2020 Milan-Sanremo - 305k - August 8th

[jaylew]

A monument deserves a proper race thread.

New route.
6 man teams.
1st monument of the Covid-19 era.

Startlist
Website
Twitter

Previous Winners 2019 ALAPHILIPPE Julian 2018 NIBALI Vincenzo 2017 KWIATKOWSKI Michał 2016 DÉMARE Arnaud 2015 DEGENKOLB John 2014 KRISTOFF Alexander 2013 CIOLEK Gerald 2012 GERRANS Simon 2011 GOSS Matthew 2010 FREIRE Óscar

2019 Top 10 ALAPHILIPPE Julian NAESEN Oliver KWIATKOWSKI Michał SAGAN Peter MOHORIČ Matej VAN AERT Wout VALVERDE Alejandro NIBALI Vincenzo CLARKE Simon TRENTIN Matteo

As usual, I have no idea what to expect in this one. Been awhile since a big bunch sprint but for some reason I don't expect that this year either

 

[RedheadDane]

A you saying the other thread is not proper?

 

[Thomson]

Can’t wait for this. Will be the first race I am going to watch on Eurosport live. Hopefully they go back to original route next year as I love the coast road. I hope Sagan can finally win this but as always you just never know with this race. I think Fernando Gaveria and Caleb Ewan could be close.

Milan san remo is the only monument nobody has won three years in a row. Somet

 

[tobydawq]

I think a Poggio attack will be successful. Considering how the sprinters were blown out of the waters last year, it's difficult to imagine going back to a sprinters' edition.

 

[Asero831]

6 riders per team? No chance for a mass sprint

 

[Thomson]

Does anybody know what chainring and cassette sizes most off the riders use for this?

I know watching old vids some used a 42/52

 

[Red Rick]

Commercial to hit during Poggio

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

300k with temperatures just over 30 degrees. But maybe they are used to it.

 

[Alexandre B.]

This is Van Aert's to lose.

 

[Blanco]

Sagan finally is gonna take this

 

[Thomson]

As much I would love Sagan to take this..
I just think this race win will slip through his fingers..

 

[Ted Striker]

Moscon for the win

 

[SafeBet]

As I said in the other thread, the new route will have a limited impact on the race dynamics. Nothing ever happens before Cipressa and nothing will this year either.
But it's a 300 km race, with the temperatures well above 30 degrees once again and only 6 riders per team, hence I expect it to be harder to control in the last 30 km.
Attackers have the edge. I'd even say an attack from Cipressa could stick if a group where 4-5 good teams are represented gets away there.

Bettiol and WVA looked in monster form during Strade Bianche, I think they'll try and whoever wants to win must be glued to their wheels.
MvdP and Alaphilippe would be the obvious favorites but I'm not sure they have the shape. Kwiatkowski was better in Trittico Lombardo, not sure he likes the heat though.
If it's a sprint hard to look past Ewan.
A Sagan or Gilbert win would make for a nice story, but I'm skeptical.
I'm very curious to see Formolo in this race. Route certainly doesn't favor him but he's developing a lot as a one day racer, culd be the next one winning a la Nibali.

 

[Breezy1985]

6 riders per team? No chance for a mass sprint

The way Sam Bennett is climbing he won't need one

 

[Gigs_98]

There are actually lots of riders I'd be cool with if they won. Sagan and Gilbert in particular though. They really need this race on their palmares.
That said, if neither is succesful I wouldn't be too angry about a Nibali win either

 

[Red Rick]

Please no VdP I can do without one week of everyone telling me he'll also win Il Lombardia.

 

[Sestriere]

Agree that Van Aert has to be the favourite after last weekend. He packs some monster form and seems to endure the heat very well. When you are the top favourite and everyone is glued to your wheel it's very difficult to drop everyone on the Poggio and solo home though. And I'm slightly sceptical of his Sprint as of now. There have been mixed performances with winning bunch sprints in the Tour and Dauphiné vs never really coming close to winning a classic in a sprint out of a small group. Anyway, I believe in any scenario, to win the race you have to beat van Aert.

 

[Blanco]

I'd say that there's no outstanding favorite, not Van Aert, not anybody else. He showed he has the strength, but this is a special kind of race which may end in so many different scenarios.

 

[Anderis]

I'm very curious to see Formolo in this race. Route certainly doesn't favor him but he's developing a lot as a one day racer, culd be the next one winning a la Nibali.

For me it's very hard to imagine Formolo winning. Nibali is a better descender and rouleur than him so he could get away under right circumstances. It would be very unusual to see Formolo doing the same- he would need even more leeway to bring it home IMO. I don't think he has the power to finish it off on the flat. He is not winning a small group sprint either, not in this race where he's racing against world's top classics guys.

Bettiol has got it tactically wrong in almost every classic he was/could be a factor in, apart from Flanders last year. I hope he can learn to be more calculating because a lot of the time he does too much pulling in the group while others save energy or he attacks at the wrong time. I would like his results to be matching his physical capabilities more often.

 

[Velolover2]

MVDP vs. Van Aert.

And Ewan if it comes down to a sprint.

 

[Velolover2]

I still think MVDP is slightly faster than WVA.

He should be more explosive on Poggio at least.

 

[sir fly]

Higher temperature, smaller teams, altered route...
The descent from Nava and following ascent through tunnels might attract someone to join earlier breakaway or try his own luck. But with only six starters I'm not sure how many teams will fancy their chances to risk that much 30 k's from the Poggio after a day in the heat.
However, smaller bunch than usually could tackle Cipressa this time around.

 

[Jspear]

I guess Gilbert will try. He has too. But there will be some other vigilant riders and I’m sure Gilbert won’t be the strongest in the group who comes along with him. WVA for the win.

 

[Red Rick]

I still think MVDP is slightly faster than WVA.

He should be more explosive on Poggio at least.

Scenes when he gets dropped on Poggio after his dad insists he can win Lombardia

 

[Valv.Piti]

Scenes when he gets dropped on Poggio after his dad insists he can win Lombardia

Lmao