Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage from Milan-San Remo.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage from Milan-San Remo, the first monument of the 2013 season.
We're going to bring you right up to date with the weather. Coming into the race it was set to be one of the deciding factors in the outcome and it still looks that way.
The race starts in just under half an hour from now but riders are sticking to the warmth of the team buses as you might expect.
While we wait for the action to commence, here's a gallery of images, portraying some of the race's most memorable moments. From Zabel raising his arms too quickly at the finish to Hennie Kuiper being joined on the podium by the 1980's fashion police.
Quickly on the subject of Porte, he features in David Walsh's recent feature on Team Sky in this morning's Sunday Times. In the story Porte talks about his Paris-Nice win and having to face questions regarding doping.
But back today's racing and more precisely the race route.
We're likely to see snow at this point and it's usually where the peloton wakes up and begins to chase.
As Cyclingnews' Barry Ryan notes in his excellent preview
"It is in the final 50km that the race truly explodes into life, however, as the capi make their presence felt. Hostilities begin on the Capo Mele, and the Capo Cervo and Capo Berta follow in quick succession. They may only be undulations in the grand scheme of things, but with little time to recover and the pace rising ever higher, more and more riders and deposited are out the back."
The Cipressa, with 22km to go and the Poggio, are iconic climbs, and both have seen wining moves in the past.
And the race has begun. Rain jackets and capes for the majority of the field as they set off from Milan.
While the peloton rolls out from the start it's probably a good time to discuss the race favourites. We'll start with Peter Sagan, the undisputed number 1 for today.
For those of you who don't think Milan-San Remo is going to be a one man show, then there's always Fabian Cancellara to back.
So far there have been no signs of early attacks from the peloton.
There's some rainfall though and the roads are wet. The early pace should mean that the peloton aren't too frantic in their pace. I think a lot of riders in the bunch will be happy to see a break go off the front nice and early today.
285km remaining from 298km
And the lucky six are...
And you can find the official race start list, right here...
No real surprise to see riders from Androni, and Bardiani in the break. During the morning team talks that would have been the crucial message coming the team directors.
Omega Pharma Quick Step have a number of cards to play for today's race. Tom Boonen has finished on the podium in the race, Mark Cavendish has won the event (2009) but perhaps their greatest hope is Sylvain Chavanel.
276km remaining from 298km
There's speculation as to whether the Turchino might be neutralized due to the snow on the descent. As soon as we have confirmation either way we'll pass it on.
In the grand scheme of things the Turchino doesn't play a massive part in the outcome of the race. It does however weaken the peloton before they hit Le Mànie.
Meanwhile the break has extended their lead on the peloton to 7 minutes.
10:55 for the break now after just 30 km of racing. Astana and Cannondale are on the front and assuming responsibility for the chase effort. They'll want to know about the Turchino as soon as possible as it could seriously affect the amount of time they concede to the six riders up ahead.
252km remaining from 298km
There's still no confirmation on the Turchino but it sounds like the descent will be neutralised but that the riders will still take on the climb.
Official confirmation that the Turchino - both the ascent and the descent - have been neutralized. That might be a disadvantage for the break because they're relying on the fact they can keep warm as they race. If they're asked to slow and then start again they'll find it incredibly hard to restart their engines.
So the riders will take shuttle buses and cars from the 117km point to 163km and the time gap to the break will be kept at the foot of the climb.
240km remaining from 298km
There's a crash in the field with Michael Schar (BMC), Angel Vicioso (Katusha), Sergio Pardilla (MTN - Qhubeka), and Jim Songezo (MTN - Qhubeka) hitting the deck.
A reminder of the riders in the break:
Lastras, 37, is the most experienced rider in the bunch. He's been with the team since 1997 as it's transformed from Banesto through to Movistar and has made the top 30 in the race for the last two season. He's finished 14 grand tours in his career, only abandoning once, the Giro a couple of years ago.
The Spaniard is taking turns on the front of the break now and urging his companions to push ahead. They can rest of the team bus later and then re-start the race with a healthy advantage, although the gap has been reduced to 10 minutes.
