On 20 March we witnessed the 114th edition of the historic Milano – Sanremo cycle race, “la Classicissima”, that this year saw the triumph of Jaspen Stuyven of Belgium, with the Australian Ewan in second place and the Belgian Van Aert in third.
A victory against all the odds, which ranked Philippe Gilbert, John Degenkolb, Alexander Kristoff and Matej Mohoric as favourites. But this year’s victory is just one of many surprises that have distinguished this famous competition in the past.
Here are 5 things you (perhaps) didn’t know about the Milano – Sanremo:
At 298 kilometres, the Milan-Sanremo is the world’s longest one-day cycle race. It is often decided by a group sprint along Via Roma, although in recent years the pure sprinters have found it difficult to judge the risk and seal victory. The most difficult tests are the Cipressa and the Poggio, climbs of about 200 meters’ elevation that, coming in the last 30 kilometres, can provide a springboard for the most explosive attacking riders.
- THE FIRST EDITION
The first edition of the Milan-San Remo took place on 14 April 1907, with a total distance of 286 km, and was won by the French cyclist Lucien Petit-Breton.
- EDDY MERCKX: A RECORD-BREAKING WINNER
Eddy Merckx holds a prestigious record in the Milano – Sanremo that still stands today. Beginning in 1966, when he won the race for the first time at 20 years of age, Merckx conquered the top of the podium seven times.
- 2013: SNOWSTORM AT OVADA
2013 was destined to be a historic year for the Milano-Sanremo. For the first time ever the race was stopped at Ovada because excessive snowfall prevented the riders from continuing. The scenes of riders with icicles hanging from their helmets certainly made Italian cycling history.
- THE BREAKAWAY BY FAUSTO COPPI
In 1946, immediately after the Second World War, the rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali was fiercer than it had ever been. Coppi, competing in his first Milano-Sanremo in a blue and white jersey, joined a breakaway that began just outside Milan, winning the race after a record break of 145 kilometres and an advantage of 14 minutes over the second-placed rider. In the celebrated words of radio commentator Nicolò Carosio: “First is Fausto Coppi! Here is some dance music while we wait for the rest”.
- THE LAST ITALIAN VICTORY
The last Italian victory in the Milano-Sanremo was in 2018, when Vincenzo Nibali topped the podium.
Source: https://bit.ly/3vLz7Uy
