid protest by riders due to bad weather and icy roads. The race was eventually started 1/2 hour later. In the end if you were Spanish and liked to ride the Classics, you were gunning for the win as Juan Antonio Flecha, Astarloa and Friere tried for the stage win at the end.
The 10 second time bonus gave Friere the red and yellow jersey of leadership.
Meanwhile in France, another Spanish rider, this time with braces took the win in a more mountainous finish. Joaquin Rodriguez attacked his breakaway that included Dutchman Joost Posthuma (Rabobank).
The win launched Rodriguez up the standings and could help him overtake Landis on Saturday’s tough stage. But, Landis has a bit of from QuikcStep, who want to keep Boonen close to the front even though the stage is very hilly. If Boonen makes it though he could win the stage. Therefore, even though Landis’ Phonak squad is weak at the moment, he has help from Boonen.
Eurosport: Bettini party cut short
Eurosport