It's Astana and Cannondale who continue to do most of the work on the front with their aims to set Nibali and Sagan up for the victory.
213km remaining from 298km
At the rate at which the peloton are closing the gap it looks like the pendulum has swung back in their favour.
A reminder that you can find all our Milan-San Remo coverage right here.
While we also have these start-line images from this morning
200km to go and the gap has stabilized at 9:20.
The break are roughly 17km away from the beginning of the neutralized zone. From there they'll head to the 160km mark and begin racing again.
The break have lost another chunk of time and the gap is down to 8:50.
There's confirmation that the race will begin again at 14:30 so this really is a race within a race as the peloton aims to reduce the break's advantage before the race is neutralized.
From race organisers RCS:
180km remaining from 298km
The break close in on Ovada, where they'll dismount and head into the warmth of team cars. They'll then motor towards the 160km mark where racing will resume at 14:30.
Here's the latest photo taken just 3km from the Turchino
Riders have started to arrive at the buses now, with the Vini Fantini team tucking into some well deserved pasta.
There's no point getting to comfortable on the buses though as the riders will have to go outside and do it all over again in rough 30 minutes.
According to the last time check the peloton rolled into the neutralized zone 7:10 down on the break.
These conditions will certainly break some of the riders who simply won't want to leave the team buses for the re-start of racing, which takes place in roughly 15 minutes from now.
Apologies the race re-start is in 1 hour, and 15 minutes.
It's all quite reminiscent of the 1996 Tour de France stage to Sestrieres with riders and teams forced to cut out a section of the race due to snow.
With a pause in racing it's the perfect time to look again at the favourites for today's race. Orica GreenEdge have the last two winners of the race in their team [although Goss won with HTC in 2011].
BMC come into the race with three potential cards to play with Philippe Gilbert, Thor Hushovd and Greg Van Avermaet all potential leaders for the American/Swiss team.
Gilbert of course has to contend with the allegations of cortisone use at Lotto that surfaced yesterday in the Dutch press.
Who are you tipping for the win today? You can let me know right here.
All the buses have arrived at the check point. A few teams are complaining, saying that the race should have been stopped earlier but we're still preparing for the race to start again in roughly 20 minutes.
One rider we've not mentioned yet is Filippo Pozzato, who won the race back in 2006. Since then the Italian hasn't kicked on in the classics despite a number of memorable performances.
He was second here in 2008, second in Paris-Roubaix a year later, and second in Flanders last year.
It looks like chaos now with some buses yet to arrive. We can confirm that start time has been pushed back to 15:00
There's also talk of Le Manie being pulled from the race route as well but that hasn't been confirmed on race radio yet.
That's 15:00 CET for those of you asking and it's confirmed that Le Manie has been pulled from the race route as well.
The absence of Le Manie will dramatically change the race. Riders like Sagan, Nibali, Cancellara will have wanted to shed the pure sprinters on the climb but now it's going to be impossible. There's still a number of capi before the line but Le Manie was crucial.
Assuming everything holds out the race will start in 30 minutes from now and at the 213km mark in Finale Ligure. Fingers crossed.
Different reports keep on surfacing from the race but as far as we know the race will start in 20 minutes from now. Le Manie has been cut from the route though. The longer this goes on though the greater chance there is of the race stopping completely.
All the buses are still parked by the side of the road with no signs of movement. The rain is coming down heavily too so even if we do have a re-start the peloton will be reduced by a number of riders giving up.
Mechanics are still outside and checking bikes over and a couple of riders including Belkov are on their bikes. Sky aren't warming up on the rollers.
Lars Bak who was also in the early break is warming up as well, gently cycling passed the team buses.
Lastras joins Bak and begins to ride outside. There's no snow here but the rain continues to fall.
Cannonale, Lampre and Movistar riders have begun to come off the team buses and presumably make their way to the new start line. The riders will have roughly 130km of racing left
We're hearing reports that Boonen has pulled out of the race.
The peloton have now made their way to the new re-start line. The break will, I presume, be allowed to establish their previous lead of 7:10 on the peloton before racing begins.
