Between boredom and ecstasy. That is the very special contrast that this creates Milan-San Remo. More than five hours of little to nothing happening, followed by a final few kilometers that are perhaps the most exciting of the entire season. this is that Classicissima, first monument in the calendar celebrating its monument in 2024 115th edition (9:50 a.m., Eurosport 2) with your usual ingredients. There will also be some tension going on after a route change was possible almost until the last minute due to some landslides on the coastal road in between Noli and Finale Ligure.
Finally, runners have to complete a 288 km route that starts in Pavia and ends at the famous Via Roma in San Remo, which also includes its traditional attractions. He Turchino pass (2.4 km with an average of 5.8%) is in the middle of the race and represents the first difficulty. Once overcome, the Mediterranean will accompany the runners until the final fireworks: the ‘capi’ (Mele, Cervo and Berta), that will do a silent work of wear, Cipressa and short flatland to the famous climb to the Poggio (3.7 km at 3.9% and highs of 8%). It was exactly there last year that two runners pulverized it Recording the climb to a wild average of more than 38 km/h, which this time also begin with the name top favorites: Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel.
The contexts of both for this quote are very different. Van der Poel makes his debut this season Pogi comes from sweeping Strade Bianche. His 81km solo ride even earned him praise from the Dutchman on social media: “Man, I’m getting a bit scared.” However, the truth is that Several attacks that Pogacar has launched on Poggio so far have not had the desired effect. Men like Ganna, Van Aert (absent this year) and the last two champions, Mohoric and Van der Poel, withstood their attacks.
“I’m looking forward to Milan-San Remo. The finish line is not far from where I live in Monaco, so I know the last part of the race and the final climbs quite well. As we have already seen, this race is one of the most difficult to win and can end with many results. It is a race that we would like to win,” explained Pogacar in recent days, excited by the idea of removing from the list one of the monuments missing from his record (which is the other one). Paris-Roubaix). “He has impressed once again but I am not afraid. It was a punishment, but it didn’t surprise me. We all know what he is capable of. It cannot be compared to the race on Saturday. He is the favorite, as in all races in which he takes part. But here it is much less easy to surprise with a solo excursion,” analyzed Van der Poel at a press conference, explaining: “If I can win a monument without rhythm, it is Milan-San Remo.” Note for sailors.
Life beyond sprinters
One step below the leadership duo we find a list of the top candidates. If successful, a triumph Laporte, Mohoric, Pedersen, Ganna, Pidcock, Girmay or Matthews, in addition to a powerful list of sprinters led by Philipsen, Kooij, Milan, Van Poppel and Démare. Of course, in recent years the… Volatas conspicuous by their absence as we must return to victory Démare expected a result in the form of a mass sprint in 2016. The Classicissima, much more than the “sprinter race”…