2015 Milano - Sanremo, March 22nd, 293 km

[Eshnar]

The finish returns in Via Roma, shortening the distance with the Poggio. Will it be enough?

 

[Flamin]

Can't wait. I see there's also a decent chance for rain. Wet Poggio descent and Via Roma back could be epic.

 

[King Boonen]

MILAN - SANREMO!!! The proper start to the season!

 

[May0maniac]

Rain and tailwind, that could be nice.
Cancellara and Sagan will neutralise eachother, if it's a larger sprint Kristoff, otherwise, Stybar, Kwiatkowski or one of the 2 BMC guys (Gilbert or Van Avermaet).

 

[lemon cheese cake]

The Blue route presumably the way all the Team Buses and logistical people will get to the finish.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I hope for some 2013 conditions.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Kwiatkowski ftw

 

[ETbikes]

All the hype about Wonder Boy Sagan in Milan-San Remo makes nice press; he's done very well in tour events due to his ability to make breaks and score points, thus taking the points jersey. I'll be shocked if he wins tomorrows event. Either Spartacus, Kristoff, Gilbert or a sprinter (Cav, Greipel) will take it.

 

[jens_attacks]

i just hope good guy greg will do the leadout for phil on the poggio. everyone will be left behind
vai phiiiiill!
valverde to podium!

 

[Akuryo]

Re:

Kwiatkowski ftw

Either he or Styby. One of them will animate the race with a late attack for sure - if Cav will be distanced by that time.

 

[TourOfTexas]

"“After San Remo it is a strange sprint, it’s not always the fastest guys winning. I always have a good sprint after a hard race,” explained Van Avermaet"

HAHAH heehee, really? How did that work out at 2014 Worlds where Gilbert pulled him the whole way to the line so he could get beat by Breschel, Gerrans, and Valverde (a climber?) in the sprint? He should be working for Gilbert this whole season as penance after that fiasco.

 

[yetiyeti]

Anybody know of a way to watch this on an iPad in Canada?

 

[Flamin]

Re:

"“After San Remo it is a strange sprint, it’s not always the fastest guys winning. I always have a good sprint after a hard race,” explained Van Avermaet"

HAHAH heehee, really? How did that work out at 2014 Worlds where Gilbert pulled him the whole way to the line so he could get beat by Breschel, Gerrans, and Valverde (a climber?) in the sprint? He should be working for Gilbert this whole season as penance after that fiasco.

Greg only rides for the win

 

[Jspear]

If it comes down to a sprint it'll be 1. Kristoff - 2. Cav
If it comes down to breakaway rider it'll be Cancellara (fan pick )
If it comes down to a select group of strong men it'll be Sagan

 

[Mr.White]

I'll go with Sagan, and Lobato as a joker. Oh and it would be great if Gilbert, Bala, Kwiatkowski, Cance put in a show on the Poggio and the descent

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Rain and tailwind, that could be nice.
Cancellara and Sagan will neutralise eachother, if it's a larger sprint Kristoff, otherwise, Stybar, Kwiatkowski or one of the 2 BMC guys (Gilbert or Van Avermaet).

The tailwind could be massively important. The weather site says possibly a 25km/h tailwind at the finish - http://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo/Sanremo.

That gives a great chance to anyone that can get away on the Poggio - they would absolutely fly on the final 1.5km in those conditions.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Re:

I hope for some 2013 conditions.

yes and no. There were lots of crybabies around, but action at the business end was very good indeed.

Wouldn't mind seeing these two break free again tomorrow.

 

[manafana]

A little wind a litte rain its got just the right amount of spice, love the unique test of this race even when it ends as a sprint its something else to sprint after 295km in the legs

 

[Michele]

Re:

i just hope good guy greg will do the leadout for phil on the poggio. everyone will be left behind
vai phiiiiill!
valverde to podium!

You mean that Greg looks behind to realize Phil is not anymore there and Greg yells "......Forza Phill!".

 

[burning]

Re: Re:

The tailwind could be massively important. The weather site says possibly a 25km/h tailwind at the finish -

That gives a great chance to anyone that can get away on the Poggio - they would absolutely fly on the final 1.5km in those conditions.

Looking forward to a massive thermonuclear attack on Cipressa. I wish we have guys like Colombo in todays peloton.

Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8LYsSku_EA&t=971 for pure awesomeness. I think that attacking on Poggio will not break sprinters but we shall see.

 

[SeriousSam]

This is going to be the start of a streak of epic wins for Valverde. Finally gonna win those monuments that have eluded him.

 

[The Barb]

I think it's about 50-50 whether it will won from a bunch sprint or a late break (history says a largish bunch but 3 of the last 4 have come from a small group, so I dunno).

However, if it is a bunch then to my mind Kristoff deserves to be about an even money favourite. I've been backing him in bits and pieces for the last couple of months (initially when he was at 10-1, then 8-1, and now 5-1) on the basis of his phenomenal record in bunch sprints at the end of long stages. If he wins it will be clearly the biggest win of my life.

Arbitrarily using races over 240km as the benchmark (filtering out Paris Roubaix and Flanders as they are such different animals, even though he has ridden well in them too) Kristoff basically doesn't get out-sprinted:

2014
1st Milan San Remo
1st Vattenfall
8th World Champs (but 1st in the bunch sprint)

In 2013 Milan San Remo he also won the bunch sprint, albeit on for 8th place.

Sure it's a small sample size but his form this year is even stronger so if it's a bunch sprint he is the clearly the top chance. Rain wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Kwibus]

Yes kristoff is the obvious favourite in a sprint, but this M-SR and it always is a surprise

 

[manafana]

Right off for my cycle today rain at the start so this is going be a long day for the softer riders

 

[Kwibus]

Looks like light rain the entire day. Dry and some minor showers, not constant rain unfortunately.

Still better then dry!