Welcome, to the first and longest monument of the ProTour calendar!
Everyone knows what lies in store, but let's take a look anyway. The course sees the riders tackle just under 300km of racing, ending with the stunning coastal climbs along the Italian Riviera before a sprint to the finish line to crown the king of La classica di Primavera. Will it be a sprint finish, or will an enterprising puncheur escape to the finish line alone? Which sprinters will make the selection?
History
Before we introduce the riders, let's take a look at the management game's history with this race.
2007 saw an 11 rider selection enter the sprint finale, with Filippo Pozzato of JustinWK's Ag2r team surprisingly edging out Paolo Bettini (Discovery Channel).
Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez, also of the Discovery Channel team had been 4th in 2007, but went on an audacious attack at the foot of the Cipressa in 2008, 29km out from the finish. Stefan Schumacher (Carlsberg) tried to follow, but Sanchez was flying, extending his lead on the German up the Poggio and soloing in for a stunning victory just under a minute ahead of Schumacher who held off the pack led by the previous year's winner Paolo Bettini (now of Domina Vacanze) to take second place
2009 saw a stellar line-up in the race to be first across the Via Roma. Pozzato, still with JustinWk at Credit Lyonnais, and Sanchez with Festina were both here to try and take the crown once again, but would have to compete against some of the best riders in the world. These two from Italy and Spain seemed to encompass a battle of nations, with each country fielding the strongest favourites. The Italians were hoping for a home winner, with Pozzato joined by Pellizotti (Accumalux - Formex) and Bettini (American Suzuki), whilst it wad the Spaniards who looked to be out in real force, with Sanchez (now Spanish national champion) joined on the start line by Joaquin Rodriguez (Virgin Media) and the pre-race favourite, world champion Alejandro Valverde (France Televisions).
On the day, a five rider selection was made, consisting of 3 Spaniards (Valverde, Rodriguez and Sanchez), an Italian (Pellizotti), plus the legend of CrueTrue's team (currently in the form of Philips - Hummel), the Dutchman Michael Boogerd. One rider was dropped, and it was a huge surprise, as it was Valverde who would roll in to the finish fifth. On the Via Roma, Sanchez was positioned perfectly, right on the wheel of the lead rider Pellizotti. In the bag, surely? No! Pellizotti rode a strongman's finish to keep the home crowd happy, taking a stunning victory!
The turn of the decade, 2010, and the year of the sprinter? Daniele Bennati was rated as the favourite, riding for a very strong La Gazeeta dello Sport team, which included Di Luca and Vinokourov. If any team could control the race, it would be them. Other sprinters included Mark Cavendish (Eurosport), Roelandts (Unicef) and Allan Davis (American Suzuki). All 3 former winners returned too, with Pozzato still with Credit Lyonnais, Pellizotti still with Accumalux and Sanchez still with Festina.
To the race, and the pre-race previews calling this the sprinter's year proved to be laughable, with Jonny Bellis (British Airways) aggressive riding forcing a huge tempo from some of the best hill riders in the world. A 9 rider group escaped from the peloton and swept him up, including Pellizotti and Pozzato, but no Di Luca, and no Sanchez, who found few friends in the peloton to help the chase. But La Gazetta Dello Sport still managed to pull them back with 8km to go. Maybe the year of the sprinter not so laughable? Another twist though. 3km to go, and 5 riders off the front! Sanchez, Hagen, Pozzato, Ballan and Steegmans pile on the tempo. But one rider goes again, and it is the 2007 winner, still riding for the same team he won the 2007 race with who stormed away for a stunning victory!
2011, another year, and a changing of the guard? Pozzato had changed to a Continental team, and wouldn't be returning to defend his title. Pellizotti was in the same situation, so only Sanchez could return to potentially win again. Bennati returned as favourite sprinter, but the puncheurs were here again to make it as hard as possible. Alessandro Ballan (Sony Ericsson) and Frank Schleck (Vesuvio) would be challenged by the new kids on the block, with Ulissi (Festina), Bakelants (Pearl) and Boasson Hagen (B&O) all looking to upset the old order.
In what was widely cited as the most boring Milano - Sanremo for many years (except by a certain Swede), Alessandro Ballan rode away solo to the finish, holding off the pack led by the talented youngster Sam Bewley (Festina) to take another Italian victory.
And finally, we turn to last year's race. Ballan (Sony Ericsson) returned, as did Pozzato (Festina), but still no Pellizotti. Italy had five great hopes for the title, with Ballan, Pozzato, Francesco Ginanni (Vespa) and Ulissi (Festina). From abroad, the Belgians Bakelants (Pearl) and Gilbert (Pendleton's) looked strong, with Gilbert returning after several years in the Continental tour), and an American joined list of pre-race favourites for the first time, with Tejay Van Garderen (Wikipedia) in the colours of the world champion appearing on the startlist.
The race was another triumph for Italy, and one that boded well for the future, as Diego Ulissi went clear on the Poggio and soloed in for a stunning victory ahead of Pozzato (making it a 1-2 for Festina) and Steegmans (Bacardi - Ignis)
Startlist
So, that's how the race has gone in the past, and it's interesting to note that no sprinter has ever won! Now onto this year's startlist:
Italia
6 seasons of management game racing, and only one has not been taken by a Spaniard. Diego Ulissi (Festina) returns, with the in-form Guerao as strong support, and must be considered one of the, if not the, favourite. Daniele Bennati also starts for Puma, hoping for the first time that it's a sprint finish to the line (and that he has the stamina to actually sprint).
