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World champion Tadej Pogacar overcame a crash to win his first Milan-San Remo by half a wheel from Britain’s Tom Pidcock in a thrilling two-man sprint finish.<\/b><\/p>\n
Four-time Tour de France winner Pogacar attacked with 22km of the 298km one-day Monument remaining, with only Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel able to follow.<\/p>\n
Two-time winner Van der Poel was dropped on the final climb, the Poggio, leaving Pogacar and Pidcock to contest the finale.<\/p>\n
Pogacar launched his sprint first and Pidcock fought to get alongside, but was just edged out as both threw themselves towards the line.<\/p>\n
The Slovenian, already regarded as one of the greatest cyclists ever, has now won four of the five ‘Monuments’ – the most prestigious one-day races in men’s cycling – with only Paris-Roubaix left.<\/p>\n
Saturday’s victory moves him level with Roger de Vlaeminck into equal second on the list of most Monument victories, with 11. Only the legendary Eddy Merckx has more, with 19.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old’s victory was even more remarkable given he recovered from a crash just before the key climb of the Cipressa to make it back to the main group.<\/p>\n
“For a second I thought it was all over but luckily I was quickly back on the bike,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Pidcock was really, really strong. I was lucky in the sprint, he’s a really fast guy.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n