Milano San Remo 1999

Milan-San Remo, 294 kms (20/03/1999)
1. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 6.52.37 (42.752 km/h)
2. Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Deutsche-Telekom
3. Zbignew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin
4. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno Bianchi
5. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino
6. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank
7. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites
8. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
9. George Hincapie (Usa) US Postal Service
10. Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Navigare-Gaerne
11. Alexandre Gontchenkov (Rus) Ballan-Alessio
12. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Ballan-Alessio
13. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank
14. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti
15. Nicola Loda (Ita) Ballan-Alessio
16. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina Lotus
17. Bo Hamburger (Dan) Cantina Tollo-Alexia
18. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
19. Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia
20. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
21. Maximiliam Sciandri (GB) La Francaise des Jeux
22. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole
23. Dario Pieri (Ita) Navigare-Gaerne
24. Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno Bianchi
25. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank
26. Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Ballan-Alessio
27. Biagio Conte (Ita) Liquigas-Pata
28. Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank
29. Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin
30. Lars Michaelsen (Dan) La Francaise des Jeux
31. Ludo Dierckxens (Bel) Lampre-Daikin
32. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti
33. Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave
34. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Ballan-Alessio
35. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
36. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole
37. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Spa) Banesto
38. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
39. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina Lotus
40. Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites
41. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola
42. Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil
43. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
44. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
45. Ruben Galvan (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
46. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino
47. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
48. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis
49. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino
50. Christophe Mengin (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux
Summary
Belgian Andrei Tchmil (Lotto) surprised the sprinters in the last km of Milan-San Remo and won the first round of the World Cup as a result. 36-year old Tchmil attacked 600 metres before the end and held a narrow advantage over German Erik Zabel, the winner of the last two editions of the race.
The 294 km Classic was contested under a spring sun. It was Tchmil's third World Cup win in his career. He won Paris-Roubaix in 1994 in terrible weather conditions and later Paris-Tours in 1997.
After a long breakaway was neutralised as the peloton came to the last few hills, Italian Marco Pantani excited the tifosi by attacking on Le Cipressa the second last difficulty within 25 kms of the end. The 1998 Giro and Tour winner quickly gained a gap of several seconds. But the fancied riders reacted immediately and a small group formed over the top of the Cipressa. Michele Bartoli, in particular, chased him up the Cipressa. But the move split the peloton into three groups and ensured that the finale would be contested by a smaller group of riders, including the favourites.
The Italian rider Gabriele Colombo, who won in 1996, then attacked as soon as the front group reached El Poggio - less than 8 kms from the finish. He had a lead of 7 seconds over the top of the short and sharp hill but was caught in the last kms by the other riders who then settled for a sprint finish. That was until Tchmil caught them by surprise and attacked.
The race began early for some. 32 riders from 4 teams (Telekom, ONCE, Lotto, Festina) were subjected to compulsory blood controls by the UCI between 4.45 and 6.30 am. None of the riders tested were above the limit.

[@juribonaldo2204]

un grande tchmil, li ha fregati tutti