Cycling: Milan - Sanremo, La Classicissima, La Primavera. The first monument of the 2019 season has many names - and many contenders. What kind of race awaits us on Saturday? In our Milan - Sanremo preview we look at the first real classic of the year.
Milan – Sanremo 2019
It's time on Saturday. With Milan – Sanremo, the professionals complete the first Monument of the 2019 season. Although there have already been a number of WorldTour tours and semi-classics on the program in recent weeks, for many fans the season begins with "La Classicissima" only really. No wonder, because "La Primavera" is one of those races that immortalizes the winners forever. Eddy Merckx is the record winner of Milan – Sanremo with seven wins.
History: German & Swiss successes
But German-speaking professionals were also often able to cheer here. Rudi Altig started in 1968 before marriage Eric Zabel became a true serial winner. The sprinter won four times between 1997 and 2001. The success of 2013 was much more surprising Gerald Ciolek. We were able to thank the last German victory in 2015 John Degenkolb to cheer Austrians couldn't win Milan - Sanremo yet, but two Swiss did. Erich Machler won in 1987, Fabian Cancellara 2008
Route & Profile
291 km must the pros on Saturday at the 110th edition travel from Milan to Sanremo. This makes La Classicissima the longest classic of the year again this season. Even if all the pros only start well trained, the enormous distance is definitely a factor. The race will be decided in the last 30 kilometers. At the beginning, as every year, a medium-sized breakaway will probably determine the course of the race, but the teams of contenders have everything under control.
The two crucial points: Cipressa & Poggio di Sanremo
At least shortly before Cipressa the fight for the best positions begins at the front of the field. The 5,65-kilometer climb is crossed 21,5 kilometers from the finish. With an average incline of only 4,1 percent, it's only a small hill, but in some phases incline of 9,0 percent and, above all, narrow roads make for a preliminary decision. Only about 15 kilometers later, the Poggio di Sanremo in the way. It is only 3,7 kilometers long and 3,7 percent steep - but it will be the executioner again this year.
- 21,5km to go: Cipressa (5,65 km at 4,1%, max. 9%)
- 5,4km to go: Poggio di Sanremo (3,7 km at 3,7%, max. 8%)
The favourites: No other monument has so many contenders
If we look at the profiles of all monuments, Milan – Sanremo is the easiest. But it is precisely this fact that ensures that an enormous number of potential winners are at the start. At 9:45 rise 175 professionals on their bikes in Milan - and in the end only one can win in Sanremo. In order to achieve this, the teams pursue a wide variety of strategies. Those who do not have a top driver in their own ranks will join breakaway groups and early attacks seek their salvation by fleeing. The chances of a successful venture of this kind are perhaps one percent. The teams with strong sprinters will try to get their captain across the Poggio in one piece and not fall behind in Cipressa. Who has no chance in the sprint, but with a lot Punch is one of the top drivers, who will try to distance those sprinters up to the Poggio. This results in at least three different interest groups.
The attackers: Last year's winner Nibali & all-rounder Alaphilippe
Since a successful long run at Milan - Sanremo is extremely unlikely, we have to stick to the sprinters and puncheurs when looking for favorites. They work against each other. The strengths of some are the weaknesses of others. We can firmly assume that there will be some attacks - at the latest when we go up the Poggio. The following all-rounders are to be expected in particular:
- Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida)
- Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale)
- Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick Step)
- Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
- Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky)
- Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb)
The Sprinters: Is there a Sprint Royal at Milan – Sanremo?
Due to the many ambitious sprinters in the starting field, the attackers have to catch exactly the right moment. If there are still a few sprinters with helpers five kilometers before the finish line, a puncher probably has little chance. Therefore, it is important to drive the sprinters and their helpers tired before the Poggio - after all, there are enough kilometers. If a larger group sprints, it is questionable which fast men still have the most reserves. The following professionals are to be expected in a sprint:
- Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida)
- Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana)
- Peter Sagan (Bora – hansgrohe)
- Sam Bennett (Bora – hansgrohe)
- Greg Van Avermaet (CCC)
- Christophe LaporteCofidis
- Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis)
- Elia Viviani (Deceuninck – Quick Step)
- Sacha Modolo (EF Education First)
- Arnaud Démare (Groupama – FDJ)
- Davide Cimolai (Israel Cycling Academy)
- Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal)
- Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott)
- Giacomo Nizzolo (Dimension Data)
- Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo – Visma)
- Michael Matthews (Sunweb)
- John Degenkolb (Trek – Segafredo)
- Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates)
- Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates)
Velomotion Forecast:
Caleb Ewan wins his first monument
Last year Vincenzo Nibali managed to win Milan – Sanremo as a soloist in the most beautiful way. While the professionals behind him sprinted for second place, he was able to celebrate his victory. At that time in second place Caleb ewan – and that at his second participation. The little Australian was there for the first time in 2017. He's already finished in the top 10 there, too. So there's no question that Caleb Ewan has the ability to win Milan-Sanremo. Now add the fact that he is in excellent shape. He won a stage on the UAE Tour in impressive fashion when the winner was decided in an uphill sprint. He recently sprinted to second place twice in Paris – Nice. Although Caleb Ewan has won stages at the Vuelta and Giro in his career, a victory at Milan - Sanremo would be his biggest success to date.
Milan – Sanremo on TV: Eurosport broadcasts live
Fans can follow live on Eurosport whether Caleb Ewan can actually win his first monument or whether Peter Sagan finally wins Milan – Sanremo on the ninth attempt. The station broadcasts the race Eurosport 2 from 14:30 p.m and in the Eurosport player from 14:25 p.m live. A synopsis will be broadcast on Eurosport 18 from 45:19 to 55:1.