Michael Storer raced to a hard fought 15th place at the end of a tough attacking Milano – Torino during which the race split with 50 kilometres to go in crosswinds causing a select group which saw a hard, fast final hour of racing.

The pace was controlled by the peloton behind the day’s early break of six riders containing Team DSM’s Kevin Vermaerke, keeping their gap in check before making a very early catch when the front of the race split with around 50 kilometres still to race in crosswinds.

A very strong front group of 23 formed with Vermaerke initially there for Team DSM before the lead group reformed on the first of the two climbs in the finale, with riders dropping back including Vermaerke and others bridging across including Storer.

This front group then hit the bottom of the final climb mainly intact, chasing one solo leader, before it exploded on the tough slopes to the finish. Small groups fought their way to the top with Storer in the chase behind four leaders eventually finishing 15th.

“Today was a bit of a different Milano – Torino with some strong wind in places,” explained Michael Storer. “The peloton split in a more surprising moment than expected but the teams who had missed it pulled behind. We did a lead out into the bottom of the first climb and it was all about the legs from then on.

“I managed to make it across to the front group but then on the final climb I didn’t quite have the legs for a top result today.”

Team DSM coach Luke Roberts added: “We aimed today to get a guy at the front of the race and Kevin did a good job to get into a group of six early on but they were only given a small lead. There was a bit of wind about today which made for a bit of nervousness in the bunch. Right after the feedzone a few teams went on the attack in a crosswind section which split the bunch into a few groups. 

“There was around a 40 kilometre chase until we hit the final circuit with the two groups quite close together throughout and coming close the first time up the climb on which the front group reshaped. We then had Michael who had good legs to get in the first group over the top. It was an incredibly strong field here today and difficult to go for a real top result in this final. Overall it was a good effort from Michael and the team.”