Milano - Sanremo 2024, one day monument, March 16

[Blanco]

for most races I would agree, as van der Poel indeed seems to improve with a couple of racing days. In Sanremo he even finished 3rd when coming back straight from injury, though, so he probably doesn't need perfect preparation to come close to his best.

Don't get me wrong, I still think he's the man to beat, but with let's say Tirreno in his legs he would be nearly impossible to beat imo.

 

[Lequack]

Poor Brandon Mcnulty having to ride this man, I've seen that boy all over the place and we're only 6 weeks into the season, those UAE selectors trying to kill him.

They heard you. McNulty is out, replaced by Del Toro!

 

[Lequack]

Del Toro might be an interest dark horse, if I were a betting man. But usually its like this

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts3_3bhOGgk

 

[frisenfruitig]

They heard you. McNulty is out, replaced by Del Toro!

Damn, so many good climbers, so few hills to use them on. Too much firepower

 

[Sciatic]

for most races I would agree, as van der Poel indeed seems to improve with a couple of racing days. In Sanremo he even finished 3rd when coming back straight from injury, though, so he probably doesn't need perfect preparation to come close to his best.

I suppose you could consider the first 250 km
Milan- San Remo “getting some race days in” before the real racing begins

 

[Sciatic]

A lot of riders seem to have leveled up this year. Wouldn’t be surprised if more can hang around with the typical names.

That would be fun to see.

 

[Sciatic]

Del Toro might be an interest dark horse, if I were a betting man. But usually its like this

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts3_3bhOGgk

Just from last week it’s seems he still has challenges with positioning at the start of important climbs, can’t imagine he would be any better at it in a 150-rider peloton starting up the Poggio!

 

[roundabout]

Just from last week it’s seems he still has challenges with positioning at the start of important climbs, can’t imagine he would be any better at it in a 150-rider peloton starting up the Poggio!

Do you perhaps mean Cipressa instead of Poggio, because there won't be 150 people in the main group starting the Poggio?

But yeah, even starting 30th on the Poggio is too far back

 

[Sciatic]

Do you perhaps mean Cipressa instead of Poggio, because there won't be 150 people in the main group starting the Poggio?

But yeah, even starting 30th on the Poggio is too far back

You’re right —not the way teams have pushed the pace on Cipressa in recent years, which I would expect to be the case this year. A decade ago, though, there were editions when it seemed like the entire peloton was still groupo compacto at the foot of the Poggio.

 

[Oldermanish]

Don't get me wrong, I still think he's the man to beat, but with let's say Tirreno in his legs he would be nearly impossible to beat imo.

What I like about MvP is his quickness to seize on the right moment to move. The whole Poggio becomes a chaotic morass of gaps, attacks and feinting efforts to draw out contenders. He slipped past Pogacar and was first on the descent in the blink of an eye.
It may be the best descender that can lay down the last km to the line, again. I love the race because it is so hard to be certain right up to the last km.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Just from last week it’s seems he still has challenges with positioning at the start of important climbs, can’t imagine he would be any better at it in a 150-rider peloton starting up the Poggio!

Maybe they expect the addition of Le Manie.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1768059972204560820

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1768059972204560820

 

[Valv.Piti]

Lets go landslides! First time in ages the route actually will be better off due to force majeur?

But stating the obvious here, Pogi will win regardless. San Millan is raus, the charlatan from the Iberian Peninsula, and now Pogi does something else than ride 5 hours at zone 2.

 

[Netserk]

Lets go landslides! First time in ages the route actually will be better off due to force majeur?

www.cyclingnews.com - the world centre of cycling

Landslide makes Sanremo even more challenging​

A landslide had the potential of making the 99th Milano Sanremo, scheduled for March 22, to be even more challenging. Due to road blockage and construction, the parcours of the race known as La Classicissima will have to make an additional climb.

The small climb, coming around 100 kilometres before the arrival on Lungomare Italo Calvino, is just before the tre capi of Capo Mele, Capo Cervo and Capo Berta, and is rumoured to have a technical descent.

"I have heard of another change just recently," World Champion and 2003 Sanremo winner, Paolo Bettini, confirmed to Cyclingnews. "Before Imperia, there is an extra climb � it is not yet official. It will be like the Cipressa more or less, with a technical descent."

 

[Netserk]

And of course, the cancellation of Pompeiana also made the race better.

 

[Nick2413]

Cipressa will be the launch pad this time around.

 

[DNP-Old]

Is Le Manie actually happening? This would tip the scales.

 

[Red Rick]

And of course, the cancellation of Pompeiana also made the race better.

Pompeiana would be cool like back when Sanremo was a bunch sprint 80% o fthe time. Now Pompeiana would just make a total gimme to Pogacar.

 

[Poursuivant]

Is Le Manie actually happening? This would tip the scales.

I can’t find anything on it online apart from the rumours yesterday, so I don’t think it is.

 

[Red Rick]

Le Manie at domestique tempo doesn't sway very much IMO

 

[Netserk]

Le Manie at domestique tempo doesn't sway very much IMO

Yet it did sway enough to show in results previously.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Le Manie at domestique tempo doesn't sway very much IMO

It's too far from the finish anyway.

 

[DNP-Old]

It's too far from the finish anyway.

Lol. It's about the strain you carry over these 300 kms.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Lol. It's about the strain you carry over these 300 kms.

Depends on the pace then, if UAE is willing to put the hammer down there at the cost of possibly less domestiques later, so be it.

 

[Netserk]

Depends on the pace then, if UAE is willing to put the hammer down there at the cost of possibly less domestiques later, so be it.

They only have to be in position for the climb and drill it for ~10 minutes. If Van der Poel stays in the front group over the top, they can sit up after the descent and recharge for Cipressa. They only have to drive it if he is actually dropped.

 

[Salvarani]

Depends on the pace then, if UAE is willing to put the hammer down there at the cost of possibly less domestiques later, so be it.

They probably wont try to break the race apart but keep a moderate/high pace that is felt, before going into the Capos and hell breaks lose on Cipressa.