Milano-Torino is one of the oldest cycling races in the world. The first edition was organized in 1876. Race organizers redesigned the route some years ago, now, the riders have to climb the Superga ascent twice at the end of the route (but on a slightly different course).
Climbing the hill on the second time is more challenging, the ascent is 9% steep on average, halfway to the top there is a 14% section. The race is rather for climbers than puncheurs (and no country for sprinters), and the line-up was impressive with Egan Bernal (Ineos), Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) or Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) among others. Meanwhile, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), who gave an excellent performance at the Italian Autumn one-day races this fall, skipped the event.
The 179 km long race was mostly about chasing the breakaway riders, as usual. The teams of the race favourites started to look at each other rather inside the final 25 km. The last rider from the break, Joe Rosskopf (CCC) was caught right before the 20 km mark by Ineos-drived peloton (Tao Geoghegan Hart eas setting the pace).
Reaching the 20 km mark, Gianluca Brambilla (Trek-Segafredo) attacked, but his attempt didn’t last long. And no other notable attack was on the program for a good 10 km. The Ineos ruled the race with an iron fist.
The situation changed inside the final 10 km, when the EF riders, Tanel Kangert and Alex Howes replaced Hart&co at the front of the main bunch. They were preparing for an attack by their team leader, Michale Woods. Attacks were expected also from Yates and Fuglsang.
At the foot of the Superga (2nd time) the Movistar tried to control the race, but at 4 km to go Yates and Fuglsang managed to distance themselves from the others. It didn’t last long, after severe hundred meters Michael Woods took the lead. Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) and Gorka Izagirre (Astana) joined him. And David Gaudu a bit later. The young Frenchman seemed to be the strongest rival of Woods in this group, but yet not enough strong on this day. No matter how many riders tried to catch up, Woods moved away always from them.
At 1, 4 km to go Woods and Gaudu rode together, the latter wanted the victory very eagerly, but Woods remain cool He didn’t panic either when a trio of Valverde, Yates and Bernal caught them 800 m to go, meanwhile also Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Soudal) and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) came closer.
Only 600 m remained from the race, when Benoot took the lead, but not too long, Gaudu attacked again, Woods responded. This was his last counter-attack, it was visible clearly, how he accelerated inside the few hundred meters and left everyone behind. Finally, Valverde crossed the finish line second and Yates third.
Top 10
1 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First 4:03:48
2 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar Team 0:00:00
3 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton – Scott 0:00:05
4 Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:10
5 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama – FDJ 0:00:10
6 Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) Team Ineos 0:00:10
7 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek – Segafredo 0:00:23
8 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:00:33
9 Kevin Rivera Serrano (CRc) Androni Giocattoli Sidermec 0:00:33
10 Enric Mas Nicolau (Esp) Deceuninck – Quick Step 0:00:38