Reactions to a thrilling finale at Milan-Sanremo

We finish La Primavera with two top 10 placings after the showdown on the Poggio

Mads Pedersen, 6th

“The teamwork was really really impressive today. Everyone was committed from KM 0 and everyone did a really good job so chapeau to the boys for that. I am a bit sorry that I didn’t give them more than sixth place but I really want to thank them for the teamwork today. It was just pretty crazy at the end.

“I made a little mistake on the Poggio to go left when I knew it would open up on the right so I had to move fully across and then do a small sprint onto the climb but there was more headwind on the Poggio than expected so, in the end, I had a good position. When they went I was fourth position or something but seriously, I just couldn’t follow. That’s how it is. I think me and Jasper showed that now we are right up there racing in the finals of these key races and while it wasn’t for the win today, we are definitely there so it is a good sign for the start of this Classics period.

“At the bottom of the Poggio, the four guys were just too far in front to catch. It was a pity that me and Jappe were not together straightaway, he was caught a bit behind near the top when Trentin opened a gap, because we could have kept turning and maybe, you have to put maybe in big letters, we could have gotten at least a little bit closer to go to the podium but it is how it is in the end. It was a descent result.”

Jasper Stuyven, 10th

“Of course it was a bit unfortunate when Trentin left the gap because you knew in the front Pogačar was about to go any second and it was not up to me to close to the group in front because we had Mads there. You can say that you need to be even further in front on the Poggio, but I was around position eight, so that’s not so far back. I don’t know if it was a plan from Trentin or if his legs exploded, but it’s a bit unfortunate that he opened up a gap because I would have loved to have the chance to try to follow Wout, Mathieu, Tadej and Ganna. When Alaphilippe came from behind with Turgis it was a good moment for me to follow and I was feeling really good, so it’s nice that I could do something with the good legs. It would have been nicer if Mads and I were together from the first moment. Maybe we would be dropped together, but at least then we can maybe organise a bit quicker. Anyway, we showed that we were both there and I think that’s nice.

The Team was strong and worked really well together today. I think it’s a good sign for the upcoming weeks that we are both on the level that we want to be. It is what it is and I’m still happy we could get two guys in the top ten. Of course we want to win but we raced well together. I missed the race last year and it was nice to be back racing here again.”