The break have started riding again, with Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale), Diego Rosa (Androni), Filippo Fortin (Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox), Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Lars Bak (Lotto) and Pablo Lastras (Movistar) leading the race.
130km remaining from 298km
Meanwhile the peloton have been asked to wait on the line, presumably for 7:10.
It's a bit like a round Gladiators, 'contestants are you? gladiators are you ready?' as the riders in the peloton continue to wait for the flag to drop and they can chase down the break.
And finally the peloton are allowed to start again. So we have a race. Cannondale quickly move to the front and set the pace, so their overall aim hasn't changed and they'll still be looking to set Sagan up for the win.
Omega are down to just five riders because along with Boonen they've lost Stijn Vandenbergh, and Terpstra. Cavendish is still there though, so along with Chavanel the team have two cards to play.
115km remaining from 298km
The break are riding along the coast now and like the peloton they can't hang around. No time gap has been provided by race radio since the restart.
Astana and Lotto have joined Cannondale on the front of the peloton to assist with the chance. Astana working for Nibali and Lotto for Greipel.
112km remaining from 298km
It will be interesting to see how the capo mele and capo cervo play out in the next phase of racing? Riders like Nibali might need to use those climbs to soften up the opposition and put the sprinters under early pressure.
It will be interesting to see how the capo mele and capo cervo play out in the next phase of racing? Riders like Nibali might need to use those climbs to soften up the opposition and put the sprinters under early pressure.
103km remaining from 298km
Cyclingnews' Barry Ryan spoke to Lars Bak at the re-start and this is what the Lotto rider had to say: "We have to be ready. It was so cold. With the snow + zero degrees it was hard on the legs but mainly the hands. It was hard to brake because you couldn't feel your hands.
Ryan also spoke to race favourite Peter Sagan:
Matt Goss has pulled out of the race, the 2011 Milan-San Remo climbing off after an earlier crash in the race.
96km remaining from 298km
Sella and Bodnar have also pulled out of the race.
Alex Howes (Garmin-Sharp) has come to the front of the race. Garmin have Tyler Farrar in the race and although he's not won a race this year it's not unthinkable that he can podium today.
An angry Tom Boonen:
The gap drops again and it's down to 5;35 with 91km to go.
The peloton are going to have to do something because the gap isn't coming down as quickly as they would like. We still have a number of climbs to come but the break are maintaining a healthy lead at the moment. Cannondale are going to need some assistance from a number of other teams in the next 30-40 kilometres.
Those of you doubting Farrar's chances today, fair enough, but think about what his chances will be like next year when the route is back to 298km. This is going to be his best ever chance of winning.
86km remaining from 298km
Nibali is trying to fight off the cold my shaking his arms around. The Italian came into the race as a major favourite after his ride in Tirreno, when we saw that the cold and rain clearly don't disrupt his riding all that much.
79km remaining from 298km
Mark Cavendish is at the back of the peloton but it looks like he's coming back through the cars. It looks like he came back to remove some clothing.
Gilbert is also back with the cars and talking to the team director. So far we've not seen any aggression from the American/Swiss based team.
73km remaining from 298km
Phinney and Chavanel have both abandoned the race.
66km remaining from 298km
Some of the momentum has gone out of the break as they start to look at each other, not keen on taking long turns on the front.
Mele, Cervo and Berta are all coming up in just a matter of kilometres. More and more riders from the peloton have started to take off their rain jackets, a sign that the real racing is about to start in what has been a heavily disjointed race.
Nibali is at the very back of the peloton and Voeckler is coming back through the cars as well.
58km remaining from 298km
A reminder that you can find the startlist right here, and read our top ten contenders feature from earlier this week. A few riders on the list have pulled out but it's still worth a read.
NIbali is still right at the back of the peloton and it looks like he's really struggling in the conditions. He still has a handful of teammates on the front though so he need to move himself closer to the action.
Garmin take over on the front of the peloton with Sagan and his Cannondale teammates in close quarters.
Cannondale, Astana and Sky bludgeon their way to the front of the peloton as the bunch begins the climb. Nibali though is dangling at the back of the peloton and looks to be really suffering. Surely it's not a bluff?
