As the kilometres click by, Herman Vanspringel grows more confused. He is in his first full season as a professional rider and is tackling the Milan-San Remo Classic for the first time. Vanspringel has heard tales of the terrible climbs they would endure on the way to San Remo but the race is hours old and he is still at the front of the race. Where are these capi he has been warned about? The ones the Italians were always talking about? He catches the eye of an Italian rider, draws the shape of a mountain in the air and points ahead. How long before these capi come? The Italian shakes his head and points behind. The capi are done and dusted. Vanspringel hadn’t even noticed them.
As the finish approaches Vanspringel is still in the leading group of 11 riders. Feeling good but wanting to avoid a sprint to the finish, he launches his bid with around a kilometre to go. The Italian Adriano Durante reacts fastest and drags the small group back. Vanspringel’s effort has shown his strength and intent but now it means that when the final sprint finally unfurls he has already lit one match too many.
Even so, as a 20-year-old Eddy Merckx powers to the finish line to take the first of a record seven wins in the race, Vanspringel isn’t beaten by much. He finishes third, behind Durante and only a bike length or so from Merckx.
Four days later Vanspringel is back in Belgium for Gent-Wevelgem. Alongside him on the start
