Team Rabobank's Oscar Freire (Spain) surprised the favorites to win the Milan-San Remo 2010 classic for the third time on Saturday.

Freire, the winner here in 2004 and 2007, surged ahead in the final stretch to outsprint Belgian Tom Boonen (Team QuickStep).

Team Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi (Italy) finished third after a 298 km effort in the first big classic race of the 2010 pro road cycling season.

The 34-year-old Freire, world champion in 1999, 2001 and 2004, was one of several sprinters well placed in the peloton after the Cipressa and Poggio climbs.

The Rabobank rider burst ahead of Italian Daniele Bennati, with Boonen, rated as the top favorite, unable to sustain the pace.

Oscar Freire, Tom Boonen and co. decend. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.

Cervelo TestTeam's Norwegian God of Thunder Thor Hushovd finished 6th.

Last year's winner Mark Cavendish, who has been looking out of form this season, was dropped on the Cipressa climb some 25 kms from the finish line.

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