Michal Kwiatkowski wins 2017 Milan-Sanremo for beleaguered Team Sky

Michal Kwiatkowski lightened the atmosphere at Team Sky by notching the team’s second Monument. His Milan-Sanremo win today follows Wout Poels’ victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege last year.

Kwiatkowski had shown his good form earlier in the month by winning Strade Bianche and in the closing stages of Milan-Sanremo, he and Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe were the only two riders able to follow Peter Sagan’s furious attack on the Poggio.

Those three were never caught. There followed a ragged sprint with Sagan throwing his bike at the line with such force that he almost lost control.

It was to no avail. The Pole recorded a narrow win with Alaphilippe third.

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Reacting to his win, Kwiatkowski said: "After previous editions in 2013 and 2014 when I've been unlucky, winning Milano-Sanremo is an incredible feeling. I'm thankful to my team-mates, they did an incredible job today.

“I didn't expect Sagan to attack on the Poggio. After he did, I expected a bunch sprint but he maintained a high speed at the front. I focused only on my own sprint. I can't believe I've beaten Sagan."