Maarten Tjallingii made the early breakaway in Milano - Sanremo for the third year in a row. The escape brought the number of kilometres that the experienced Team LottoNL-Jumbo rider was in front of the peloton in the Italian classic to 800. Sep Vanmarcke finished 24th, Arnaud Démare (FDJ) won the race.

Maarten Tjallingii impressed also in the last two years in Milano - Sanremo with long escapes. During the team presentation on Saturday morning, he said that he wanted to be part of the breakaway a third time. The Dutch rider of Team LottoNL-Jumbo rode his final Milano - Sanremo in front of the peloton for most of the time.

“It was great to be part of the break again,” Tjallingii said after the race. “It was a perfect leading group, as well. We were with 11 and we worked together perfectly. I’ve never reached the Cipressa as fresh as I did today.” With his escape, Tjallingii increased the number of kilometres he was in the lead during the last three editions of Milano - Sanremo to 800. “It’s nice for our team that someone’s in the breakaway and I like to do that. This was my final Milano - Sanremo. The weather was great and I was in front. I’m glad with that.” 

Fresh riders
The race’s final started when the breakaway got caught at the Cipressa. Sep Vanmarcke, Paul Martens and Enrico Battaglin showed theirselves in front of the group. “Enrico and Sep finished in the first group,” sports director Jan Boven added. “Paul was there as well at the top of the Poggio, but he was distanced in the downhill afterwards. We were aiming for a good result, but that’s quite hard in a race like Milano - Sanremo. Because of the beautiful weather, the nice temperatures and the weak wind, a lot of riders were still fresh in the final. That meant that the race was hectic. Our men came through quite well and Maarten did a fantastic job in the breakaway.”

Energy
Sep Vanmarcke saw his chances getting smaller on the Poggio. “I had to put a foot down on the ground in one of the turns. It took a lot of energy to return. I was still part of the first group on top of the climb, but I wasted too much power. I wasn’t good enough to sprint anymore.”