The bunch sprint in San Remo took place shortly after Riccardo Riccò and Philippe Gilbert, who had both escaped on the Poggio, were captured just before the finish. Team Milram seemed to be in an ideal situation with a group of helpers up front. Oscar Freire, as he has done so often before, rode alone during the final kilometers. He took Petacchi's wheel, which turned out to be the best decision, but, based on the domination displayed by the Spaniard, one may rightly wonder whether anyone could have prevented him from winning. Petacchi took the lead at the hundred and fifty meter mark from the finish, after which Freire turned on his turbo. No one was able to respond.

Most desired classics
By throwing his weight on the pedals, turbo Oscar managed to claim his second victory in one of the most desired classics of the entire circuit. In 2004, he surprised Mr. Primavera Erik Zabel (in total four victories). Freire finished in fifth and sixth place in San Remo in 2005 and 2006. In those two years he excelled in the Tirreno-Adriatico. Freire even won the renowned Italian cycling stage race in 2005. He won four stages in those two editions, and even though Freire performed reasonably well during the Tirreno this year, he could only claim a second place.

It turned out to be an omen for a perfect Primavera. While Riccardo Riccò, thé surprise of the Tirreno, initiated a fierce attack on the Poggio with only Philippe Gilbert being able to follow, Oscar maintained his position in the group of favorites. He did that with so much conviction and ease, that a good ranking seemed to be in the making. During the descent of the Poggio, the two escapees created a margin of ten seconds, but on the ensuing flat roads, Team Milram and CSC gradually cut down on their lead. Oscar, in the meantime, positioned himself well, which turned out again to be the best recipe to repeat his victory of 2004.

The season only just kicked off, but it is already very successful for Oscarito. This, despite a disappointing Tirreno when we look at the results. It was during that race, however, that Oscar created a good feeling. "I might not have won, but I felt well. Things were actually going fine there, and before the start of this race, I knew I would have a big chance," said Freire. He fully lived up to the expectations, but the turbo during the final hundred and fifty meters, even surprised Oscarito: "I knew I was doing well, but this well…"

Team Milram and CSC were the squads that closed the gap to the breakaway. A few post race comments from the two teams. “We were formed perfectly for the sprint, me, Marco Velo, Fabio Sacchi and Peta,” explained Erik Zaber after the race. “What a pity it wasn't enough. But these are the races,“ said Zabel. How perfect the Milram-train worked could be seen by the gesture of Marco Velo, when he complied his work and encouraged Alessandro Petacchi. “Our team was fantastic,” said Erik Zabel, who finished sixth.

After a most active race Alessandro Petacchi lacked the power on the last 100 meters. “Unfortunately my legs were empty in the finale,” the 33 year-old said disappointedly. “But my team-mates worked fantastically. I don’t remember that six month ago may knee was broken. So I’m happy, because I came back at the race,” said Petacchi, regarding the eighth rank as a success. “Next year I will come back to win Milan – Sanremo,” he announced.

Stuart O' Grady came in fifth at yesterdays Milano-San Remo. "We managed to deliver Stuart as planned and he was clearly strong, so it was too bad that he didn't make it all the way to the top. But once again he showed that he is in great shape at the moment and hopefully he'll soon find himself in the front group in a race, which isn't decided in a bunch sprint. He'll definitely be one of the main contenders in some of the oncoming races judging by his current form," said sports director Scott Sunderland after the race.

Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team sprinter Ivan Dominguez said he is very disappointed that race officials decided not to allow him to start Saturday afternoon’s Centennial Bank/KWB Wealth Managers Criterium at the 23rd Annual Redlands Bicycling Classic.

Dominguez finished 39 seconds outside the time cut designated for Friday’s Stage 1 93-mile (156.6 km) Redlands Ford Oak Glen Road Race. The time cut was equal to the winner’s time, plus 10 percent, or four hours, 29 minutes and 34 seconds.

Dominguez, cramping from a big effort that saw him in a breakaway for 75 km, crossed the finish line in 4:30:13. He was one of 17 riders who finished outside the time limit.

“In all the big races, the officials make exceptions,” Dominguez said. “At the Tour of Georgia, they make exceptions. At the Tour of California, they make big exceptions to keep the more prominent riders in the race.”

Dominguez figured prominently in the early going of Friday’s stage to Oak Glen, attacking at the 52 km mark and taking three riders with him. Eventually, the four gained a maximum three minutes’ lead before being caught on the second-to-last climb of the day.

During his escape, Dominguez won one of three intermediate sprints and finished second in the two others. His 17 points earned him the sprint lead and race officials presented him with the green jersey after the race.

“I was the one who made the break go and made it a show for everybody,” Dominguez said. “That’s kind of what racing is, it’s a show. People want to see riders racing aggressively and that’s what I was doing. I wasn’t just sitting in the group. I was driving that breakaway.”

Dominguez said confusion reigned at the finish line, as race officials first told him he didn’t have any points so he could not have been the sprint leader.

“Then they came back and said they made a mistake and gave me the jersey on the podium,” he said.

Saturday morning, though, Domingeuz was informed he would not be allowed to start the Stage 2, 90-minute criterium and would have to return the jersey.

The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team, with Justin England in second place overall, remains atop the team classification with one stage remaining in the 23rd Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic.

England sits 12 seconds out of first place after Saturday’s Stage 2 90-minute Centennial Bank/KWB Wealth Managers Criterium. Scott Moninger (BMC Racing Team) is the overall and is shooting to become the first rider in race history to win in three different decades.

Sunday’s race is the 91.0-mile (146.5 km) Beaver Medical Group Sunset Road Race. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., the 156 racers remaining in the four-day race will do 12 circuits of a 6.2-mile (10 km) course.

Saturday’s criterium was won by Rory Sutherland (Health Net presented by Maxxis), who outsprinted his four other breakaway companions .

Di Luca comes back at Coppi & Bartali, Backstedt at Vuelta Castilla y Leon

After his victory in the Milano-Torino, followed by the flu attack that forced him to a few days' stop, Danilo Di Luca will race the Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale Coppi & Bartali (27-31 March).

At the side of Di Luca the Liquigas team will line up: Leonardo Bertagnolli, Eros Capecchi, Francesco Chicchi, Francesco Failli, Andrea Noè, Alessandro Spezialetti and Charles Wegelius. Team managers: Dario Mariuzzo and Mario Scirea.

Magnus Backstedt will return to racing after accidents and health's problems

Magnus Backstedt comes back racing after an operation to remove a melanoma and a season characterised by many accidents. Now Magnus can start to compete again: it will happen in the Vuelta Castilla y Leon, the first stage of the way that will lead the Liquigas' rider to play his cards at the Paris-Roubaix. In the Vuelta Castilla y Leon there will be Spanish Manuel Beltran too: he will be engaged with the first season race in his mother-country.

These are the others Liquigas' riders for the race: Michael Albasini, Patrick Calcagni, Kjell Carlstrom, Dario Cataldo, Vladimir Miholjevic and Alessandro Vanotti. Team manager: Mario Chiesa.