The leaders are now onto the Capo Cervo but all the cameras are squared on Nibali, who now has a number of teammates with him at the back of the bunch.
Cannondale have noticed that Nibali has gone AWOL and they throw all their efforts into setting the pace. Can the Astana rider respond because right now his ex-team are trying to drop him.
49km remaining from 298km
Omega Pharma state that Chavanel is still in the race.
Nibali is with the team car. He's taking off his rain jacket and then begins to make his way back to the peloton.
43km remaining from 298km
Reports that Nibali has packed but no confirmation just yet.
The Astana leader has been struggling for the last hour or so, dangling off the back of the bunch and Sky now set the pace on the front of the peloton with five riders on the front of the bunch.
The loss of Nibali gives the sprinters an even bigger advantage now but really this race is still wide open, and it's about who can deal with the conditions in the best manner.
As Rosa lifts the pace in the break and gets out of the saddle. Lastras and Montaguti have cracked and have been dropped from the break.
And confirmation that Nibali has quit the race.
On the Capo Berta and Belkov begins to show his hand, softly increasing the pace, and distancing Bak and Rosa.
Cavendish is near the front of the peloton, so is Chavanel.
Eisel for Sky looks good too and if Boasson Hagen falters then the Austrian is capable of stepping up. Both riders have won Gent-Wevelgen.
Belkov has been caught by Rosa and Bak, meanwhile but this climb is starting to show the strain on the riders at the front of the race.
The break has just 1'08 on the Sky led peloton.
The Cipressa is next and it's a harder climb than the Poggio but the descents are going to be just as crucial as the ascents themselves.
36km remaining from 298km
Hushovd has been dropped. That leaves BMC with Hushovd and Van Avermaet as leaders.
The break has just 27 seconds on the peloton as we race towards the Cipressa. Cavendish, Greipel, Boasson Hagen, Sagan, Moser, Gilbert, Chavanel, all still here.
Haussler, Cancellara and Degenkolb too.
Kiryienka, who was so strong for Sky at Paris-Nice sets the pace.
Team Sky continue to set the pace at the front of the peloton and they're about to catch the trio so we're all back together with 30km to go.
Sky are doing their best to set the pace, and a number of sprinters are going to struggle once we get to the Cipressa. Cavendish looked comfortable on the last climb but so did Sagan and a number of other fastmen.
The front group contains about 50 riders and there's been a crash and three Sky riders are on the deck. Geraint Thomas is one of the men down too. Farrar is also down.
The wet roads cause chaos but there's no chance of Thomas and Farrar coming back. It looks like Lovkvist and Moser are on the front now.
And now the attacks come thick and fast.
Lovkvist, Chavanel, and two other riders have a small gap on the remnants of the peloton.
Five riders are in the front group but Sky are regrouping on the front. Bouet, Lovkvist, Bouet, Moser, and Roelandts are off the front.
And Bouet throws in a huge attack just as the move comes back together. It doesn't work though and it's all coming back together. Chavanel looks very strong.
The peloton is lined out on the climb.
Lampre come to the front to try and set the pace and Petacchi is there but Boasson Hagen has been dropped.
It looks like Sky's race has fallen apart in the space of 10km.
Malori is on the front but he's going to drop his teammate Petacchi.
More and more riders are being dropped and that's Greipel who is in trouble. Gerrans is also struggling at the back.
Malori still on the front and setting the pace for Lampre, Gilbert is close to the front too, as is Chavanel.
24km remaining from 298km
The pace seems to have slowed as Malori pulls over.
Gilbert is very close to the front as Cannondale take over the pace setting for Sagan.
There are less than 40 riders left in the lead group with 22km to go.
Ventoso is in the lead group and he might fancy his chances in the sprint.
And Gilbert moves to the front on the descent of the Cipressa. and the BMC leader pulls out a short gap.
20km to go and the World Champion has a small gap on the descent. He's cutting through the corners perfectly here and this could be the race winning move.
The roads are wet so it's a huge risk but the world champion clearly feels that this is his best opportunity to forge a break. There are four or five riders trying to react and chase down Gilbert, Cancellara included in that group.
