99th Milano-Sanremo - HC

Italy, March 22, 2008

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP Photo

• A bird's eye view as the peloton snakes along the Ligurian coast.
• Quick Step's Gert Steegmans follows Saunier Duval's Angel Gomez up a climb.
• Filippo Savini (CSF Group Navigare) was part of the day's main breakaway.
• Savini leads Raivis Belohvosciks (Saunier Duval) and William Frischkorn (Slipstream Chipotle) in the break.
• The break continues its long journey along the Italian coast to Sanremo.
• Belohvosciks and his breakaway companions built up a maximum lead of 16 minutes before being hauled back.
• Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) doing the hard yards to bring back the escape.
• The peloton began to gather momentum in the final 100 kilometres.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) checks his batphone is working at the start.
• Riders contemplating the best part of 300 kilometres on the menu today.
• Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) celebrates of a stunning solo move late in the race.
• Another extremely prestigious trophy was added to Cancellara's cabinet today.
• Two down, one to go: Can Cancellara add the Tour of Flanders to his Paris-Roubaix and Milano-Sanremo triumphs?
• Cancellara savours the moment in Sanremo.
• Today's podium (l-r): Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas), Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) and Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux).

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Ivan Rovny (Tinkoff Credit Systems) attacked late in the race but couldn't get away.
• Alessandro Bertolini started things on the Poggio and his team-mate came up, too. Bertolini is taking a breather at the back here.
• The peloton rides through the hills that separate the Po area from the ocean.
• Coming out of the tunnel of the Passo del Turchino, the 532m-high pass that often separates good from bad weather.
• Gasparotto was active in the end, but did not manage to get onto the podium.
• Thomas Lövkvist (High Road) takes a pull in the break with Paolo Bettini.
• Paolo Bettini attacked on the Cipressa dragging Lövkvist with him.
• Bertolini seems to smile but it was more a grimace as he tried to go solo on the Poggio.
• Bertolini is being chased by Pozzato et al.
• Bertolini got caught close to the top of the Poggio.
• The peloton going up the Passo del Turchino.
• Cancellara raises his arms in a victory salute.
• Barloworld is enjoying the sun before the start in Milano.
• Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) looked confident before the start.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) smiles but is not at his best yet.
• The peloton left Milano in a cheerful mood.
• Bettini cracks a joke with the organisers.
• Di Luca was happy that he was allowed into the race in the last minute.
• Christian Murro (Lampre) at the start from the Piazza Castello.
• Baden Cooke (Barloworld) is happy to race a monument like Milano-Sanremo.
• DANGER! Be careful when crossing street car tracks on tiny little road bike wheels. But all the pros demonstrate the correct technique.
• The peloton passed a few billboards.
• Erik Zabel (Team Milram) is Mr. Sanremo and has won the race fourth times already.
• Massimiliano Maisto (NGC Medical-OTC Industria Porte) en route to the coast.
• Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) bids farewell to Giorgio Albani, who is the race director for the last time.
• Cancellara was eager to leave Milano and be the first to get to Sanremo.
• Ariel Maximiliano Richeze at the start.
• Bettini smiles and enjoys the last quiet moments before the race.
• The official partenza at kilometre 0.
• Rosella Bonfanti is the new race director and takes over from Giorgio Albani.
• The peloton enjoys the sun in northern Italy.
• The break is going through a tunnel.
• The break of the day included American William Frischkorn (Slipstream Chipotle - H30), here in second wheel.
• Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) is not at his best yet, but will be looking forward to the Amstel Gold race.
• The beautiful peloton.
• Shadow on the wall or maybe on the road.
• Where there are shadows there is also sun!
• Cancellara wins the race in one of the best ways and was able to cross the line solo.
• Pozzato congratulates Cancellara to his stunning performance.
• Pozzato gets his hair ready to be put under the helmet
• Filippo Pozzato with the new hair style that is supposed to be more aerodynamic
• Cancellara during the attack in the final two kilometres.
• Cancellara crosses the line ahead of everyone else.
• Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) gasps as he is leading the chasers home, but the effort fell short and Pozzato could only manage second.
• Canellara celebrates with a team-mate after his outstanding performance.
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) follows world champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step).
• Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) didn't figure in the finale today.
• Pozzato after the race and looking kinda tired but happy.
• Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes) used his descending skills on the Cipressa to catch up with a four-man group, including Rebellin.
• Cancellara on his way to victory. The picture shows the power the Swiss rider has.
• Raivis Belohvosciks (Saunier Duval-Scott) leads the break that was on the front for most of the day.
• Bettini (r) has a chat with team-mate Carlos Barredo, while the two munch away on their food.
• Pozzato on the descent with his new hair style hanging out.
• The peloton in the final phase of the race.
• Tom Boonen shows his bike skills as he makes his way down the Italian roads.
• Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) checks his back pocket for some food, as seeing his eating team-mate Paolo Bettini made him hungry, too.
• Liquigas in formation.
• Cancellara on the descent.
• Bettini negotiating a corner.
• Bettini was cautious so he wouldn't crash, as he has already done a few times this year.
• The peloton sees the light at the end of the tunnel.
• Some riders couldn't get out of the darkness fast enough.
• Riding up the pass.
• The sun was out!
• Lots of spectators watched as the riders entered the city through the arc.
• Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) in the break on the Poggio.
• Oscar Freire (Rabobank) before the start and getting ready to defend his title.
• The peloton is across the top of the Passo del Turchino.
• Collective natural break.

Images by Cicloweb.it

• Paolo Bettini was well bundled up to give the impression of a true classic about to start.
• Look at those thighs!
• Robbie McEwen is relaxed before the start and may not really think he'll be there at the end today.
• Ariel Maximiliano Richeze (l) and team-mate Tiziano dall'Antonia before the start.
• Bettini soaks up the sun in Milano.
• George Hincapie (High Road, l) chats with Belgian Gert Steegmans.
• Defending champion Oscar Freire thought before the start that it'd be hard for him to win, as "I will be watched."