The first monument of the season. Previ Milan-San Remo-2025

March is the month when the season of large highway cycling is already in full swing. This also applies to spring classic one -day, or just a classic. They are called because, unlike many days, they pass each year the same, classic routes that any fan of cycling with experience knows how their five fingers, even if physically never has been there.

Monuments are a series of the five most prestigious classics, a kind of analogue of tennis tournaments of “Great Helme” in the world of one -day zolos. Each of the monuments – the race is absolutely cult, with a rich, over a hundred years of history, and with an extremely difficult route and distance, usually more than 250 km.

The third Saturday of March is the time when the first of the five monuments – the legendary Milan – San Remo. This year the race will take place on March 22. Of the five -day bicycle “Major”, it is not the most difficult in relief and coating, but the longest in distance. It is usually almost or even more than 290 km, which makes Milan – San Remo, the longest one -day bike in modern cycling. This year the race distance cputs it 289 km.

The main one-day race of Italy since the 1930s is called “classicisima”-the greatest, most classic of all classics. Another nickname Milan – San Remo – “Primaver”, translated from Italian – “Spring”, which simply indicates the time of the year in which the race takes place.

History and facts -For the first time Milan Remo was held in 1907, this year the race will be held at the 116th time. The first winner was Frenchman Lucien Peti-Bretton. The first victory of the owners, the Italians, had to wait until 1909, when Luigi Anna triumphed with more than an hour. In the same year, he wins the first D’italiya Jiro history.

– The record holder by the number of victories on Milan – San Remo is the legendary Belgian Eddie Merks. “Kannibal” won “classicisim” 7 times – in 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1976. In the interwar years, 6 victories were won by Kostante Dzhirardengo, who as a total of the “Primaveri” Podium of the record 11 times.

In the modern era, the most successful in Milan – San Remo was the legendary German sprinter Eric Tsabel, who won in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001. In 2004, he was close to winning the fifth time, but too early raised his hands up in a victorious gesture, and he was ahead of Spaniard Oscar Freire, for whom the victory became the first of three.

– Most often won Milan – San Remo owners, Italians – 51 times. The last victory of Italy is dated 2018, when the race won by Vienna Nibali. 23 victories on the Belgian account, 14 – in the French.

Route The race usually starts in Milan or its surroundings, this year – in Pavia. After that, athletes begin to move southwest, towards Genoa and the coast of the Ligurian Sea. After more than 130 km on the path of riders, a not too complicated Passo Del Turkino, which was absent in the route of Milan – San Remo only three times in history: in 2001, 2002 and 2020.

After the Turkino, the riders descend directly to the coast of the Ligurian Sea and go to the highway of Via Aurelius. It is laid on the site of the ancient Roman road, which in the times of ancient Rome connected the “eternal city” with the territory of modern France. It is on Via Aurelius, along the Ligurian coast, that the riders will move the whole second half of the distance to San Remo, almost without deviating from the main road into the depth of the continent.

The road to San Remo is almost perfectly flat – Kapo Mel, Kapo Cher and Kapo Bert are too simple to have a serious impact on the race. The last 30 km of distance are decisive on Milan – San Remo, when there are two passes on the path of riders: Chipressa (5.6 km with an average gradient of 4.1%) and Podzho (3.7 km, 3.7%), the top of which is located 5.6 km before the finish line. After that, the riders are waiting for a crazy and very dangerous descent back to the seashore and the plains of the last kilometers in San Remo.

The route of each of the monuments has its own peculiarity, a highlight, which forms the nature of the race and outlines the range of applicants for victory. The pavement on the round of Flanders and Paris – Ruby makes them territory for masters of northern classics, palishes of short hills on Liege – Baston – Liezh – is a territory for panchers, and a very difficult in terms of relief Lombardy – a race, which gives the chances even pure mines.

The main “chip” of the Milan – San Remo route is an absolute balance. Practically, the plain route makes this monument most favorable for clean sprinters. Chipressa and Podzho – rises are very simple, but when you have more than 260 km of distance in your feet, even they can be a heavy barrier on the way to the finish line.

It is these two hills that create on Milan – San Remo is the same perfect balance: there is a chance to see both mass sprint and the victory of the group or even the lonely fugitive who attacked Dzhio. Each year, the solution of “Primaveri” resembles scales with absolutely equal weights on both scarves, and any trifle can incline these scales on one side or the other-either to the mass sprint or the victory of fugitives.

This leads to the fact that the “classicisim” can win the as many as possible specializations: from pure sprinters such as Mark Kevenendish to Miners-Multi-Multi-Multi-Multi-Multi-Nibali Nibali. No other large family gives real chance of winning such a wide and diverse circle of applicants. This is what Milan makes – San Remo so unique race and allows every year to collect the following star composition of participants: the top cyclists of completely different racing characteristics believe that they have a chance to win.

