Matej Mohoric fails to net second Milano-Sanremo win with late attack: "I figured out that it was the only way for me to win today"

Matej Mohoric won the 2022 Milano-Sanremo with an attack in the descent. Today he could not move as early but did at the bottom, however the gap that he obtained was not enough this time around.

Mohoric was far from the front of the group in the top of the attacked Poggio, and his descending skills did not prove crucial this year. "Unfortunately when I was able to get back to the front, it was a hard decision. I figured out that it was the only way for me to win today," he said in a post-race interview. "Unfortunately I also knew that Phiilpsen was in the group because I was close to him at the top of the Poggio. I figured that if Mathieu [van der Poel] knows he will close the gap, and this is what happened, but still I believed for a second there and that's what it is about, play the cards. It was my only chance and I had to take it, it wasn't to be today but it was two years ago."

Mohoric still made his move but was closed down by Alpecin-Deceuninck's motivated chase. A bold move, he had big goals when he attacked but was realistic with his chances. He explains why he still attacked. "Because the speed is so high the difference the power between taking the wind and sitting in the wheel is huge. The other day we were in training with Tadej [Pogacar] and we were sitting behind a motorbike and I dropped in like 5 minutes because the pace is so high..."

So his plan was to believe that behind riders would not want to collaborate because of the high speeds: "There is no rider in this world in the world that can pull like a motorbike so sooner or later they stop a little bit and they hesitate, and that's when sprinters can hang on." However teams did have numbers behind and ultimately chased him back. "It's cycling, it's interesting and it gives emotions so that's what it's all about."

Next in schedule for the Bahrain - Victorious rider are the cobbled classics, in which he looks to grab more strong wins. "Flanders and Roubaix are quite different from this, but I think I'm in good shape, I am looking forward to those races it's my big chance."

"I was fifth in Roubaix before, I also believed I could win that race for a couple minutes so I think I have a chance. Also Flanders I have unfinished business to do, last year I crashed hard and this year I'm looking forward to have another shot."