Dates 5 April 1908 Distance 283.4 km (176.1 mi) Second Luigi Ganna (Italy) | Stages 1 Winning time 11h 33' | |
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Winner Cyrille Van Hauwaert (Belgium) | ||
The second running of the Milan–San Remo cycling classic was held on 5 April 1908. The race was won by Belgian Cyrille Van Hauwaert. 14 of 48 starters finished the race.
Race report
The race was affected by miserable weather, with gusty winds and freezing rain from start to finish. The dramatic state of the roads contributed to the harshness of the race, causing several punctures and mechanical failures.
A small group of riders, containing all key contenders, broke clear on the Passo del Turchino. In Masone five of them remained: Belgian Cyrille Van Hauwaert, Italians Rossignoli and Galetti, and French riders Pottier and Lignon. In Finale Ligure Van Hauwaert dropped his last companion Lignon and powered on solo to the finish. In the background Luigi Ganna, André Trousselier and Augustin Ringeval had set off in pusuit. Ganna approached quickly, but Van Hauwaert remained his lead until the finish in Sanremo.
Van Hauwaert had traveled by bike from Belgium to the start in Milan, by means of training. In Paris he was joined by several French riders, including Augustin Ringeval, who accompanied him to Milan.