- [Narrator] Spring is well and truly here and that
can only mean one thing, Milan-SanRemo.
Here are seven things you need to know about
this wonderful race.
While many of the spring classics are based in
Belgium or Northern France, Milan-SanRemo
still holds its place at the first Monument of the season.
These Monuments represent the pinnacle
of one-way bike racing.
Winning in one of these is a big deal for the riders.
Despite it being the longest one-day race
in the modern cycling calendar, Milan-SanRemo
is loosely dubbed The Sprinter's Classic.
Unlike the hills of Liège-Bastogne-Liège
or the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix,
the terrain is comparatively flat.
Great sprinters such as Erik Zabel, Mario Cipollini
and Mark Cavendish have won here in the past.
However, the long distance of the race
combined with the strategic placement of
two small climbs near the finish has often
levelled the playing field and provided a chance
for hilly classic specialists to wear down
the lead group before the finish on the Via Roma.
The most critical moment to this race will
almost certainly come inside the final hour
as we see who is still in contention after
the Cipressa and the Poggio.
Milan-SanRemo was first run back in 1907
and this year marks the 108th edition of the race.
It was originally a two-stage race for amateur riders
but the organisers at the Gazzetta dello Sport
decided to merge it into one single-day
professional race, and the Milan-SanRemo we've come
to know and love was born.
Like many road cycling records, it won't surprise you
to learn that the great Eddy Merckx has won this race
more times than any other rider.
His tally of seven will take some beating.
The early years of La Classicissima were dominated
by the Italian Costante Girardengo who won
six Milan-SanRemo titles between 1918 and 1928.
Milan-SanRemo is a UCI World Tour event.
This means all 18 World Tour teams will attend the race
along with seven wildcard teams invited
at the discretion of the organisers.
Because of the opportunities for both sprinters
and classic specialists, there will be a number of
big names on the start line with a good chance of winning.
Also on the line for the winner is a hundred
UCI World Tour points, which is a major currency
come the end of the season when it comes to teams
applying for new World Tour licences the following year.
So who is in contention to win this
prestigious race in 2017?
Well, we expect last year's surprise winner
Arnaud Démare to be back to try and defend his title.
History suggests this could be difficult though.
In the last 20 years only Erik Zabel has managed
back-to-back wins at this race.
Peter Sagan is usually in the mix, and we
mustn't overlook the likes of Alexander Kristoff
and John Degenkolb.
Should we also look to the Quick-Step Floors team
for our winner?
Tom Boonen has four top 10 finishes in this race.
This will be the last chance to add La Primavera
to his palmarès before he retires later in the spring.
Or how about Fernando Gaviria?
He came so close before crashing on the home straight
last year, and could have another shot
at taking down a Monument once again.
The weather can often play a big role in the
outcome of Milan-SanRemo.
In the sunshine, the race becomes a beautiful
embodiment of spring, with sun-kissed panoramic shots
of the peloton gliding along the Ligurian coastline.
However, add rain into the mix and it becomes
a six-hour war of attrition, where only
the grittiest riders last to the finish.
Who knows what we'll get this year, but either way
it's guaranteed to be epic.
Who's your tip for Milan-SanRemo this year?
You can let us know your thoughts in the
comments section down below.
Before you go, don't forget to subscribe to GCN
for all the best racing news throughout the season.
If you'd like to know more about the Monuments of cycling
we've got a video for you here,
and we also had a discussion about who the
best classics rider of all time is.
Check it out and see if you agree with us.