Roman Kreuziger - Team Liquigas

I eased off at the finish

Sat March 20, 2010, 19:33

For the first time ever Roman Kreuziger experienced the longest classic race of the UCI calendar - the Milan-San Remo. He was not focusing on the final result but first and foremost, his task was to support his teammates. Having accomplished his mission, he eased off during the last kilometers and finished in the 86th position, 3:13 min behind the winner.

"With the transfer the race was 310 kilometers long but I have to admit that the Belgian classics that are some 260 kilometers long are much harder. The worst thing today was that it was raining during the first 150 kilometers, then some riders crashed up on the climb and I was held back somewhere in the mid bunch. I didn’t want to take any risks on the wet roads on the descent. The leading group had the advantage of one minute and we bridged it up after ninety kilometers. The real race started off at the 250km mark. I was trying to help others, pulling the second half of the climb on Cipressa. When we reached the summit I got sheltered, then the peloton split and I stayed in the back. On the last downhill I eased off," Roman revealed. 
"The fact that I had a little cold didn’t limit me significantly. At first I was a bit stiff but then I gradually felt better and better. The race was truly long and with the transfer we spent over seven hours on the bikes. I am glad to have taken part in the race although I feel disappointed that Bennati didn’t make the podium. It is safe to say that together with Katusha we had the race under control but nobody made the podium. On the other hand, losing is also a part of professional cycling," Roman added. 
The Liquigas leader for this race, Bennati, finished fifth and the Spaniard Freire grabbed the third victory in this classic race. "He was the strongest of all, this race suits him well," Bennati praised the winner. 
Straight from San Remo Roman with his sports manager traveled by car to the Spanish resort of Lloret de Mar to ride in the Tour of Catalan stage race beginning Monday. "I am the only one of the San Remo Liquigas line-up to appear there. We are getting in pretty late in the day so I just want to get some sleep, tomorrow I will take an easy ride and the prologue starts on Monday." 
Results (298 km): 1st Freire (Spa/Rabobank) 6:57:28, 2nd Boonen (Bel/Quick Step), 3rd Petacchi (Ita/Lampre), 4th Modolo (Ita/Colnago), 5th Bennati (Liquigas), 6th Hushovd (Nor/Cervelo), ... 86th Roman Kreuziger (Cze/Liquigas) +3:13.

This article is also translated :
Závěr jsem jel na pohodu
Milano-Sanremo: Roman cede nel finale - Translated by: A&J Sport as Image