The cycling season really gets underway with the 113th edition of the spring classic Milan-Sanremo. Today, 293 kilometres have to be covered to the finish line on the Via Roma.
The big favourite is Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar, who has been in impressive form recently. From a German perspective, hopes of success are slim. Former winner John Degenkolb has to miss out due to flu and classics specialist Maximilian Schachmann is also unlikely to be in top form after his withdrawal from Paris-Nice last week.
Favourites
Tadej Pogacar, who else? The Slovenian Tour de France champion is already back in outstanding form. At the Tirreno-Adriatico tour, the 23-year-old exceptional rider didn't give his rivals the slightest chance, as he had previously done at the Strade Bianche gravel race. Pogacar had also previously won the UAE Tour. His fiercest rival on Saturday is likely to be the all-rounder Wout van Aert, especially as the Belgian forms a strong one-two with his Slovenian team-mate and Vuelta champion Primoz Roglic. Whether three-time world champion Peter Sagan's form will be good enough for a top position is questionable. Mathieu van der Poel will be one to watch. After recovering from a back injury, the Dutchman has registered for the race at short notice.
Failures
John Degenkolb was the last German to triumph in Sanremo in 2015. With his return to his old racing team, the Thuringian was hoping to be back at the front. But a bout of flu put the brakes on Degenkolb. In view of the wave of colds in cycling, the 33-year-old is not the only prominent absentee. French world champion Julian Alaphilippe, winner in 2019, and Italian European champion Sonny Colbrelli also had to miss out.
German
The small German group does not have a real contender for victory. Maximilian Schachmann would be the most likely contender for a top place. However, after a positive corona test and his withdrawal from Paris-Nice due to indisposition, the German champion has not really got into his stride this year. Rick Zabel, whose father Erik triumphed four times in Sanremo, will also be at the start. However, Zabel junior is unlikely to be in contention for a top place.
Route
After the start in Milan, the peloton is allowed to roll up to the Passo del Turchino at kilometre 142.9. The final 60 kilometres are then the real action. In particular, Pogacar could use the Cipressa as the penultimate climb a good 22 kilometres before the finish to attack. Otherwise, there could be a selection on the Poggio a good six kilometres before the finish.
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