Milan – San Remo

Milan – San Remo
2015 Milan – San Remo
Race details
Date Mid-March
Region North-west Italy
English name Milan – San Remo
Local name(s) Milano–Sanremo (Italian)
Nickname(s) The Spring classic (English)
La classicissima di Primavera (Italian)
Discipline Road
Competition UCI World Tour
Type One-day
Organiser RCS Sport
History
First edition 1907
Editions 106 (as of 2015)
First winner  Lucien Petit-Breton (FRA)
Most wins  Eddy Merckx (BEL) (7 wins)
Most recent  John Degenkolb (GER)

Milan – San Remo, "The Spring classic", is an annual cycle race between Milan and Sanremo. It is the longest professional one-day race at 298 km (~185.2 miles). The first was in 1907, when Lucien Petit-Breton won. Today it is one of the 'Monuments' of European cycling, and results contribute towards the UCI World Ranking; until 2007 it was part of the UCI ProTour. From 1999 to 2005, a women's race, the Primavera Rosa was organised alongside the men's but at a shorter distance.

Milan – San Remo is often called the sprinters' classic while its sister Italian race the Giro di Lombardia held in autumn is the climbers' classic.

History

In the early years the main difficulty was the Passo del Turchino, but when cycling became more professional the climb was too far from the finish to be decisive. In 1960 the Poggio, a few kilometres before the finish, was introduced. In 1982 the Cipressa, near Imperia was added. The other hills are the 'capi', the Capo Mele, Capo Berta and Capo Cervo. From 2008 on the organisers added Le Mànie as well, between the Turchino and the 'capi'. The Turchino and the Mànie are longer climbs, while 'capi', Cipressa and Poggio are rather short. The climbs are neither steep nor long for professional cyclists. As such, many sprinters are capable of keeping with the main peloton on these climbs, and therefore the race most often ends in a mass sprint.

The most successful rider was Eddy Merckx; he won seven times (record of victories in one single classic race). In recent times, the most successful rider has been Erik Zabel who won four times and lost in 2004 to Óscar Freire only because he stopped pedalling and lifted his arms to celebrate too early. It was the opening race of the UCI Road World Cup series until the series was replaced by the UCI ProTour in 2005.

Route

Italian Alessandro Petacchi winning the 2005 Milan – San Remo

Being the longest professional one-day race, Milan – San Remo is an unusual test of endurance early in the season. It is won often not by the fastest sprinter, but one best prepared early. The Cipressa and Poggio have foiled many sprinters who could not stay with the front group.

Despite its flat course and long finishing straight, sprinters' teams have been foiled from time to time by a determined attack on the last hills. Good examples include Laurent Jalabert and Maurizio Fondriest escaping in 1995 and staying away to the finish. In 2003, Paolo Bettini attacked with several riders who all stayed away and in 2006 Filippo Pozzato and Alessandro Ballan attacked on the last hill and stayed away. The fastest Milan – San Remo over the usual course was in 1990. Gianni Bugno set a record of 6h 25 m 06 seconds to win by 4 seconds over Rolf Gölz. This was an average of 45.8kmh (28.45 mph). In 2006, the peloton came close with a 6h 29 m 41s, won by Filippo Pozzato. The extremes of the race include 12h 24 m in 1910, in a snowstorm.

For 2014, organiser RCS Sport announced the race would climb the Pompeiana climb between the Cipressa and Poggio.[1] To keep the race at a reasonable distance, it excluded the Le Mànie from the route. Pompeiana, named after the village the road passes, climbs five kilometres and reaches 13% near the top.

The route was changed again at the end of February 2014, when it emerged that the Pompeiana had been damaged by recent landslides. The local councils were against letting the race go over the road as it was in a bad state of repair and dangerous. So the race was re-routed to take out the Pompeiana again, making it a more traditional and sprinter-friendly route again. This led to a number of the sprinters (who had previously ruled themselves out due to the addition of the extra climb), including Mark Cavendish (who also managed to win the race in 2009), declaring their interest in riding it again.[2]

After seven years on the seaside, the organiser decided to finish the race on the Via Roma street in the heart of Sanremo. Roadworks forced the change back to Via Roma, but Mauro Vegni said that he was please to do so. The Via Roma change, he explained, would be for 2015 and beyond.[3]

The race first finished on Via Roma in 1949.

