49th Milan-San Remo 1958 (Italy)

The Emperor Adds La Primavera

The usual Italian spring weather, cool wind and rain, greeted the riders in Milan. By the time the race hit the Ligurian Coast light wind and warmer temperatures prevailed.

An early nine rider breakaway collected all the cash premes along the plains of Lombardia. They descended the Passo di Turchino with a 3'40” lead.

The breakaway group dwindled but held their advantage until the Capo climbs late in the race. On the Capo Mele the chase group was closing rapidly when Belgian Jozef Planckaert and Frenchman Rene Privat attacked the breakaway.

An inspired Privat dropped tiring Planckaert on the climb up the Capo Berta. An elite chase group formed, which included Rik Van Looy and defending M-SR champion Miguel Poblet, but Privat's solo effort persisted. By the top of the final climb the Capo Verde, only 4 km from the finish, Privat was caught.

The ‘Emperor of Herentals' Rik Van Looy unleashed his sprint on the "Via Roma" in San Remo and took the prestigious Milan-San Remo victory. Miguel Poblet finished second ahead of Frenchman Andre Darrigade.

SPECIAL NOTE: Van Looy's winning average speed set a new record of 42.178 km/h, beating Poblet's 1957 average of 40.754 km/h.

M-SR 1957

M-SR 1959

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