The first Monument of the year awaited the peloton on Saturday as they rolled out of Milan early in the morning, with an almost 300 kilometre route to Sanremo on the menu. It was a steady start to the day with Romain Combaud making the break of ten riders, while back in the peloton the rest of the team supported and looked after finisher Kevin Vermaerke for the finale. The pace increased throughout the afternoon and then stayed high, with Combaud’s break only ever allowed a maximum advantage of three minutes. As the race then ticked over the 250 kilometre mark, the pace increased once more and the climbs in the finale took their toll on the bunch. Coming over the top of the Cipressa, Vermaerke was towards the back of the group after digging deep and was then caught out in a split. Good teamwork from Chris Hamilton and Combaud saw him come back but he then ultimately had to let go of the wheels on the Poggio around one kilometre from the top when the fireworks started; eventually leading the team home across the line in Sanremo.
Speaking after the race Vermaerke said: “It was a long day out. The team rode well and Romain got in the break. They never really got too much time but in the end once it got to the coast the break pushed quite a bit and they made it quite deep into the race so it was good to have Romain there. The rest of us sat well in the bunch, grouped around each other and once it started getting stressful in the last 60 kilometres everyone did a good job to rally around each other and hold position. Coming into the Cipressa it was a dogfight as it usually is. I actually went into it in not too bad of a position but when the race really opened up I just didn’t have the legs to follow the front group today. It’s a bit disappointing when the guys rode so well to support me. It’s been a long block of racing for me and I’m looking forward to a bit of rest now. I think the team can be proud of how they rode and a big thanks to all the guys who rode their hearts out for me today.”
