Photo gallery: The colour and excitement of the 2017 Milan-San Remo

Milan-San Remo is very much a race in two parts. The first: a 240km slow burn, the riders making their way south from Milan to the Mediterranean, then west along the coast. The second: a frenetic final 50km with five short climbs, the last two of which can help decide the race.

The first six hours of Saturday’s 2017 edition weren’t the most entertaining racing we’ve ever seen, but the final 30km more than made up for it. A devastating attack from Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the Poggio — the race’s final ascent — tore the field asunder, with just Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) and Milan-San Remo debutant Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep Floors) able to follow.

Sagan was left to do most of the work in the leading trio as the finish approached, and was ultimately pipped in the sprint by a desperate lunge from Kwiatkowski. While Sagan was beaten, his efforts to animate the race only served to show, once again, why he’s regarded as one the most entertaining (and undoubtedly one of the strongest) riders in world cycling.

Here’s a selection of photos from the 108th edition of Milan-San Remo from photographers Kristof Ramon, Ashley & Jered Gruber, and the Cor Vos photo agency. Enjoy!

More Milan-San Remo coverage

– How the Race Was Won: 2017 Milan-San Remo
– What we’re talking about after the 2017 Milan-San Remo
– Sagan the strongest, but Kwiatkowski wins Milan-San Remo

: John Degenkolb prepares his race numbers.

: Sometimes the world champion just doesn’t feel like a selfie.

: The 10-rider breakaway got away early in the race.

: Just a few vehicles follow the breakaway, compared to the long convoy behind the peloton.

: On its journey towards the coast, Milan-San Remo takes the riders over the Passo del Turchino.

: It’s easy to see why the coastal roads are a favourite for race photographers …

: Flares on the “capi” near the finish make for great pictures, but aren’t particularly great for riders who are breathing hard and trying to see the road ahead.

: Tom Dumoulin rode hard on the Cipressa and Poggio to string out the bunch.

: A blistering attack from Peter Sagan near the top of the Poggio saw the world champion start the descent to the finish on his own.

: Kwiatkowski soon joined Sagan, as did Alaphilippe, leading to a three-up sprint on the Via Roma.

: After Sagan led out the sprint from the front (after doing most of the work in the final kilometres), Kwiatkowski was able to win with a bike throw.