The Rabobank ProTeam was already performing well during the early stages of the season. So far, the team had already claimed nine victories, but, with Oscar Freire's (picture) victory and the team's tenth success, the pressure is now completely off. The first Protour-victory of the Rabos in the first spring classic was a nice one. Freire taught sprinting lessons in San-Remo after he had already made a good impression during the finale of the Primavera. Allan Davis and Tom Boonen finished in second and third place respectively at more than two bike lengths.

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.

Filippo Pozzato will try to defend his title at Milano-San Remo on Saturday. The green team will feature Paolini, Gasparotto and Pellizotti too.
The Milan-San Remo is the first great season goal of the Liquigas team that will line up a great squad at the Classicissima . Filippo Pozzato, the winner of the 2006 Sanremo, is confident: "I've trained well; the Tirreno-Adriatico gave me the answers I hoped. I believe I'm pedalling better than last year. Having strong and motivated team-mates at my side makes me more serene."
Next Saturday Liquigas will draw up, beneith Pozzato, three other riders who are candidates to play a key role: Luca Paolini, Enrico Gasparotto and Franco Pellizotti. While Danilo Di Luca won't start  after winning Milano-Torino he got the flu.
General manager Roberto Amadio - who will lead the team assisted by Mario Scirea - underlines: "The contribution of Paolini, Gasparotto and Pellizotti will be very precious. Pozzato raced the Tirreno-Adriatico in view of the Sanremo and will be our captain. Having more alternatives will play in his favour and makes Liquigas one of the strongest teams." However this fact doesn't expose us to excessive pressures: "There are at least other five teams aiming at the win and which could use the same strategy as us. So the management of the race could depend on us but also on Quick Step, Lampre and Milram, for example..."
The Liquigas at the Milan-Sanremo: Patrick Calcagni, Enrico Gasparotto, Luca Paolini, Franco Pellizotti, Roberto Petito, Filippo Pozzato, Manuel Quinziato and Alessandro Spezialetti.

The first great classic of the season is on the program on saturday, from Milan to San Remo. "La Primavera" (spring), although others speak of la prima vera... the first real classic of the year. The injuries of Paolo Bettini are evolving in a good way, Tom Boonen has a strong improvement in his condition.

The start is in the inland of Italy, in Milan, then the route takes us down south to the Ligurian coast, the Riviera. Milan-San Remo is the longest classic of the season (almost 300km). The greatest difficulty is the distance. But the race ends several times in a groupsprint on the Via Roma. The reason to insert the Poggio die San Remo in the final kilometres was to make this final part of the race more exciting, also for non-sprinters. In the eighties a second hill was taken in the race, the Cipressa, shortly before the Poggio.

Quick.Step Innergetic almost ready for Milaan San Remo

Paolo Bettini is recovering slowly of all his discomforts, who stacked themselves during the past week, cause of some falls. The injury at his knee is almost forgotten, his brused rib is getting better. Bettini trained together with Visconti, Barredo and Hulsmans on wednesday. Tonight Rosseler will arrive at the hotel of the QSI-riders and tomorrow there is a 3-hour training on the program.

Tosatto, Van Impe en Boonen will arrive in Milan on thursday. Toms condition is getting better by the day. Today he trained in Belgium during 6 hours, over a distance of 210 km. Thursday there is a training behind the car on the program.

Participating for Quick.Step Innergetic: Carlos Barredo, Paolo Bettini, Tom Boonen, Kevin Hulsmans, Sebastien Rosseler, Matteo Tosatto, Kevin Van Impe, Giovanni Visconti.

The Unibet.com ProTour Team is preparing for Milano-SanRemo in Nice. Jacques Hanegraaf assembled his riders in the South of France for a team training and is already looking forward to the Primavera next Saturday. Since Unibet.com could not prepare at Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico the team had an extra training camp. If an Unibet.com rider wins Milano-San Remo it would be the first time since Francesco Moser in 1984, that a rider wins who did not start at Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico. Moser won with only one race in his legs, before La Primavera he road Milano-Torino.

Unibet.com team manager Jaques Hanegraaf is staisfied with the training camp: "Our team is preparing perfectly. The weather is fine and our riders are very motivated", said Hanegraaf.
Marco Zanotti, Matteo Carrara, Matthew Wilson, Jeremy Hunt, Gustav Larsson, Michal Golas, Victor Hugo Pena, Sergey Kolesnikov, Gorik Gardeyn, Laurens ten Dam and Arnaud Coyot are the Unibet.com ProTour riders in Nice. Baden Cooke and Jimmy Casper are joining the team training later this week.