Video: Crash setback fails to stop Pogacar as he returns to animate Cipressa

Milan-Sanremo looked to be running according to the expected script when UAE Team Emirates-XRG led the peloton over the Capo Berta ahead of the frantic run-in to the Cipressa, but the race took on a different complexion when Tadej Pogacar crashed with 32km remaining, barely 5km from the foot of the Cipressa.

The Slovenian was the first faller in the peloton and he suffered a blow to his left hip, but he was immediately back on his bike and he gave chase in the company of teammates. Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) was also a faller, while Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) was also held up in the incident.

Van der Poel successfully chased back on before the Cipressa began, quickly moving to the front of the bunch, while Pogacar caught the rear end of the pack just as he hit the base of the climb.

Remarkably, Pogacar quickly moved up the outside of the peloton on the wheel of Brandon McNulty, and they reached the front with 4km of the climb to go. After a turn from Del Toro, Pogacar launched his inevitable attack with 2.5km of the Cipressa to go, and 24km left to the Via Roma.