Along with Paris – Ruby, Milan – San Remo – the most stable monument in plan. However, minor changes in the route in the modern era had to be made. Until 2007, the race finished VIA Roma, but due to repair work on this street, the finish had to be moved to Lungalo Street Italo Calvino directly on the coast of the Ligurian Sea.

Despite the fact that in 2008, the first edition of Milan Remo with Finis on Lungohare won Fabian Kanchellara with a solo attack on the plain last kilometers of distance, in general, such a solution was more favorable to sprinters. The finish line on the Lunghora was located 600 meters further from the top of Podzho than Via Roma, and these a few extra hundred meters of distance gave more chances to neutralize all the late attacks on Podzho and bring the case to a mass sprint. He did not help the fugitives and the fact that Lunghovare is located directly outside the coast, where there are usually strong winds, which also extinguished late attacks of riders.

However, in 2015, Milan – San Remo finish returned to Via Roma, and within a few years the balance was very noticeably swayed towards the initiative groups that attacked the podgos. In 2018, the solo attack was won by Nibali, which changed the trend: after that, “classicisima” only once ended with a more or less mass sprint-in the past, 2024, when Jasper Filipsen won. However, the formation of such a trend is influenced not only by changes in the route, but also by the fact that we live in the era of Twitans such as Tadey Pogacar or Mathetier Van der Pulle, which in recent years have made much more selective than usual, absolutely all top -day.

In general, despite the extraordinary long distance, thanks to the simple relief Milan – San Remo is considered a monument on which it is easiest to get the finish line, but the hardest to win – well, a very wide range of applicants. A simple, plain lion’s share of the route makes “classicim” quite boring for most of the race, but the last 35 – 40 km, starting with the entrance to Chipress – this is probably the most advanced and most interesting hour throughout the season of highway cycling. A concentrated struggle in which every detail can be crucial.

Ukrainians Representatives of Ukraine Milan Remo have never won, although in 1996 Alexander Gonchenkov was as close as possible to the triumph, finishing the second. As part of the initiative group, together with Gabriele Colombo, Michele Koplillo and Maximlyan Schyandri, he attacked at Chipress, after which this quartet stood under the pressure of Peloton on Podzho and the plain last kilometers of distance. Gonchenko was a favorite in the event of a sprint from this quartet, but Colombo was able to escape from the outbuildings in the last kilometer of the distance.

In the same year, the top 10 on Milan-San Remo closed the “citizen of the world” Andrei Chmil, who at that time acted under the Ukrainian flag. In 1997, the seventh was finished by Sergey Ushakov.

This year, Milan – San Remo will only be one representative of Ukraine – Kirill Tsarenkowhose team Solution Tech Vini Fantini received Wild Card. The 24-year-old Ukrainian will pass the “classicisim” for the second time in history. Last year, the debut turned out to be very solid: Cyril took away the day off, was one of the most stable, ultimately having a 243 km in front of Peloton.

Attempts to look away from the Tsarenko and this year – the only question is how successful they will be. Milan – San Remo Tsarenko approaches 7 racing days in the season. In particular, on Wednesday, March 19, Cyril drove another well -known Italian one -day, Milan – Turin, where he took 31st place.

The main favorites Before the start of Milan – San Remo, you can distinguish the top five favorites, whose chances seem much higher than the rest of the applicants. Two of them are Mathieu van der pool and Jasper Filipsenwho won the classicisim in the previous two years and who stand for one team, Alpecin Deceuninck.

The presence of two such strong and at the same time diverse captains is a huge luxury that creates an impressive variety of tactical options for the team. And Milan – San Remo is a race where the factor of tactics plays a very important role. And this variety of tactical variants of ALPECIN DECEUNINCK in the previous two years realized brilliantly.

In 2023, Van der Pool defeated the solo attack on the podgio. Last year, the Dutchman failed to repeat this trick, but Filipsen managed to sit in the remnants of Peloton. The team was very quickly rebuilt, Matthew worked on a Belgian team partner, and Jasper took a victory with a sprint from Peloton.

One of these two Alpecin Deceuninck scenarios will try to implement this time. Van der Pulol began its season only in March: first won Samen Classic, and then drove Tirreno – Adriatic. The star Dutchman showed nothing extraordinary, but he can give the maximum on the decisive days.

As for Philipsen, it looks a little weaker this spring than usual in the sprint, but Jasper himself claims that it is a purposeful victim to prepare for the classic season. It is difficult to say that it will come out of this experiment, but before Milan, San Remo Philipsen, on March 19, decided to drive a one -day Nocker Kurs, where he fell unpleasant on the last kilometer of distance. He did not receive serious injuries, but for “classicisima”, may not be ready.

