Sunday 22nd March it’s the 106th edition of Milan-Sanremo. Lotto Soudal starts this WorldTour race with a strong team. La Primavera is 293 kilometres long. Just like last year Le Manie and Pompeiana aren’t on the route. As usual, the Cipressa and Poggio are crucial points in the final. For the first time since years the finish line is drawn on the Via Roma.
The Lotto Soudal team has several strong riders in the selection. Two days before the start sports director Herman Frison, André Greipel, Jürgen Roelandts and Tony Gallopin give their preview of the race. They all agree, it’s unpredictable.
Herman Frison: “The finish line is drawn on the Via Roma again. According to me that doesn’t make much difference. The descent of the Poggio has always been important. Maybe now fewer riders get the chance to return to the front, but they probably wouldn’t be able to win anyway. The strongest riders are always present in the front. It is a big difference that Le Manie and Pompeiana aren’t part of the route. The group that gets to the Poggio will be bigger than if the Pompeiana had been an extra obstacle just before that climb. The Cipressa and Poggio remain crucial. Some teams will have to take control of the race. The strongest riders will attack. There are many who think they can make it till the end, but few who succeed. Often it ends with a sprint of fifteen to thirty riders. Milan-Sanremo is always a special race. It’s difficult to predict and to win.”
Positive signs
“It’s an open race. The moment of truth starts at the Cipressa. We have to have as many riders in front as possible. If the moment is right we can let someone attack or join a breakaway. We have several opportunities. Wellens or Vanendert can escape. Greipel is our man for the sprint, but also Roelandts and Gallopin aren’t slow. Boeckmans is in top condition. The signs are positive for us. The recent performances of the team have given us a boost. It’s important that we have won with several riders. You feel it motivates the group. They stimulate each other. We can race without any pressure. We would be happy with a podium place, but of course we prefer to win.”
Roelandts (file photo)
André Greipel: “Sunday I rode the last sixty kilometres of Milan-Sanremo. Of course I knew the final already, but it’s always good to see it again before the actual race. In any case it’s a good preparation. Every year there are attacks on the Cipressa and Poggio. That will be the same again this year. Last year I survived the Poggio, but because of cramps I didn’t get to participate in the sprint. I know now that I am able to get in the final. Mentally it was important, knowing that I am able to get over the Poggio with the best. The finish is closer to the Poggio now, that doesn’t help the sprinters. It will change the tactics. Anyhow, in Milan-Sanremo anything can happen.”
Challenge myself
“I have never been close to a good result in Milan-Sanremo. I never proved that I am able to win, but I am motivated. It would be great to add this race to my record. I’ll keep trying and challenging myself. I have a good condition and the team is strong. It would be fantastic if any rider of Lotto Soudal would get a good result. It also depends on the condition of the day of the race. If that’s fine you can give all you got in the final. I hope I will be up there at the end and can battle for the victory.”
Jürgen Roelandts: “I don’t think it’s a big disadvantage that I missed the Belgian opening weekend due to illness. The most important races of the season are yet to come. When you haven’t been on your bike for eight days, you always have to wait how your level of condition will be. As expected, the first day in Tirreno-Adriatico wasn’t great. The day after I could help Jens Debusschere to get in perfect position for the bunch sprint. Thanks to his victory the atmosphere in the team was good for the entire week, that helps. I finished Tirreno-Adriatico with a very good feeling, that’s important for the classics.”
Roelandts looks forward to Sunday
“Milan-Sanremo is a weird race. I want to be good on Sunday and ride the final. Lots can happen from the Poggio on. It’s the first time for me as a rider that the race finishes on the Via Roma. I don’t think it has an influence that the last part to the finish is a bit shorter now. On the Poggio the best riders come to the front anyway. Although punchers have a slightly bigger chance now. Last year I stayed with André after the Poggio, this year I can have a go of my own. I’m looking forward to it.”
Tony Gallopin: “ Last Sunday I was really disappointed after the time trial in Paris-Nice. I won’t say I already forgot about it on Monday, but I could put it behind me. I can look back on the Race to the Sun with satisfaction. This week I completely focused on Milan-Sanremo. First I took some rest, because I was tired after Paris-Nice. Then I trained as planned and it all went smoothly.”
A race that makes me dream
“Milan-Sanremo is a unique race because of the distance and course. The race has its place in the history of cycling. It’s a prestigious race; one of the five monuments. Of course this race makes me dream and I want to win it. I do not immediately think about a solo scenario like in Paris-Nice. You never know what happens in Milan-Sanremo. You have to adapt your plan to the situation in the final. I think it’s an advantage the finish is closer to the Poggio. There is less chance sprinters can get reorganized or that riders bridge to the front. The position after the Poggio will be even more important now.”
Selection Lotto Soudal: Kris Boeckmans, Tony Gallopin, André Greipel, Adam Hansen, Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg, Jelle Vanendert and Tim Wellens.
Sports director: Herman Frison
