23 Mar 2019

Kwiato third at Milan-San Remo

Related riders

Michal Kwiatkowski

Milan-San Remo, 191km

Michal Kwiatkowski sprinted to an impressive third place at Milan-San Remo following a tense finish on the Via Roma.

The Polish national champion was alert to the attack of rival Julian Alaphilippe on the Poggio, and after following the move Kwiatkowski found himself amongst an elite 10-man group which contested the finish.

The Team Sky rider waited at the back of the group, opting to come from deep in the headwind sprint, but was just unable to overhaul victor Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) and fellow podium finisher Oliver Naesen (Ag2r-La Mondiale).

Kwiatkowski received strong support throughout the longest one-day race of the year, with Team Sky ensuring they were in a perfect position at key points in the first Monument of the season.

Owain Doull, Filippo Ganna and Tao Geoghegan Hart drove the team to the head of the bunch following the Tre Capi, giving Kwiato a clear run into the Cipressa and the final 35km.

Luke Rowe and Salvatore Puccio were able to monitor the moves, and despite a headwind discouraging attacks, the day’s break were caught on penultimate climb. It was Puccio and Rowe again who led the race onto the Poggio.

Michal Kwiatkowski

That’s a good result to be on the podium. But when you’re so close to the victory of course you always think if you could have done anything better to win it.

Key moment

Kwiato had the legs to follow the acceleration of Alaphilippe on the Poggio, in a move which dragged clear an elite selection. Seven riders became 10 on the descent, before the eventual sprint to decide the victory.

Reaction

- Michal Kwiatkowski

“That’s a good result to be on the podium. But when you’re so close to the victory of course you always think if you could have done anything better to win it – that would have been a dream today. Julian was the strongest rider today in my opinion. I think everybody saw what he did on the Poggio, and then having the legs to sprint that was quite impressive from him.

“Being again amongst the best riders in this front group was a nice feeling. There were plenty of attacks and I think that was a great race to watch. I’m really happy that Team Sky gave me the opportunity to go for another one.”