But this is probably one of the weakest Italian lineups fielded. Other puncheurs are just not up to the calibre for a race where stamina is everything. Di Maggio (Venchi) and Ponzi (Wiggle) are solid puncheurs will struggle over the distance, and Ballan (Koenigsegg) really starting to show his age.
However, we are going to mention Fillipo Pozzato (Heniken), the 2-time winner (2007, 2010). This is perhaps his last chance to recapture his almost magical form of previous years, and we are rooting for him to stun the cycling world once again.
The Foreign Challenge
Can anyone emulate Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez in 2008, and take a foreign victory on Italian soil? There's certainly the talent, with five strong puncheurs in Boasson Hagen (Aker - MOT), Tejay Van Garderen (Wikipedia), Stefan Schumacher (UBS), Jan Bakelants (Pearl) and Gilbert (Pendleton's) who could all accelerate to victory. But don't discount the sprinters, with the best ever sprinter's hoping to last the whole 300 and still have a kick at the end. Challenging Bennati will be Boonen (Pokerstars), Bewley (Milka) and Swift (Vesuvio), with some strong teams hoping to control the race.
So there's your preview for Milano - Sanremo. Will Ulissi or Pozzato (or even Ballan) take another victory, or shall we see a new rider take the crown?
Here's hoping Nuyens has a free role, he might make a select group.
Sending Bennati was probably rather wishful thinking, but I just had to give it a try
And with the hills being less selective in some races this season, who knows?
Pozzato is my favourite.
No Trofimov is a real surprise though!
We've this as a win goal, and I've faith in Boasson Hagen to compete for the top spot if it comes down to the puncheurs.
Though, a race for the sprinters is my pick. The support Bewley, Boonen and Bennati have is strong, and the hills in PCM12 doesn't look like they'll kill the sprinters.
In many ways this has been my race for the past 4 seasons with Samuel Sanchez and Diego Ulissi as winners and a Samuel Sanchez, Sam Bewley and Filippo Pozzato 2nd, and even Thor Hushovd did a couple of top 10s if I'm not mistaken. I have been on the podium so many times here that I can only dissapoint.
Diego Ulissi is obviously the captain and after last seasons win he is among the favorites surely, and he has the stamina to be punchy at the very end. BUT seeing how the hilly races have been this season I think we will end up in a fairly big group, or possibly the 84-85HI riders battleing it out just ahead of the rest.
My bet here is Sam Bewley though. He has the strength and has been 2nd here before.
I'm back to having this race as my win goal, and it will be very interesting to see if I can get it. Last season I didn't have the win goal and won, the year before I had the win goal and came second.
One of my favorite races of the entire year, and I have brought the best possible lineup here for Ulissi.
I made my team for San Remo totally around Bewley and with a help from especially Pokerstars and Puma, the race could possibly end in a mass sprint this time. And then hopefully, Bewley could have enough strenght to make a strong sprint. That's probably my only way how my team can succeed in this race. But it will be hard to beat Boonen, Bennati, Swift and Pozzato here and I am not even counting in puncheurs.. Top 10 would be a good result, I guess.
Well, I have this down as the "Win" goal for the team. No pressure though - clearly as Ignatiev is rated my best chance, and he's only like 10th strongest in the race apparently.
This was the reason Ponzi has strengthened his sprint. Hopefully he'll use it to win...
To be honest in PCM, Le Manie makes little difference as it is too far from the end. The problem is the closeness of Poggio and to a lesser extent Cipressa.
Have a shot with Cancellara and Van Stayen of a decent result. Could easily end up out of the top 20 also.
I enjoyed reporting this classic last year and that preview is a nice history lesson for us all, Thanks Crommy.
I have brought Di Maggio here, hoping the pace will be slow enough for him to have some powers left for Poggio. There's a real good chance this race will end in a mass sprint, though. I can only hope Corioni will perform well in such a situation.
However, my bet is that Pozzato will take another win here.
Id forgotten I had won here with Pellizotti in the past, the race usually doesnt go well for me. Very nice feature for the preview Crommy! Dont really expect much from Swift, so will be good to see what happens.
Burghardt was ninth here last year, and that was more or less in support of Steegmans. I wonder what he can do as a leader. I'd like to have a pretty hard race though, as i don't have anyone for the sprint.
Got plenty of outsiders in my squad - Sinkewitz, Schreurs and if it comes down to a sprint, Kennaugh.
Plenty of great riders in this race, though, and I agree with everyone else in the analysis that it will be a sprint (for the tough sprinters) this year. Ulissi will crash, so I'm going for Boonen
MG history lessons at a monument
What a diffrence between PCM06-08-12 (oh well, not so much at the results part..)
My first San Remo hate to drive 300km in a car as the DS..
I had no idea how this race will go so I have Claeys and Ciolek here, so we are prepared to lose to Pozzato, Bewley, Ulissi or Hagen.
No one in my team has the stamina to have a chance.
Edited by Rin on 22-02-2013 23:17
Team Bianchi - 2012 Man-Game ProContinental Tour Champions
My team is made up by all the best puncheurs and the two best fighters in my squad, meaning I am sending my best possible line-up, and still the control team is ranked higher
