91st Milan - San Remo - CDM

Italy, March 18, 2000

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Live Report

By Tim Maloney

16:45 0 km to go

29 year old Erik Zabel (Telekom) took his third win at Milano San Remo, after his Telekom team controlled the race throughout. Runner-up on via Roma was Fabio Baldato (Fassa Bortolo), yet again 2nd in a major classic while World Champion Oscar Friere (Mapei) was 3rd, with Spruch (Lampre) 4th and Ivanov (Farm Frites) 5th. (all results unofficial)

At the base of the Poggio, George Hincapie (USPS) flatted and was out of the front group of 25. Bartoli & Dominguez still had a 5" lead and just after the first hairpin, as they were about to be caught, they accelerated again and got another gap. But under the impulsion of Mauro Gianetti (Vini Caldirola) Bartoli and Dominguez were caught with 8km to go.

Rebellin (Liquigas) attacked with Klier (Farm Frites), but Vainsteins was right on his wheel. Just over the top of the Poggio with 6.6km to race, Rebellin had attacked again, with Van Petegem (Farm Frites) and Tchmil (Lotto) right on his wheel, with a chasing group of 10 led by Jalabert & Olano (O.N.C.E). The group was all together 500 meters later, when Paolo Bettini (Mapei) attacked solo and got a nice gap of 5" on the sinuous descent of the Poggio.

Bettini was chased by Casagrande (Vini Caldirola), Jalabert & Olano, Tchmil and Celestino (Polti) and with 2km to go, as the front group of 30 entered the via Aurelia, it was gruppo compatto. Under the red flag with 1km to go, JC Dominguez attacked again and got a gap, but the pace was too high and he was caught at 400m. to go, when Teo Fagnini (Telekom) swung into action with a world class leadout for his teammate Zabel. With 200 meters to go, Zabel hit the front and powered to his third Milano San Remo win in the last 4 years.

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Complete live report so far