Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe wins Milan - San Remo his first Monument

Julian Alaphilippe won the final sprint after teammates Stybar and Gilbert forced the final selection on the upper slopes of the Poggio

Alaphilippe rode a smart race with his Deceuninck-QuickStep teammates who protected him all day. Teammate's Stybar and Gilbert forced the pace on the upper slopes of the Poggio which produced the final selection on the 3km descent down to Via Roma.

In that selection was Peter Sagan, Oliver Naesen, Michal Kwiatkowski, Matej Mohoric, Wout van Aert, Alejandro Valverde, Vincenzo Nibali, Matteo Trentin and Simon Clarke.

Matej Mohoric was first to attack on the lower slopes but the group slowed and played cat and mouse in the final kilometre.

Peter Sagan found himself on the front and it was Oliver Naesen who jumped first followed by Kwiatkowski.

Julian Alaphilippe launched his sprint and was unstoppable crossing his line he had time to celebrate.

Oliver Naesen second, Michal Kwiatkowski third closely followed by Peter Sagan who mis-timed his sprint.

VIDEO: 2019 Milan - San Remo Highlights

Julian Alaphilippe said at the finish, "It's difficult to realise what I did and what my team did. They protected me all day. Tim Declercq was pulling all race and in the final we controlled and we make the race harder and I have to do no mistakes.!

"I was really focused to control the attack and with 600m to go when Mohoric went to attack I said its now or never. It's unbelievable - I saw my teammates after the finish and everybody was crying.!

"I made a big effort at the top of the Poggio to make a big selection and to see what could happen. At the end I was only with strong riders and I tried to recover in the downhill. In the last 2km I said I want to win - no second place.

"I need time to realise what I've achieved - I'm very happy."

2019 Milan - San Remo Top 10

1 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep 06:40:14
2 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
3 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky
4 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
5 Matej Mohoric (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
6 Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
7 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team
8 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
9 Simon Clarke (Aus) EF Education First
10 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott