World champion Tadej Pogacar overcame a crash to win his first Milan-San Remo by half a wheel from Britain’s Tom Pidcock in a thrilling two-man sprint finish.
Four-time Tour de France winner Pogacar attacked with 22km of the 298km one-day Monument remaining, with only Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel able to follow.
Two-time winner Van der Poel was dropped on the final climb, the Poggio, leaving Pogacar and Pidcock to contest the finale.
Pogacar launched his sprint first and Pidcock fought to get alongside, but was just edged out as both threw themselves towards the line.
The Slovenian, already regarded as one of the greatest cyclists ever, has now won four of the five ‘Monuments’ – the most prestigious one-day races in men’s cycling – with only Paris-Roubaix left.
Saturday’s victory moves him level with Roger de Vlaeminck into equal second on the list of most Monument victories, with 11. Only the legendary Eddy Merckx has more, with 19.
The 27-year-old’s victory was even more remarkable given he recovered from a crash just before the key climb of the Cipressa to make it back to the main group.
“For a second I thought it was all over but luckily I was quickly back on the bike,” he said.
“Pidcock was really, really strong. I was lucky in the sprint, he’s a really fast guy.”