The first MG ProTour Monument of the season, and we head to northern Italy for the Primavera – the Milano-San Remo. Just under 300km in length, it is one of, if not maybe it is, the longest race on the calendar.

	SP	ACC	HIL			SP	ACC	HIL
Swift	84	82	68		Van der Lijke	80	79	75
Degenkolb	84	81	69		Holloway	80	82	69
Kristoff	83	79	68		Van Poppel	80	78	64
Bewley	83	83	71		Demare	80	81	77
Van Stayen	83	72	78		Havik	79	76	64
Ciolek	83	79	66		Farrar	79	77	62
Mohs	83	82	65		Kump	79	80	76
Guarnieri	82	81	66		Rowe	79	80	65
Howard	82	79	68		Boivin	79	80	70
Tzortzakis	82	78	65		Stallaert	79	76	67
Goss	82	78	67		Silvestre	78	79	67
Roelandts	81	80	71		Wippert	78	82	67
Coquard	81	83	64		Thwaites	78	76	65
Appollonio	81	78	66		Van Avermaet	78	78	76
Grosu	81	80	73		Young	78	77	69
Keukeleire	80	79	70

Usually seen as a Sprinter’s Classic, many teams have brought their big named fast men here to contest the finish. Sam Bewley, John Degenkolb and Alexander Kristoff will all be present on the start list, along with Intercontinental Champion Ben Swift, Romanian Champion Eduard Grosu and Michael Van Stayen. Local hopes will fall to Jacopo Guarnieri and Davide Appollonio, who will be hoping to emulate the likes of Ricco and Pozzato by taking an Italian victory on the finish in San Remo.

So who else should we not rule out contesting the sprint at the finish? Jurgen Roelandts is currently one, and so is Jens Keukeleire. Both can sprint with the big names, but both have the ability to get themselves over the Cipressa and Poggio with enough in the legs to challenge. Arnaud Demare and Marko Kump also easily fall into this category.

	HIL	SP	ACC			HIL	SP	ACC
Boasson Hagen	85	73	79		Koretzky	79	71	79
Bakelandts	84	73	76		Pichon	79	63	76
Ponzi	83	76	80		Bilbao	79	71	75
Skujins	83	68	76		Monfort	78	63	74
Trofimov	83	74	76		Mohoric	78	66	75
Claeys	83	67	73		Edmondson	78	70	76
Ginanni	83	66	74		Kwiatkowski	78	67	75
Keldermann	82	67	72		Zakarin	77	65	73
Bobridge	82	69	80		Mudorra	77	64	68
Gastauer	82	67	76		Edet	77	61	71
De Bie	81	72	75		Venter	77	58	66
Schreurs	81	71	74		Villella	77	80	65
Sagan	80	73	76		Hoelgaard	77	68	74
Lutsenko	80	72	81		Schleck	77	55	69
Costa	80	69	72		Vakoc	77	70	72

I have just mentioned the Cipressa and the Poggio, and they are for good reason. Either of these can be the perfect Launchpad for a puncheur who doesn’t want to take Bewley, Degenkolb et al. to the line. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Simon Ponzi and Jan Bakelandts are the clear names who might be able to do such a thing, but I wouldn’t count out Yuri Trofimov, Francesco Ginanni and Jack Bobridge. All are top riders in the Ardennes Classics, and also capable of looking after themselves in a small bunch sprint.

Recent Tour de San Luis winner Rui Costa showed good form to take a stage win, in addition to the GC, so will be a threat, whilst Peter Sagan is a very nice back up for Becherovka – Petrof to have, should Bewley struggle over the final climbs. Sean De Bie will be leading the line for Aegon, with Davide Villella as a Super Domestique / Plan B for the team. This seems to be a similar tactic for Vesuvio, who have Frank Schleck to back up Plan A in Ben Gastauer and Nick Van der Lijke.

2015	Sam Bewley	Becherovka - Petrof
2014	Riccardo Ricco	Festina-Canal+
2013	Tom Boonen	Pokerstars.com
2012	Diego Ulissi	Festina - Conec
2011	Alessandro Ballan	Sony Ericsson
2010	Filippo Pozzato	Crédit Lyonnais
2009	Franco Pellizotti	Accumalux - Formex
2008	Samuel Sánchez	Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
2007	Filippo Pozzato	AG2R Prevoyance

Mresuperstar wrote:
Newton to win from the breakaway to ruin all your dreams.

No expectations here, just one of those races that I don't have the right type of leader to do well in. Will be cheering on former cyclist Costa.

knockout wrote:
Race of the year for me and I sent everything I have. Huge expectations with guys like Van Stayen and Greg and terrific support so basically, I can only get disappointed