| 1997 Milan–San Remo | |
| Date: | 22 March 1997 |
| Stages: | 1 |
| Distance: | 294 |
| Unit: | km |
| Time: | 6h 57' 47" |
| Speed: | 42.223 |
| First: | Erik Zabel |
| First Nat: | GER |
| Second: | Alberto Elli |
| Second Nat: | ITA |
| Third: | Biagio Conte |
| Third Nat: | ITA |
| Previous: | 1996 |
| Next: | 1998 |
The 88th running of the Milan–San Remo cycling classic was held on 22 March 1997 and won by German Erik Zabel.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Michele Bartoli had a small lead on the top of the Poggio, before being joined by a small group with Johan Museeuw, Andrea Ferrigato and Marco Pantani. Rolf Sørensen led the pursuers, who rejoined the grupetto on the descent. A group of 40 decided the race in a sprint, for the first time in 17 years. Alberto Elli led the sprint from afar, but was overtaken by German sprint star Erik Zabel. Several riders were involved in a spectacular final-sprint crash, including Laurent Jalabert, Johan Museeuw and Maximilian Sciandri. Zabel was the second German winner of the Primavera after Rudi Altig in 1968 and the first winner in a mass sprint since Pierino Gavazzi in 1980.[5]