Chavanel his also chasing with Gilbert, who has a gap of around 100 meters.
Chavanel makes it to Gilbert's wheel, Cancellara, Sagan, maybe Degenkolb also there. Stannard is there too.
Pozzato is trying to come across as well. It looks like 8 or 9 riders clear.
And Stannard and a Vorganov have attacked. Chavanal is there too.
A three man move of this quality is very dangerous as they all have a reason to work.
15km to go and Chavanel, Stannard, and Vorganov are clear. Gilbert is trying to mount a chase with a rider from Lotto but there are so many tired legs out there.
Gilbert and the Lotto rider, are sitting up as behind the group is starting to reform.
So Chavanel, Vorganov and Stannard are clear. They can't afford to waste any time though but they've pulled out 27 seconds with the Poggio to come.
Cannondale are doing all the work back in the bunch and the gap has come down to 20 seconds.
The leading trio simply don't have the legs and Vorganov and Chavanel aren't taking their turns properly. Surely Sagan and his team can pull back the move.
And Chavanel attacks and quickly puts his companions under pressure.
12km to go and the gap is at 19 seconds.
Chavanel again stamps on the pedals, I think he's trying to get rid of Vorganov, and the gap moves up to 24 seconds.
11km remaining from 298km
Closing in on the Poggio with Gilbert now at the back of the large chase group.
And Stannard attacks. Chavanel follows but Vorganov has cracked.
Chavanel takes over as Vorganov clings to the duo.
And the Katusha rider has completely blown as Maxim Iglinskiy attacks from the chase group.
The Astana rider won Liege with a smart late attack and he now goes passed Vorganov, as Chavanel attacks Stannard.
32 seconds for Chavanel and Stannard, who is hanging in there for Team Sky.
They have 16 seconds as Cannondale set the pace for the chasers.
Moser sets the pace as Chavanel and Stannard keep ahead but they have to watch for Maxim Iglinskiy who is very dangerous, and he's just 13 seconds back.
Stannard out of the saddle, this is a really good ride from the Brit and he has a gap on the Omega rider.
Chavanel closes the gap as Sagan just has one teammate left. Paolini now attacks with Sagan chasing with Cancellara and Pippo there too.
6km to go as the leading pair crest the Poggio.
Cancellara has gone clear from the chase and Sagan tries to chase but it looks like Pozzato has blown and Ciolek has gone with them.
Less than 5k to go for the leaders. They have to work together on the descent, because Sagan and Cancellara are closing in.
The chase: Sagan, Ciolek, Cancellara and Pozzato.
As Chavanel practically sprints out of the corners on the descent. It looks like it's coming back together. Ciolek is getting a free ride to the finish...
It looks like it could still be a huge bunch sprint through because it's all coming back together.
We now have 6 riders in the front group with the Sagan's group coming up to Chavanel and Stannard.
Pozzato isn't there but Paolini is.
And Sagan attacks and Cancellara is forced to chase.
And now Stannard attacks.
He has a gap!
He could win this.
Cancellara drifts to the back but Ciolek is still there as Stannard is caught.
1km to go.
The bunch isn't coming back and Stannard is going to lead out.
Paolini is right at the back
And a BMC rider is coming
So Sagan opens the sprint
But Ciolek is coming through.
The German sprinter, he's won Milan-San Remo. What an incredible ride.
Sagan has to settle for second place.
The BMC rider coming back was key there because all the riders in the lead group looked over their shoulders and then opened up the sprint. Ciolek kept his head though and waited behind Sagan.
Cancellara was third with Chavanel in fourth.
The BMC rider coming back was Taylor Phinney. Race radio had said he'd abandoned during the race but they also said the same about Chavanel too.
1 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN - Qhubeka 5:37:20
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
3 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack Leopard
4 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma Quick Step
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Team Katusha
6 Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Pro Cycling
7 Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing
8 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha 0:00:14
9 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma Quick Step
10 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky Pro Cycling
Despite the problems with the weather we've been treated to another thrilling finale to Milan-San Remo and another illustration of how incredible the sport can be.
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