Freire completes Milan-San Remo hat-trick

Milan: Spain`s Oscar Freire surprised the favourites to win the Milan-San Remo classic for the third time on Saturday.

Freire, the winner here in 2004 and 2007, surged ahead in the final stretch to outsprint Belgian Tom Boonen.Italian Alessandro Petacchi finished third after a 298-km effort in the first big classic race of the season. The 34-year-old Freire, world champion in 1999, 2001 and 2004, was one of several sprinters well placed in the peloton after the Cipressa and Poggio climbs. The Rabobank rider burst ahead of Italian Daniele Bennati, with Boonen, rated as the top favourite, unable to sustain the pace.Last year`s winner Mark Cavendish, who has been looking out of form this season, was dropped on the Cipressa climb some 25 kms from the finish line. Bureau Report