Milan – San Remo – one of two monuments that Tadey Pogachar Has not yet won. However, every year, Slovenets is getting closer and closer to his goal: 5th place in 2022, the fourth in 2023 and the third in the past. To victory the Pogachar, a more selective race is needed, and UAE Emirates will do everything possible to have been under their script this year – the whole warehouse, including Tim Wellles, Niels Flight and Jonathan Narvae, sharpened exclusively under it. Therefore, we are waiting for UAE Emirates of intensive work on the collapse of Peloton on Chipress, although the Pogachar himself is unlikely to dare to attack on the penultimate hill.

Captain Ineos Grenadadiers will be Vice -Camel Milan – San Remo 2023 Filippo Anna. The home monument is suitable in brilliant form, taking second place in the overall standings of Tirreno – Adriatic. On the “race of the two seas” Anna showed unusually good as a mountain form, and the individual move from him did not go anywhere. At the same time, in recent years, Filippo added significantly in the sprint, so Kanchellara solo attack on the plain after Podzho may not be the only scenario of his victory.

Lidl Trek has brought a very strong composition, where at least four riders can compete for the highest places. The team’s main rate will be MADS Pedersenwho demonstrated simply incredible as a mountain form in Paris – Nice. And it was the performance of the world’s exchmpion on the “race to the Sun” that allowed him to move from the category of applicants of the second echelon to the topphalus.

In this form, Danets has a much chance of sitting among the leaders in the podgio, and perhaps even try to attack yourself. It should not be forgotten that the forecasters predict the rainy and cool Milan – San Remo, and Pedersen, as well as a Pogachar, feels great in such conditions.

The power of Lidl Trek composition is best says the fact that Milan’s Champion – San Remo 2021, Jasper Stuyven – At best, it is the third number in the team hierarchy. Present in the starter Jonathan Milan – The main favorite in case the race is not very selective and the case will come to a mass sprint. Julio ChicconeOn the contrary, it will try to make the race as heavy as possible and probably go on the attack on chipress.

AND NSHA applicants Among the applicants of the second echelon should be distinguished, above all, Tom Springto whom the transition from Ineos Grenadiers in Q36.5 allowed to restart your career. The British looked great on Strada Bianke and Tirreno – Adriatic, and can interfere with the battle of Titans on Milan – San Remo. Spring is one of Downhill’s best masters in Peloton, so it is likely that he will try to attack Drugo. However, Tom stands for a rather modest team, and the lack of sufficient support from partners can create problems for him in a positional struggle when approaching the podge.

Approximately the same possible victory scenario Matthew Mohoreichwhich also belongs to the best masters of speed in the world. In fact, he already realized it in 2022, when he won Milan – San Remo.

The 2020 champion Vouth Van Art this year “classicisim” misses, so the main rate VISMA Lease a Bike will be sprinter Olav Cooewhich can only win if a non -selective race. And there are no other options in the Dutch team. Cristof Laporta could be an alternative, but he has health problems that can knock it out of the game throughout the spring classic campaign.

On a large peloton sprint will also hope Sam Bennett from Decathlon AG2r and Pascal Akkermann from Israel Premier Techalthough both with the ability to endure the relief have big problems. What can you say about the owner of the green T -shirt last year’s tour de France, Bigniam Gimai. Although his story of Milan-San Remo is not too successful-no get into the TOP-10.

Well able to tolerate relief and last year Vicechiompion Michael Matthewwhich has already got to the podium “classicima” three times. Although it seems that the best chance to conquer this race has lost the Australian veteran last year – now its form is not as impressive as last year. Will come to start and winner Milan – San Remo 2015, John Degenkolb. Although in the later stages of his career, the German veteran was substantially surrendered in the sprint.

On a late attack on the plain will hope Stefan Kungwho recently tried to turn such a trick on Omloop Hat Nusblelad. Although the Swiss separator will not be easy to hang among the leaders in the podgio. An alternative to him in the composition Groupama FDJ can become Remi Kavanyawhich, however, is not going through the best time in his career.

The same can be said about his legendary compatriot Julian Alafippwho won Milan – San Remo in 2019. He is transition to Tudor Cycling, It seems not possible to restart your career, as it was, for example, a squeal. The mystery is the condition Maxim Van Gilswho missed Strad Bianke due to illness. The main rate Movistar will Ivan Garcia Cortinwhich has both a sprint good and solid individual course. Although it will not be easy to realize one of these virtues in such a serious company – we need to hope for a factor of unexpectedness and underestimation by rivals.