After Cancellar already had bridged up to the front group after the Cipressa, he attacked again out of the group to win yetsredays Milano - Sanremo .

After the race Oscar Freire, winner of the 2007 edition of the Italian classic said: "He [Cancellara, editor] attacked at the right moment. There was nobody left to control the race. The strongest riders were at the front of the race but nobody had any help."

Freire won two stage at last weeks Tirreno - Adriatico and was one of the favourites. "It happened like I have predicted on Friday," Freire said. "If there would have been a mass sprint, I would have won. Now the attacker which I have predicted [Freire predicted that Cancellara would win if there would be no mass sprint, editor]. What do you want me to say about that?"

"The way a race developes decides everything. In the leading group there were no teams to organise the chase, so Cancellara had the green light. That doesn't devaluate his achievement. He took the chance as it came and he rode really fast. So he is the right winner. I didn't sprint for a second place. If its not for  victory, I don't care." 

Rabobank's sports director Erik Breukink said: "Oscar was just good, but he felt in the lead group that it would be very difficult to win. Obviously, nobody wanted to head for the finish with him. He considered attacking himself."