Arguably one of greatest Milan – San Remos ever was when Sean Kelly attacked on the Poggio descent in 1992. MSR takes place on March 16, and as always, it will most come down to the famous Poggio climb. However, it’s not always been about what happens on the way up–sometimes it’s all about what happens on the way down.
Down the Poggio
In 2022, Matej Mohorič etched his name in cycling history by clinching victory by utilizing a dropper post to outpace the world’s best riders on the Poggio descent. The Slovenian executed a series of attacks on the Poggio, skillfully breaking away from a small group during the descent while narrowly avoiding mishaps. Initially veering into the gutter, he expertly corrected himself with a precise hop. Subsequently, he came perilously close to colliding with the curb. His ride down was remarkably swift, distancing himself from none other than Tadej Pogačar, Wout van Aert, and Mathieu van der Poel, who are all superb descenders.
Will the dropper post become an essential component for pro roadies?
One of the greatest Il Primavera victories of all time is Irishman Sean Kelly’s, the last big win of a storied career. In 1992, he made up eight-seconds on Italy’s Moreno Argentin, who escaped on the 3.7-km Poggio, by plummeting down the other side, carving the switchbacks to pull back the incredulous Argentin at the red kite. Kelly was the better sprinter and claimed his second crown.
Shocking Moreno Argentin
Afterwards Argentin claimed, “I didn’t see him until the last (moments), when we were almost 600 metres from the finish. With all the motorbikes behind, I couldn’t see him. I guess he was also aided by them.”
Kelly described how he made up 15 seconds on former world champion, Argentin, in his autobiography, Hunger.
A man posssessed?
“What was I thinking as I plummeted down the descent of the Poggio in pursuit of Argentin? Was I really a man possessed, as they said? Had I abandoned all thoughts for my safety? Did I care whether I ended up toppling over the low wall and shattering through the roof of one of the glasshouses below? None of this mattered. I was thinking of winning, nothing else. I was going to give everything to catch Argentin and win the race. If I finished the day lying on my face among the tomato plants and shards of glass, so be it,” he wrote.
Kelly added that over the years the story of the 1992 Milan-San Remo has developed a life of its own. “I’ve heard it said that my…
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