Is Anthony Turgis the least talked about podium finisher in the recent Milan - Sanremo? With Peter Sagan on the Total Energies team, superstars like Taddei Pogachar, Wout van Eyre, and Mathieu Van der Pol in the race, and Matej Mohoric assisting with the dropper to win, it may be no surprise that this Frenchman has not attracted much attention. It is perhaps no surprise that the Frenchman did not attract much attention.

While Mohoric took the solo win on the Via Roma, Turgis jumped out of the big chase group a few seconds back. He led the chase behind the winner, trailing by just two seconds.

The 27-year-old Turgis has won six races and was on the podium two years ago at the Tour de Flanders, winning a sprint contest. After the race, however, he looked more frustrated than overjoyed with the race result.

"I came here to win," Turgis told Cyclism'Actu (open in new tab) after the race. 'It's a little frustrating when you see victory is within your reach and in your legs.'

"It was another very good day. For me it bodes very well for the future."

Bad luck struck Total Energy when Sagan developed a mechanical hitch on a quick run to Chipressa; the three-time world champion never led the race again, eventually finishing six minutes behind.

Turgis was left at the front of the French team with Daniel Oss and local hero Niccolo Bonifazio. He showed leadership and ran well to finish second in San Remo.

"It all happened so fast," Turgis said of the last 30 km. "There were only about 40 riders at the top of Cipressa. I left one or two riders behind because I knew that positioning was very important."

"When I saw Mohoric going downhill, I told myself that the other riders wouldn't leave too much space between them. At the bottom of the descent, I was just a little short."

So far, Turgis has done well in the classics here and there, finishing second in the 2019 Dwars door Hlaanderen, fourth in the 2020 Tour of Flanders, and second in last season's Coure Brussel-Coulomb, but the big wins are still But no big wins have come yet.

Last spring he was his most consistent to date with top 10 finishes in San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem, Douard, and the Tour of Flanders. With one more year of racing experience under his belt, will this be his big year?

"I have the ability to win. I just need to have a good day and have the planets align."

"Actually, not that many," he replied. 'Being able to read the race well is one example. I have the ability to win races like the Tour de Flanders.

"You have to have a good day, sure, but you also have to go with the flow of the race. At Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this year I couldn't do that because of a flat tire and a crash."