After his excellent showing in Milan-Sanremo, John Degenkolb was one of the big favourites in yesterday's Milan-Sanremo and he seemed to be at ease when he was riding near the front on the Cipressa climb. To many's surprise, the Giant-Shimano rider suddenly disappeared, with the reason being an untimely puncture just at the bottom of the crucial Poggio climb.

A late puncture has foiled John Degenkolb’s and Team Giant-Shimano’s chances of a result at Milan-Sanremo. Degenkolb flatted on the lower slopes of the final climb of the day – the Poggio – just as the big attacks started.

A frantic chase ensued but Degenkolb couldn’t regain contact to get involved in the sprint finish which was taken by Alexander Kristoff (Katusha).

The race started under wet and cold conditions and the weather only deteriorated as the day went on. This made for a tough day of racing, and a real test of attrition.

The day’s break was formed of seven riders but they were never allowed much more than 10-12 minutes of an advantage. Team Giant-Shimano helped control the pace behind with the main focus of the race being to get Degenkolb to the finish in as good a position as possible to fight out the finish.

One-by-one riders dropped out of the break and as the final two escapees hit the lower slopes of the penultimate climb of the day their advantage was only a handful of seconds over a thinned-out chasing bunch.

Simon Geschke was present to guide Degenkolb on the lower slopes of the climb as attacks went off the front but Degenkolb stayed calm and in position near the front to save his energy for the finish.

As the race hit the valley between the Cipressa and the Poggio, the gap between the bunch containing Degenkolb and one lone leader was at best 45 seconds but this soon dropped. As the race hit the bottom of the Poggio everything was back together but disaster struck for Degenkolb as he suffered a flat at the most inopportune of moments just 500m before the start of the climb.

Despite a quick change, he wasn’t able to regain contact as the front group raced away up the climb and down the otherside towards the finish.

The front group turned the corner into the finishing straight all together and Kristoff was fastest, with Degenkolb coming in outside of the top-20.

Coach, Marc Reef said:

“Today was really, really frustrating, and John was really disappointed. What can you do though. Everything was going really well until the puncture and from that moment we knew that it was going to be tough to get back.

“John said he was feeling strong all day and could move up on the Cipressa with little effort. Simon Geschke was there to help John after the descent before the Poggio but there was little he could do after the puncture.

“John chased hard and got close but couldn’t quite get back on. His feelings were good, his shape was good but he didn’t get the chance to make the most of it.”