Videos
Stage 01
Video: Caleb Ewan's post-Milano Sanremo flash interview
Videos
Stage 01
Video: Van Aert's post-Milano Sanremo flash interview
Videos
Stage 01
Video: Stuyven's post-Milano San Remo flash interview
Live News
17:13:48
A good ride from him in his first ever race professional.
Live News
17:07:08
4th today for the fifth time, In 11 appearances, he finished 2nd in 2013 and 2017, 4th in 2012, 2015, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and 6th in 2018 – all without ever winning the race.
Live News
16:57:03
“The first time I was 2nd [in Milano Sanremo] I think it was a really good result, I think it was my 2nd Milano Sanremo and it confirmed that I could potentially win the race one. day. I’m pretty disappointed this time. I knew, coming into the race, I was in form. Like most years, I targetted the race. I’ve even practised that attack on the poggio many times before this race. I knew that, when the attacks came, i should be able to follow. I was suffering a bit but I had enough to follow them. It would have been nice to have one guy there to keep it together, because I know that, in that group, I’m normally the fastest. I did what I had to do, or what I thought I had to do, but we waited too long.”
Live News
16:51:19
“It was a fast descent from the Poggio, and straight at the bottom Jasper Stuyven went on the attack, which was a really good move, and it was hard for me to chase because I didn’t want to waste my chances in the sprint. A lot of guys were looking at me, and I came a bit short in the sprint. It was surprising for me that we were quite a big group at the top [of the Poggio]. I attacked, but it apparently was not fast enought to make a difference. I did a good sprint at the end of a fast race, but it was difficult to take the right decision in the end. But we have a good winner and I’m happy with 3rd place.”
Live News
16:35:10
Stuyven is tying up. Under the flamme rouge, Søren Kragh Andersen is on his wheel
Live News
16:34:04
He has opened a good gap, and there are only 2.2 km to go. Schachmann leads the chase with Matthews, but the gap is very good.
Live News
16:31:27
- 1 Wout van Aert (TJV) Bel
- 123 Thomas Pidcock (IGD) GBr
- 154 Caleb Ewan (TLS) Aus
- 121 Michał Kwiatkowski (IGD) Pol
are towards the front. Pidcock riders like a daredevil on the descent, daring the others to stay with him.
Live News
16:30:47
Van Aert leads on the descent. The attacks have not created worked.
Live News
16:28:39
6.5 km to go and Alaphilippe goes! Van Aert is right with him. DémareVan Der Peol is on them, with Schachman and Kwiatkowski. The move has been closed down, and Caleb Ewan is on Van Aert’s wheel as the Belgian accelerates.
Live News
16:27:39
Caleb Ewan is still third in the pleoton. Second now, as Ganna pulls over.
Live News
16:26:14
V=Cofidis are now all about Laporte. Alaphilippe iss one place ahead of Van Aert. Ganna’s pace is still high. Alaphilippe checks behind him. The tensions is palpable!
Live News
16:24:33
He beats Asgreen in an out and out sprint for position. Wellens is 2nd, with Caleb Ewan 4th. Van Der Poel is riding well back as Dries De Bondt is dropped.
Live News
16:23:43
Lotto Soudal have moved Caleb Ewan right to the front as they approach the Poggio
Live News
16:21:49
Now Bora move riders to the front, led by Marcus Burghardt (BOH). 2km to the Poggio, and Dries De Bondts is driving for his leader Van Der Poel.
Live News
16:20:44
Visconti is well placed too, with 12.3 km to go and the Poggio approaching
Live News
16:17:53
As they speed towards the foot of the poggio, Kévin Geniets (GFC) is close to his leader Démare towards the front. Greg Van Avermaet (ACT) hjas two helpers, Christophe Laporte is well positioned too, as a second group regains the leaders.
Live News
16:15:18
Mathieu Van Der Poel (AFC), Sam Bennett (DQT) and Sergio Higuita (EFN) are in the same few square metres, some way back.
Live News
16:12:58
4 Ineos Grenadiers riders led the strung-out peloton down the curves of the Cipressa descent.
Live News
16:12:14
The peloton is descending from the Cipressa now.
Live News
16:10:25
He is well positioned, as Rowe hits the front. Van Der Poel very nearly went down, but saved it. Still, 4 Ineos Grenadiers riders lead.