Winners

Rider Team
1907 France Petit-Breton, LucienLucien Petit-Breton (FRA) Peugeot
1908 Belgium Hauwaert, Cyrille vanCyrille van Hauwaert (BEL) Alcyon-Dunlop
1909 Italy Ganna, LuigiLuigi Ganna (ITA) Atala
1910 France Christophe, EugeneEugène Christophe (FRA) Alcyon-Dunlop
1911 France Garrigou, GustaveGustave Garrigou (FRA) Alcyon-Dunlop
1912 France Pelissier, HenriHenri Pélissier (FRA) Alcyon-Dunlop
1913 Belgium Defraye, OdileOdile Defraye (BEL) Alcyon-Soly
1914 Italy Agostoni, UgoUgo Agostoni (ITA) Bianchi
1915 Italy Corlaita, EzioEzio Corlaita (ITA) Dei
1916 No race
1917 Italy Belloni, GaetanoGaetano Belloni (ITA) Bianchi
1918 Italy Girardengo, CostanteCostante Girardengo (ITA) Bianchi
1919 Italy Gremo, AngeloAngelo Gremo (ITA) Stucchi
1920 Italy Belloni, GaetanoGaetano Belloni (ITA) Bianchi-Pirelli
1921 Italy Girardengo, CostanteCostante Girardengo (ITA) Stucchi
1922 Italy Brunero, GiovanniGiovanni Brunero (ITA) Legnano-Pirelli
1923 Italy Girardengo, CostanteCostante Girardengo (ITA) Maino
1924 Italy Linari, PietroPietro Linari (ITA) Legnano-Pirelli
1925 Italy Girardengo, CostanteCostante Girardengo (ITA) Wolsit-Pirelli
1926 Italy Girardengo, CostanteCostante Girardengo (ITA) Wolsit-Pirelli
1927 Italy Chesi, PietroPietro Chesi (ITA)
1928 Italy Girardengo, CostanteCostante Girardengo (ITA) Maino
1929 Italy Binda, AlfredoAlfredo Binda (ITA) Legnano-Torpedo
1930 Italy Mara, MicheleMichele Mara (ITA) Bianchi-Pirelli
1931 Italy Binda, AlfredoAlfredo Binda (ITA) Legnano-Hutchinson
1932 Italy Bovet, AlfredoAlfredo Bovet (ITA) Bianchi
1933 Italy Guerra, LearcoLearco Guerra (ITA) Maino
1934 Belgium Demuysere, JefJef Demuysere (BEL) Genial Lucifer-Hutchinson
1935 Italy Olmo, GiuseppeGiuseppe Olmo (ITA) Bianchi
1936 Italy Varetto, AngeloAngelo Varetto (ITA) Gloria
1937 Italy Del Cancia, CesareCesare Del Cancia (ITA) Ganna
1938 Italy Olmo, GiuseppeGiuseppe Olmo (ITA) Bianchi
1939 Italy Bartali, GinoGino Bartali (ITA) Legnano
1940 Italy Bartali, GinoGino Bartali (ITA) Legnano
1941 Italy Favalli, PierinoPierino Favalli (ITA) Legnano
1942 Italy Leoni, AdolfoAdolfo Leoni (ITA) Bianchi
1943 Italy Cinelli, CinoCino Cinelli (ITA) Bianchi
1944 No race
1945 No race
1946 Italy Coppi, FaustoFausto Coppi (ITA) Bianchi
1947 Italy Bartali, GinoGino Bartali (ITA) Legnano
1948 Italy Coppi, FaustoFausto Coppi (ITA) Bianchi
1949 Italy Coppi, FaustoFausto Coppi (ITA) Bianchi-Ursus
1950 Italy Bartali, GinoGino Bartali (ITA) Bartali-Gardiol
1951 France Bobet, LouisonLouison Bobet (FRA) Stella-Dunlop
1952 Italy Petrucci, LorettoLoretto Petrucci (ITA) Bianchi-Pirelli
1953 Italy Petrucci, LorettoLoretto Petrucci (ITA) Bianchi-Pirelli
1954 Belgium Steenbergen, Rik VanRik Van Steenbergen (BEL) =Mercier-Hutchinson
1955 Belgium Derijcke, GermainGermain Derijcke (BEL) Alcyon-Dunlop
1956 Belgium Bruyne, Fred DeFred De Bruyne (BEL) Mercier-BP
1957 Spain Poblet, MiguelMiguel Poblet (ESP) Ignis-Doniselli
1958 Belgium Looy, Rik vanRik van Looy (BEL) Faema
1959 Spain Poblet, MiguelMiguel Poblet (ESP) Ignis
1960 France Privat, ReneRené Privat (FRA) Mercier-BP
1961 France Poulidor, RaymondRaymond Poulidor (FRA) Mercier-BP
1962 Belgium Daems, EmileEmile Daems (BEL) Philco
1963 France Groussard, JosephJoseph Groussard (FRA) Pelforth-Sauvage-Lejeune
1964 United Kingdom Simpson, TomTom Simpson (GBR) Peugeot-BP
1965 Netherlands Hartog, Arie denArie den Hartog (NED) Ford France-Gitane
1966 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Peugeot-BP Michelin
1967 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Peugeot-BP Michelin
1968 Germany Altig, RudiRudi Altig (GER) Salvarani
1969 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Faema
