Preview Milan San Remo 2023 – International Cycling

by time news

By @Sama_86

The classic Italian cyclist Milan-San Remo, known as the “Clasiccisima” celebrates its 114th edition tomorrow with a traditional route in northern Italy. It will be 294 km between the towns of Abbiategrasso and Sanremo. The test that originally starts from Via della Chiesa Rossa in Milan, changes its start this time and does so in this Lombard town 30 km from the capital.

The new route does not take long to take the original roads and after skirting the Ticino river towards Pavia, it resumes its classic route towards Genoa with the ascent to Passo del Turchino, where cyclists will be able to get in touch with what awaits them. Up to the Ligurian Sea, where in a westerly direction they border the coast for almost 100 km, up to the chain of the Capi (Il Mele, Il Cervo and Berta), the final part chains the Cipressa and the Poggio di Sanremo, two decisive points for the future of this unpredictable race.

This test, within the five monuments of cycling, is for many the easiest race to finish but the most difficult to win. It is that despite its distance of almost 300 km, its profile does not harbor a high unevenness and all kinds of cyclists in the peloton, especially the most veteran, cope with this distance. The difficulty, however, is hidden in the last 30 kilometers, where the chain of Cipressa and Poggio puts the most seasoned runner in difficulty, not because of the unevenness, but because of the pace at which they usually go up and even down.

Historically, this test has had the sprinters of the peloton among its protagonists, but since Mark Cavendish won there in 2009, it has become a real hell in its final stretch; the climb to Cipressa usually selects the purest sprinters and finally it is the Poggio who makes the difference and usually breaks the peloton into a small group that reaches the finish line to dispute the victory.

In recent years we have seen a tendency towards late attacks, where people like Nibali, Styuven or Mohoric have opted for something different and have opted for a dizzying descent or even ahead of the group sprint. The presence in recent years of super stars such as Van Aert, Van der Poel or Pogacar implies toughness in the final kilometers and a spectacular result.

Strategies

The race tends to get tough on the Cipressa climb by the favorite teams and, once the group is worn out, the attacks follow one another on the climb to the Poggio. The short distance and steepness of this climb makes it difficult for an attack there to be effective in demarcating the group and we have seen cyclists like Ewan, Demare or Nizzolo cling to the race in past editions.

Another factor to take into account when going up to the Poggio will be the wind, because if it hits head-on it will make any solo attack difficult and favor the outcome for fast men; Otherwise, a favorable wind could help open a gap for someone who after almost 300 km still has the strength to launch an attack.

FAVORITES

Tadej Pogačar: The Slovenian alien is the top seed tomorrow due to the unrivaled form he is currently in. Last year he tried several times to attack at the Poggio, but the slight slope and the headwind did not allow him to make a difference. This year he will try again with more force and from further away. UAE has brought a scary team that will try to harden the race from Cipressa.

Wout Van Aert: Champion in 2020, the Belgian does not have the pressure of victory and that should work in his favor; In a reduced group sprint he is the favourite, but in Tirreno we didn’t see the best version of him, we don’t know if Wout has picked up the tone to win or is coming to continue preparing the Belgian classics. To his credit, he also has a dream team with riders who will not only make the race tough, but could be second options.

Mathieu Van der Poel: As unpredictable as this race can be tomorrow the Alpecin rider; if he has the form and the day is the best in any classic, we also saw him far from his peak in the Tirreno Adriatico, but VDP has always made good results in his three appearances in this race (3rd, 5th and 13th), will it be is it final?

Julian Alaphillppe: The Frenchman is recovering his best version, and although it seems that he still has a few more races to recover his throne, he is a veteran at Milan Sanremo and knows what it is to win here. If he has the day and is well wrapped, he can take the cat to the water.

Matej Mohorič: Probably the most consistent cyclist in recent weeks, podium finisher at Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne and 6th at Strade, the Slovenian appears here with the stripes of being the reigning champion. Last year he surprised everyone with a heart-stopping descent after crowning the Poggio, where a part of courage and another part of foolishness earned him to open a gap with the group and take the victory.

Mads Pedersen: The Danish Trek rider is showing incredible form and this is an important life moment: Pedersen may be without a ceiling if he doesn’t settle. His ease to climb simple heights and his speed when sprinting make him the ideal candidate in a reduced sprint.

B. Girmay: The Eritrean is a cycling powerhouse and the profile fits him very well as he is capable of climbing and has a powerful sprint. But it happens to him like his two great rivals, the form is a point of doubt, if he is close to reaching his moment, tomorrow he can be a contender for victory.

Magnus Cort: Capable of climbing with the best, of winning high stages and of sprinting with devilish speed, the Dane is in great shape and if he resists until the finish line, he could be the bet no one expected. Very good opportunity for him.

Movistar: The Spanish team presents a great team that, if organized, can have very dangerous clients. Aranburu has run this race three times, remaining (7th, 7th, and 13th), Gaviria comes well from Milano Torino and is a good connoisseur of this race (he could have won it in 2017) and Cortina is a versatile cyclist who, if he lends a hand, can be the best ally of the two telephones.

Other very interesting names that could be in the top ten and fight for the podium are: Soren Kragh Andersen (Alpecin), Neilson Powless (EF), Filippo Ganna and Kwiatkowski (Ineos), Laporte and Valter (Jumbo), Rota (Intermaché) , Asgreen (Soudal QuickStep), Matis Louvel (Arkea), Peter Sagan and Turgis (Total Energies) or Matteo Sobrero (Jayco)

Sprinters:

Caleb Ewan: He is struggling to get a WT victory this year. He has started out in shape, but hasn’t had all the luck by his side. In previous editions of this race he has shown that he is capable of climbing with the best and even winning the group sprints, but victory is difficult. It will be difficult for him if UAE sets too hard a pace.

A. De Lie: The sprinter of the moment. Although his recent appearances have left a lot to be desired, he is aware and looking to redeem himself, capable of withstanding the climb, he is undoubtedly as fast as anyone else, will he be able to take the baton and finish off his teammate’s task? He has been accusing fatigue, so it seems complicated.

Arnaud Demare: Another former champion at the start, the Frenchman has not only won this race, but has been on the podium in 2018 and 6th the previous year. With a long career behind him, he is a veteran at it and if he finds the way he can finish among the best.

Other interesting names for the sprint could be: Jonathan Milan and Fred Wright (Bahrain), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin), Sam Bennet (BORA), Cimolai and Coquard (Cofidis), Mezgec (Jayco), Mayrhofer (DSM), Corbin Strong ( Israel), Luca Mozzato (Archaea) and Moschetti (Q36.5).

My prediction:

I think it would be crazy and although I see him capable of destroying everything in the Cipressa, Tadej Pogacar will attack in the Poggio. He will do it at the beginning, as soon as the wind is favorable to leave the rivals behind and see them again after the finish line.

Manuel S.

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