Live News
16:09:17
Tim Wellens is on Oomen’s shoulder at the front, with Asgreen behind him and Wellens’ team-mate John Degenkolb just behind him.
Live News
16:08:07
The Ineos Grenadiers riders are Rowe, Van Baarle, Michał Kwiatkowski and Tom Pidcock.
Live News
16:06:06
24.4 km to go. Sam Oomen and Wout Van Aert lead the peloton, with 4 Ineos Grenadiers riders just behind, and Greg Van Avermaet close at hand.
Live News
16:03:36
Tim Roosen leads Greg Van Avermaet, with Rowe checking on Ganna behind him. Van Aert sends more riders to the front, and they raise the pace on the Cipressa.
Live News
16:01:42
Caleb Ewan’s lead-out man Kluge hit the front too at the foot of the Cipressa, giving him scope for losing position on the climb. Meanwhiile, Taco Van Der Hoorn (IWG) has ridden away at the front.
Live News
15:59:49
Pre-stage, Edvald Boasson Hagen said their focus was on Anthony Turgis and Niccoló Bonifazio.
Live News
15:58:21
Mathieu Van Der Poel (AFC) and Sergio Higuita (EFN) are caught in the frottage – the touching of bars and shoulders.
Live News
15:55:30
Wearing dossard 11, Greg Van Avermaet (ACT) is well positioned now, while Ineos Grenadiers have Michał Kwiatkowski, Filippo Ganna and, let’s not forget, Ben Swift poised.
Live News
15:54:45
Bennett has regained the group, with Zdeněk Štybar helping
Live News
15:51:28
Could the workd individual pursuit and time trial champion be thinking of posting an attack?
Live News
15:50:25
The four leaders are back together again in Oneglia
Live News
15:48:32
The Dutch national champion is on the wheel of his team-mate, the Belgian national champion.
Live News
15:47:01
And Tonelli rides off alone. He leads the race now.
Live News
15:46:01
40 km to go and Sam Bennett needs a bike change
Live News
15:44:22
The 28 year old from Brescia was in the breakaway at last year’s Milano Torino as well.
Live News
15:37:58
19 year old Quinn Simmons (TFS) is on Van Der Poel's wheel
Live News
15:33:55
They are:
- 66 Alessandro Tonelli (BCF) Ita
- 135 Taco Van Der Hoorn (IWG) Ned
- 162 Mathias Norsgaard (MOV) Den
- 232 Nicola Conci (TFS) Ita
Live News
15:30:26
6 leaders now.
Live News
15:25:11
Still at the front:
- 23 Senne Leysen (AFC) Bel
- 95 Tim Declercq (DQT) Bel
- 92 Kasper Asgreen (DQT) Den
They lead the peloton past 37 Mattia Viel (ANS).
Live News
15:22:23
Bora - Hansgrohe move to the front of the peloton
Live News
15:21:47
58.5 km to go and the gap drops under 2 minutes
Live News
15:20:51
60 km to go and Mattia Viel is dropped from the breakaway
Live News
15:13:47
Sanremo is at once a city with a rich history, as well as a glamorous, contemporary city, the home of the Italian song festival and of the Casino. Sanremo also boasts beautiful villas and lush gardens. Villa Nobel and Villa Ormond deserve a special mention. They look their best especially in the springtime, when flowers and exotic plants are in full bloom. Cutting across Sanremo, along the former coastal railway line, is the popular ‘Area 24’, one of the most travelled cycle and pedestrian tracks. Running for 24 kilometres from Ospedaletti to San Lorenzo al Mare, the path takes you from the allure of cosmopolitan Sanremo to the old-time charm of the quaint nearby villages. Milano Sanremo – Regione Liguria presented by EOLO.
Live News
15:11:50
With 65 km to Sanremo, the gap is 2'27"
Live News
15:06:20
The leaders are holding their advantage at 2’36”, with 70.5 km to go.
