Milan San-Remo

So the first of the 2019 monuments is this Saturday, 23rd. It will be closely contested as usual with plenty of guys building up to it over recent weeks. Local interest will be on Sam Bennett and it will be intriguing to see how Bora work things out between himself and Sagan. Logic says that what Sagan wants, Sagan gets, so perhaps Sams role will be as a lead-out if he is there in the finale, but it could get, eh, interesting, if Sam is in a position to win it. I think his team player role will come to the fore, and despite being contract a year, he'll do what is asked of him, we'll see on Saturday.

Alaphillipe and Viviani is another interesting intra-team tussle; was it really planned for Alaphillipe to win that sprint in TA on Monday? Not so sure...He tasted the MSR podium in 2017 so he certainly has it in him.

Looks like Cavendish wont start, but Groenewegen will and so too will both Landa and Valverde, so there will be lots to watch out for......IF (big IF) they can last the pace on the years longest race - it will be a 7hrs+ day in the saddle. Coverage on Eurosport begins around 12:30.

Nibali's win last year was very sweet and shows that the sprinters occasionally let this race go away from them. The course is very traditional again this year, with the final 50km seeing the three Capo's followed by the Cipressa and Poggio and then the sprint onto Via Roma in San Remo.

Lots of stuff to browse on sites such as the Official Race Site, Cyclingfans and cyclingnews

As a teaser to the race, those interested (despite it mostly being in Belgian) might want to catch a VRT.NU broadcast "The dressing room" featuring some old dudes talking about the 80's, including some guy from Kerry and another one from Canada.....https://www.vrt.be/vrtnu/a-z/de-kleedkamer/4/de-kleedkamer-s4a1-milaan-sanremo-1985/

The Kelly part of it is available separately at https://www.vrt.be/vrtnu/a-z/de-kleedkamer-portretten/4/de-kleedkamer-portretten-extra-interview-met-sean-kelly/

and there's lots of other cycling content, including the Matt Rendall Pantani documentary from the same broadcaster at https://www.vrt.be/vrtnu/categorieen/sport/

all above are free to view



I fookin love this race !