Ineos Grenadiers‘ multi-pronged squad at Milan-San Remo got here undone at Saturday’s race because the high-pace of Jumbo-Visma and UAE Group Emirates uncovered their weaknesses and the affect of current sickness.
The British squads’ choices included Filippo Ganna, Michał Kwiatkowski, Elia Viviani, Tom Pidcock and even Ethan Hayter, however solely Kwiatkowski remained on the entrance of the race within the group that went on to race for victory over the Poggio.
Pidcock missed Strade Bianche on account of a abdomen downside and was surprisingly dropped over the Capo Berta with 38 kilometres nonetheless to race. He didn’t end the race, with Ineos Grenadiers confirming that he had additional abdomen issues as early because the Turchino climb after 140 kilometres of racing.
Viviani, who had suffered with a chilly after Tirreno-Adriatico, was dropped early on the Cipressa together with fellow pure sprinter Fabio Jakobsen. Hayter was additionally distanced, ending 54th within the pack of chasers.
Filippo Ganna revealed he had been unwell after Tirreno-Adriatico however was upbeat earlier than the race about being aggressive and maybe making a late assault. Nevertheless, he misplaced the wheel of Kwiatkowski and Luke Rowe on the race to the foot of the Cipressa and was slowed because the peloton caught a part of the early break.
The world time trial champion was too far again as Jumbo-Visma and UAE Group Emirates saved the tempo excessive and was caught behind the break up excessive. He completed 51st in the identical time as Hayter.
Kwiatkowski ended up sixteenth as Ineos Grenadiers’ finest finisher. He was in a position to observe the assaults over the Poggio however couldn’t descend as quick as eventual winner Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious). He was additionally slowed by Giacomo Nizzolo’s crash on the descent and so completed within the second chase group at 11 seconds within the Through Roma.
Afterwards, the temper at Ineos Grenadiers was understandably downbeat within the bus paddock past the end space.
“That is racing. I do not need to complain. After being unwell, it was arduous to assume I had an opportunity of successful however we gave it a attempt,” Ganna defined.
“I had some again ache however that may occur after 300 kilometres. They rode the Cipressa arduous and quick and sadly I used to be a bit behind.
“I bought caught up with the riders from the early break and so it was tough to battle for place and transfer up. I bought caught within the second group and we simply could not shut the hole.”
Ineos Grenadiers will now head to Belgium for the beginning of the cobbled Classics and to Spain for the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. Ganna will observe a choose programme of Classics however miss the Tour of Flanders within the hope of peaking for Paris-Roubaix.
“My plan is to trip E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, then the Circuit de la Sarthe stage race in France after which Paris-Roubaix. I’ve raced 26 days and can hit 30 earlier than Paris-Roubaix,” he stated.
Kwiatkowski didn’t race Paris-Good or Tirreno-Adriatico and so will trip the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya to spice up his kind forward of the Classics.
“My face says all of it,” the Pole tweeted after the race. “A little bit of disappointment after a race during which my legs have been again in enterprise.
“Might have been luckier within the closing, caught behind the crash midway up Poggio. However – flying to the Volta a Catalunya with good sensations.”
My face says all of it 😑😅 A little bit of disappointment after a race during which my legs have been again in enterprise. Might have been luckier within the closing, caught behind the crash midway up Poggio. However – flying to @VoltaCatalunya with good sensations 💪 @INEOSGrenadiers @Milano_Sanremo pic.twitter.com/D63oZBvkFQMarch 19, 2022