Live News
15:03:58
With 73 km to go, the gap is 2'38"
Videos
Stage 01
Video: Bouhanni's crash with Guernalec
Videos
Stage 01
Video: Bardet pre-Milano Sanremo interview
Videos
Stage 01
Video: Nizzolo pre-Milano Sanremo interview
Videos
Stage 01
Video: Viviani pre-Milano Sanremo interview
Videos
Stage 01
Video: Alaphilippe pre-Milano Sanremo interview
Videos
Stage 01
Video: Van Der Poel pre-Milano Sanremo interview
Live News
14:17:59
Since 1937, Milano Sanremo has been held on or close to 19th of March, Saint Joseph’s Day. The first post-war Milano Sanremo in 1946 saw the 1940 Giro d’Italia winner Fausto Coppi return to racing. In 1942 at the Vigorelli track in Milan, he had pulverized the world our record. In March 1943, he was sent to joined the Italian Garrison in Tunisia to fight Montgomery’s British army. By 13 April he was in a prisoner of war campand on 17 May he was transferred to a camp at Medjez-al-Bab, in the middle of the desert, where he caught malaria. On 3 February he was repatriated to Naples.In May 1945 he hitchhiked north. Travelling in the back of a truck, he was thrown out onto the road after a violent bump. When he came around, he saw that the truck and its occupants had plummted into a deep ravine and perished. Back in his hometown of Castellania, Coppi found that the Fascist regime had confiscated half of his wealth, and his family had spent the rest staying aalive. He married his first wife Bruna in November. A shadow of his former self, ravaged by fever and terrible stomach aches after his African exile, it took him months recover. It was only the following January that he started to train. He joined Bianchi the following year. He was at the start of the Milano Sanremo with 7000 km in his legs. His plan was to attack early in order to win primes along the way. When the Frenchman Lucien Tessiere attacked, Coppi responded. There were still 200 kilometers to race. Coppi attacked ont he Turchino and devoured the 145 remaining kilometers and arrived at Sanremo with a 14 minutes advantage, prompting the immortal piece of race commentary from from the radio commentator Nicolò Carosio, “Fausto Coppi crosses the line first… and, while we wait for the other competitors, here is some light music”. Of Coppi, the great French cycling journalist Pierre Chany wrote: “It is rigorously true that, once he had escaped the peloton, Fausto Coppi was never caught by his pursuers, in the years from 1946 to 1954.” I read a wonderful interview with Eddy Merckx, who was a great admirer of Coppi, and when he was told this about Coppi, he said, “In that case, maybe he was better than me…” His tone of voice, in the article, is described as “without conviction.”
Live News
14:02:05
The peloton is now on the descent after the Colle del Giovo.
Live News
14:00:14
Average speed for the first 4 hours: 42.75 kph
Live News
13:58:12
Dossard number 145, Guy Niv (ISN) has abandoned
Live News
13:34:43
At km 157, the gap is 4'30"
Live News
13:27:23
- At km 127, the gap was 5’26”
- At km 133, the gap was 5’10”
- At km 142, the gap was 4’50”
- At km 146, the gap was 4’44”
Live News
13:16:12
Two years later, in terrible weather yet again, with rain falling on the 71 starters, Eugène Christophe was one minute behind a group of attackers at Novi Ligure after 97 kilometers of racing. He bridged across in the company of Ernest Paul, François Faber’s brother-in-law. After 120 kilometers, at the checkpoint in Ovada, Cyrille Van Hauwaert and Octave Lapize led a group including of Christophe, Paul and Luigi Ganna, the winner of the previous Edition. Lapize abandoned because of the cold. At the feedzone Christophe stopped to eat, while Van Hauwaert and Ganna went on.The Turchino was covered in snow, with only a tiny path to the top. Christophe reached Ganna, then climbed off his bike and started running, cyclocross style, to warm his limbs. Van Hauweart reached the Turchino tunnel 10 minutes ahead of Christophe. 200 meters after it, Christophe reached him at the side of the road. The Flandrian intended to abandon due to the cold. Christophe pressed on as far as a small hostel where he stopped for two hours to rest. Seeing his bike, Van Hauweart, who had persevered,and Ernest Paul, joined him. After a bowl of minestrone, Christoph reboarded his machine and, snowblind, plunged Into the descent. Aged, 25 he won at Sanremo by more than an hour. Only three other riders finished the race that year. On the finish line ambulance men led Christophe to a hospital. It took him more than a month to recover the full use of his legs and arms. His team doubled his salary to compensate him for the damage to his health. Eug`ene Christophe said that, because of that race, I suffered at the back of the peloton for over two years without winning a race.
