Milan San Remo

Bettini decsends on the Pogio - Pic Sirotti

Oscar Freire wins in 2007 - Pic Sirotti

Milan San Remo begins in fashionable Milan, in North West Italy, and proceeds along the Mediterranean coast in a fast stretched out peloton.

Team domestiques will attempt to look after their sprint stars and keep the as fresh as possible. Potential winners will be 'hiding' in the pack hoping that his team will be controlling the race to suit and will be awaiting the climbs of the Cipressa at 272k and Poggio di Sanremo at 288k.

The 'Poggio' is basically a big chainset ascent but after the ride from Milan it will test the legs and the final descent off it into San Remo is stuff of legend requiring superb bike handling to maintain a high speed without going over the edge. If the race is still together or a group have gone away the finish is a straight sprint for the line.

Previous winners
2007 - Oscar Freire
2006 - Filippo Pozzatto
2005 - Alessandro Petacchi
2004 - Oscar Freire
2003 - Paolo Bettini
2002 - Mario Cipollini
2001 - Erik Zabel

Date/Website - March 22, Milano Sanremo ITA - www.gazzetta.it/grandeciclismo/