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Milan-San Remo may be known as the sprinters’ classic, but at 298 kilometres long and crossing no less than seven recognised climbs, there is never any certainty that a sprinter will win it.
Join me for live blogging of Milan-San Remo. Limited coverage begins at 10pm, with full coverage beginning at midnight.
The world’s elite riders have been fighting for honours in this prestigious race since 1907. Classified as one of cycling’s ‘monuments’, the race has undergone several changes since Lucien Petit-Breton raised his arms in victory as he crossed the finish line of the race’s first edition.
The main changes have been the periodic introduction of new climbs.
The Turchino Pass comes half way through and is the oldest, longest and highest of the iconic climbs that punctuate the modern race. It has little influence on the race due to its summit still being 156 kilometres from the finish.
Next comes Le Manie, which rises 300 metres in five kilometres. Introduced in 2008 as an added obstacle to the sprinters, it comes at the 204 kilometre mark and was where Mark Cavendish lost contact with the leaders last year.
The punchy ramps known as ‘I Tre Capi’ (the three hills – Capo Merle, Capo Cervo and Capo Berta) occur between the 245 and 258 kilometre mark and although not large, they can certainly take the sting out of an unsuspecting rider’s legs.
Next comes the Cipressa. Added in 1982, it rises 235 metres in five kilometres. Good positioning over this second last climb, which is just 23 kilometres from the finish, is vital for the run into the race defining Poggio.
The Poggio, the dreaded last climb which appears just ten kilometres before the finish, wasn’t introduced until 1960. Its twisting, looping road winds its way upward at an average gradient of 3.7 percent over four kilometres.
This is where Vincezo Nibali launched his attack last year, taking eventual victor Simon Gerrans and Fabian Cancellara with him and it is the most likely place for late attacks again this year.
With six former winners and a serious array of the world’s best sprinters and classics riders appearing on the start list, it will be an event worth watching.
Peter Sagan will go in as one of the outright favourites, but he will face stiff opposition from the BMC trio of Philippe Gilbert, Thor Hushovd and Taylor Phinney.
Omega Pharma-Quickstep with Cavendish and Tom Boonen will be dangerous, while Cancellara, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Juan Antonio Flecha and Orica-GreenEDGE’s Australians Simon Gerrans and Matt Goss are not without their chances.
What. The. #MilanoSanremo . In the bus after neutralization. So. Cold. twitter.com/taylorphinney/…
— Taylor Phinney (@taylorphinney) March 17, 2013
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