1970 Italy Dancelli, MicheleMichele Dancelli (ITA) Molteni
1971 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Molteni-Arcore
1972 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Molteni
1973 Belgium De Vlaeminck, RogerRoger De Vlaeminck (BEL) Brooklyn
1974 Italy Gimondi, FeliceFelice Gimondi (ITA) Bianchi-Campagnolo
1975 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Molteni
1976 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Molteni-Campagnolo
1977 Netherlands Raas, JanJan Raas (NED) Frisol-Gazelle
1978 Belgium De Vlaeminck, RogerRoger De Vlaeminck (BEL) Sanson-Campagnolo
1979 Belgium De Vlaeminck, RogerRoger De Vlaeminck (BEL) Gis Gelati
1980 Italy Gavazzi, PierinoPierino Gavazzi (ITA) Magniflex-Olmo
1981 Belgium De Wolf, AlfonsAlfons De Wolf (BEL) Vermeer Thijs-Mimo Salons
1982 France Gomez, MarcMarc Gomez (FRA) Wolber-Spidel
1983 Italy Saronni, GiuseppeGiuseppe Saronni (ITA) Del Tongo
1984 Italy Moser, FrancescoFrancesco Moser (ITA) Gis
1985 Netherlands Kuiper, HennieHennie Kuiper (NED) Verandalux-Dries-Rossin
1986 Republic of Ireland Kelly, SeanSean Kelly (IRL) Skil-Sem Kas
1987 Switzerland Maechler, ErichErich Maechler (SUI) Carrera Jeans-Vagabond
1988 France Fignon, LaurentLaurent Fignon (FRA) Système U – Gitane
1989 France Fignon, LaurentLaurent Fignon (FRA) Super U-Raleigh-Fiat
1990 Italy Bugno, GianniGianni Bugno (ITA) Chateau d'Ax-Salotti
1991 Italy Chiappucci, ClaudioClaudio Chiappucci (ITA) Carrera Jeans-Tassoni
1992 Republic of Ireland Kelly, SeanSean Kelly (IRL) Lotus-Festina
1993 Italy Fondriest, MaurizioMaurizio Fondriest (ITA) Lampre-Polti
1994 Italy Furlan, GiorgioGiorgio Furlan (ITA) Gewiss-Ballan
1995 France Jalabert, LaurentLaurent Jalabert (FRA) ONCE
1996 Italy Colombo, GabrieleGabriele Colombo (ITA) Gewiss Playbus
1997 Germany Zabel, ErikErik Zabel (GER) Team Telekom
1998 Germany Zabel, ErikErik Zabel (GER) Team Telekom
1999 Belgium Tchmil, AndreiAndrei Tchmil (BEL) Lotto-Mobistar
2000 Germany Zabel, ErikErik Zabel (GER) Team Telekom
2001 Germany Zabel, ErikErik Zabel (GER) Team Telekom
2002 Italy Cipollini, MarioMario Cipollini (ITA) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo
2003 Italy Bettini, PaoloPaolo Bettini (ITA) Quick Step-Davitamon
2004 Spain Freire, OscarÓscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank
2005 Italy Petacchi, AlessandroAlessandro Petacchi (ITA) Fassa Bortolo
2006 Italy Pozzato, FilippoFilippo Pozzato (ITA) Quick Step-Innergetic
2007 Spain Freire, OscarÓscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank
2008 Switzerland Cancellara, FabianFabian Cancellara (SUI) Team CSC
2009 United Kingdom Cavendish, MarkMark Cavendish (GBR) Team Columbia-High Road
2010 Spain Freire, OscarÓscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank
2011 Australia Goss, MattMatthew Goss (AUS) HTC-Highroad
2012 Australia Gerrans, SimonSimon Gerrans (AUS) GreenEDGE
2013 Germany Ciolek, GeraldGerald Ciolek (GER) MTN-Qhubeka
2014 Norway Kristoff, AlexanderAlexander Kristoff (NOR) Team Katusha
2015 Germany Degenkolb, JohnJohn Degenkolb (GER) Giant-Alpecin

Winners by nationality

# of victories Country
50  Italy
20  Belgium
12  France
7  Germany
5  Spain
3  Netherlands
2  Australia
2  Ireland
2   Switzerland
2  United Kingdom
1  Norway

Records

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Gregor. "Milan-San Remo route change for 2014". Cycling Weekly.
  2. ↑ Brown, Gregor. "Pompeiana climb ruled unsafe for Milan-San Remo". Cycling Weekly.
  3. ↑ Brown, Gregor. "Milano-Sanremo brings back Via Roma finish, favoring attackers". VeloNews.

External links

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