PROFILBARU.COM

The 88th running of the Milan–San Remo cycling classic was held on 22 March 1997 and won by German Erik Zabel.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Summary

Michele Bartoli had a small lead on the top of the Poggio, before being joined by a small group with Johan Museeuw, Andrea Ferrigato and Marco Pantani. Rolf Sørensen led the pursuers, who rejoined the grupetto on the descent. A group of 40 decided the race in a sprint, for the first time in 17 years. Alberto Elli led the sprint from afar, but was overtaken by German sprint star Erik Zabel. Several riders were involved in a spectacular final-sprint crash, including Laurent Jalabert, Johan Museeuw and Maximilian Sciandri. Zabel was the second German winner of the Primavera after Rudi Altig in 1968 and the first winner in a mass sprint since Pierino Gavazzi in 1980.^[5]

Result
Rank	Rider	Team	Time
1	Erik Zabel (GER)	Team Telekom	6h 57' 47"
2	Alberto Elli (ITA)	Casino	s.t.
3	Biagio Conte (ITA)	Scrigno–Gaerne	s.t.
4	Francesco Casagrande (ITA)	Saeco–Estro	s.t.
5	Michele Bartoli (ITA)	MG Maglificio–Technogym	s.t.
6	Mirko Celestino (ITA)	Team Polti	s.t.
7	Serguei Outschakov (UKR)	Team Polti	s.t.
8	Rolf Sørensen (DEN)	Rabobank	s.t.
9	Andrea Ferrigato (ITA)	Roslotto–ZG Mobili	s.t.
10	Andrea Noè (ITA)	Asics–CGA	s.t.

^ Giuseppe Castelnovi, Pier Bergonzi. "Bartoli graffia Pantani canta (start list in the article)". archiviostorico.gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-10-05.
^ "Milan–San Remo results". 1998-01-24. Archived from the original on 1998-01-24. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
^ "Milan-San Remo - World Cup Round 1". autobus.cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
^ "88a edizione Milano-Sanremo (1997)". museociclismo.net (in Italian). Retrieved 26 February 2016.
^ "Zabel wins Milan–San Remo". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 27 February 2016.