Gallery: Riders fight through horrendous Milano-Sanremo conditions

The peloton at 70km into the race, with snow starting to mix with rain. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Slick roads led to several big crashes. Angel Vicioso of Katusha was caught up in this tussle. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

The day started rough for the MTN-Qhubeka team, but ended brilliantly with a win by Gerald Ciolek. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Riders faced truly epic conditions for the 104th edition of Milano-Sanremo. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Matteo Montaguti of Ag2r La Mondiale powers through the increasing snowfall. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Near whiteout conditions hit the peloton at Milano-Sanremo near the 100km mark. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Garmin-Sharp riders do all they can to stay upright and find a safe line in near-blizzard conditions. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

The racers of the 2013 Milano-Sanremo question whether there is actually a road ahead of them. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Former world champion Thor Hushovd of BMC Racing suffers under a layer of snow and ice. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

The bikes of Omega Pharma-Quick Step wait to be loaded up for the transfer to the new start after officials neutralized the race due to the unsafe conditions. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Hypothermia hits this Ag2r rider hard at the enforced neutral stop. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Race officials and team directors discuss a possible cancellation of the race, but ultimately "La Primavera" continued after restarting at the 170km mark. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Riders were escorted on the motorway to the coast where conditions were wet but considerably safer. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Omega Pharma-Quick Step techincal director Rolf Aldag assesses the current race situation with the team's PR manager. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

The hardmen of Belgium, Johan Vansummeren and Philippe Gilbert roll up to the second start of the day after weather force the race to stop. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Riders assemble on the coast for a re-start of the 104th Milano-Sanremo. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Even the police motors fell victim to the slick roads. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Wind, rain, and stormy seas were all part of the scene for this year's "La Primavera." Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Greg Henderson of Lotto-Belisol grimaces under the freezing rain and increasing pace in the race. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Sylvain Chavanel picks up one last feed before the riders hit the final series of climbs in the race. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Banners adorned the final climb of the Poggio, but the fans stayed inside with such harsh weather conditions. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

The exit of the Poggio. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Kids playing soccer while they wait for the riders of Milano-Sanremo to bring their game to the race's iconic Poggio climb. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Sharp hits the deck with less than 20km remaining. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

A relatively quiet Lungomare Italo Calvino awaits the finish of Milano-Sanremo. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

The peloton chases the escapees on the decent of the Poggio. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

A dark horse winner, Gerald Ciolek, on a dark and rain soaked Sunday evening in Sanremo. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Sky's Ian Stannard made a valiant but unsuccessful effort to escape in the final kilometers with Sylvain Chavanel. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

Fabian Cancellara made the podium again in Sanremo, but missed the top step. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com

In true Italian style, the bubbly flows wildly on the podium. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | VeloNews.com