Pavia > Sanremo 287km

The first monument of the year is here. I’ll try avoiding all the usual phrases that are used to describe this race, I find them tedious and boring. In all the 2000s only one rider has retained the title, that was Erik Zabel in 2000 & 2001, it’s very hard to do the double. Not only that, but the winning scenario seems to change most years too. Despite looking like a predictable race, the finish is anything but. This year the focus is all on van der Poel and Pogačar, but it would be foolish to ignore the likes of Pedersen, Laporte and Mohorič. The above profile is the planned route, there have been landslides and the organisers will decide later today if they have to make any changes.

I Have Questions

Can van der Poel really win without any racing in the legs?

Do UAE really believe they can climb the Cipressa in under 9 minutes?

Was Paris-Nice too hard for those who did it to win here?

Will we see attacks on the Cipressa?

Can Ganna up his game?

Does an exciting final 30 minutes make it a good race?