Cycling: Traditionally, Milan – Sanremo will also open the series of monuments in 2022. The first big win of the season will be awarded tomorrow, Saturday, March 19th. We take a look at the track, the favorites and the past few years.
Milan – Sanremo: First boredom, then action
No less than 293 kilometers have to be covered from Milan to Sanremo on Saturday. So while the pros pedal for hours, the spectators at home sit for hours in front of the television. However, many fans do not tune in until the last hour of the race, because the first monument of the year often only really picks up speed then. The Passo del Turchino is the highest mountain of the day in the middle of the race, but it doesn't play a role in the outcome of the race. We shouldn't expect too much from Capo Mele, Capo Cervo and Capo Berta either. It only gets interesting on the last 40 kilometers. When it goes up in Cipressa, there are first attacks. These are usually neutralized in the flat section afterwards. The decision will be made at Poggio di Sanremo. After around 287 kilometers - and thus six kilometers before the end - it will be seen who can win the first monument of the year.
Sprinter or Puncheur?
Although the Poggio di Sanremo is only 164 meters high, it is one of the most feared climbs in cycling. With almost 300 kilometers in your legs, the wheat is separated from the chaff here. The teams of sprinters try to position their captains and set a pace that they can follow without losing too much strength. Opposite them are the puncheurs, who want to prevent a mass sprint with explosive attacks. When the professional cyclists reach the summit of the Poggio, it's a matter of seconds. On the descent, the drivers take great risks in order not to lose any time. In the short flat section before the finish line, it will then be decided whether the sprinter teams will bring the refugees back or not. If the group has hurried, tactical games suddenly begin there and the cooperation is gone. An attack by a self-confident soloist often leads to success.
Last chance for Philippe Gilbert
Many experts consider Milan-Sanremo to be the most difficult monument to win. The race is difficult to control and there are a large group of favourites. To this day, Philippe Gilbert is still waiting for a win. Tomorrow he gets one last chance. The 39-year-old Belgian will retire at the end of the season. In this he won, among other things, Paris - Roubaix, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Liège - Bastogne - Liège and Il Lombardia. So Philippe Gilbert has won 4 out of 5 monuments - only the Classicissima Milan - Sanremo is still missing.
Velomotion forecast for Milan – Sanremo:
☆☆☆ wout van aert (Jumbo – Visma)
☆ Mads pedersen (Trek - Segafredo), Tadej pogacar (UAE)
☆ Jasper Phillipsen (Alpecin-Fenix), tom pidcock (Ineos – Grenadiers), Filippo Gana (Ineos Grenadiers)