2013 Milan – San Remo
The 104 wheel classic Milan - Sanremo was held on 17 March 2013. For the first time in its history, the race was not discharged as usual on a Saturday, but on a Sunday. He was part of the UCI World Tour 2013, and within this the fourth race. Originally the race was to be held on the same route as last year, but due to snowfall on the Passo del Turchino the race was shortened by 52 to 246 kilometers. It won the German Gerald Ciolek from the South African team MTN Qhubeka.
Participant
Eligible were the 19 ProTeam. In addition, the organizer wild cards awarded to six Professional Continental team. Each team entered with eight riders.
Favorites
Top favorite was the Slovakian Peter Sagan from the Italian team Cannondale Pro Cycling after two stage wins, one in the bunch sprint and was able to get out of a group a week earlier in the race Tirreno - Adriatico one. If a large group coming to the finish, included the former winner Matthew Goss ( OGE/2011 ), Mark Cavendish ( OPQ/2009 ) and Alessandro Petacchi ( LAM/2005 ) and André Greipel (LTB ) to your favorites. Gerald Ciolek (MTN ) had after the third and fourth places at Tirreno- Adriatico underdog. Other favorites were next to the 2008 winners Fabian Cancellara ( RLT), world champion Philippe Gilbert ( BMC), Vincenzo Nibali (AST ) and the Norwegian Thor Hushovd (BMC ) and Edvald Boasson Hagen ( SKY).
Race course
In bad weather could shortly after starting a six-member group led by Lars Ytting Bak (LTB ), Maxim Belkow (KAT), Filippo Fortin (COG ), Pablo Lastras (MOV), Matteo Montaguti (ALM ) and Diego Rosa ( AND) settle. Due to snowfall on the Passo del Turchino the race had to be stopped after 118 km Ovada. The drivers were taken by buses to Cogoleto, where there were still 126 km to the finish. In the further course was bypassed with the Le Manie another mountain. At 15:00 clock the race was resumed. The top group took the race with a lead of 7:10 minutes on the peloton. 33 kilometers from the finish of the last outlier was obtained. Then attacked another driver. In the descent of the Poggio, the Group acquired by Sylvain Chavanel ( OPQ ), Peter Sagan ( CAN), Fabian Cancellara ( RLT), Ian Stannard (SKY ), Gerald Ciolek (MTN ) and Luca Paolini (KAT) the lead. In a short distance the peloton followed. Two kilometers before the finish Sagan attacked, but Cancellara was able to close the gap. Then it tried Stannard. This time Sagan made the chase and Stannard was obtained shortly before the devil cloth. The sprint group of six was Gerald Ciolek decide for themselves. Thus, won by Erik Zabel 12 years ago again a German ride in the spring.