Live News
12:52:26
In 1907, the Belgian rider Cyrille Van Hauwaert, who had won the 1907 Paris-Roubaix, rode from Paris to Milan as preparation. He and three other Alcyon team-mates attacked from the start in the rain. On the Capo Berta the Belgian was alone in the lead. Luigi Ganna attacked out of the group of pursuers, but Van Hauwaert won his second classic with a three minute 30 second lead.
Live News
12:50:49
In that first, 1907 edition, the Red Devil Giovanni Gerbi made the racing in the first few hours. He attacked in the pouring rain. The lamentable state of the roads wreaked havoc in the peloton alone in the lead. Behind Gerbi, Gustave Garrigou was the most active. The 23 year old French professional reached Gerbi, at Savona. Gerbi knew he didn’t stand a chance against Garrigou in a sprint, so he wait for his one-off teammate Petit-Breton, who then attacked alone.Petit-Breton reached San Remo alone with four minutes and 30 seconds advantage over Garrigou, who won the sprint for 2nd place ahead of Gerbi. Luigi Ganna was fourth. The peloton came in more than half an hour later. The organizers were delighted a Frenchman had won the first editon, with three other Frenchman made the top 10. Petit-Breton went on to win the Tour de France.
Live News
12:50:08
The Italian winter was long at the start of the 20th century, and the melting of the snow and ice often left the roads badly damaged, so it was decided to organize the first Milano Sanremo on Sunday 14 April. The Gazzetta Dello Sport shared the organisation with the local sports union. The race was open to amateurs as well as professionals holding Italian Cycling League licenses. The peloton gathered at 2:30 in the afternoon. The race was officially started at 3 p.m. Feeding was prohibited, as was exchaning or recieving tires or other parts, and other forms of assistance from cars and motorbikes.The Gazzetta wanted the event to have an international dimension. A journalist called Rossini was dispatched to contract the Frenchman Lucien Petit-Breton on the Côte d’Azur, to ride for Bianchi alongside Giovanni Gerbi. In view of his entry, many riders decided to boycott the race, leaving only 33 starters, among them three Frenchman.
Live News
12:49:14
There are severaal versions of how the Milano Sanremo first came about. In 1906 around a table at the Cafe Rigolò in San Remo, a group of dignitaries, including Eugenio Costamagna, the director of the Gazzetta Dello Sport ,who was holidaying in the town, were discussing ways of promoting the town. They had tried a Milan-San Remo rally, but only two cars had finished. Now the idea came up of a bicycle race, along the lines of the Tour of Lombardy already existed, but in the spring. The distance was an issue, and the 300 kilometer journey bac to Milan afterwards would be expensive. And, wheras Paris-Roubaix could be ridden on a single gear, the Torchino climb between Milan and San Remomight be a problem. Costamagna decided to follow the example of the Tour of Lombardy by inviting 10 Riders to reconnoitre the route andsee if it it could be done. The main test pilots, Giovanni Gerbi, Luigi Ganna and Carlo Galletti, knew the Turchino well, training their regularly to improve their climbing.
Live News
12:48:42
With 177 km still to go, the gap is 5'41"
Live News
12:09:08
Wearing dossard 21, Mathieu Van Der Poel (AFC), is one of the big favourites today. Asked before the stage if he felt under pressure, he said, “No, it’s quite OK. It’s a really long race, and we have some time to get nervous during the race, but now I’m quite relaxed. For sure my shape was really good in Tirreno Adriatico, so I hope to have good legs again today. Of course, Sanremo is special, it’s not really comaprable to any other race, but I’ll try to do my best today.” [Q: 7 riders here have won Milano Sanremo before today. You are not one of the seven, but the press puts you as number one favourite today. Do you agree, and how to you explain that?] “I think they have just looked at the previous races. For sure I am one of the favourites, but I see many other riders also capable of winning. Sanremo is a very strange race, and very difficult one to win, and of course we will do anything we can but it’s not sure to take the win today. No, I think there are different scenarios as well. I think a lot of riders know they have to anticipate before the Poggio, otherwise they are… it’s very difficult to win for them, so I imagine some guys trying something on the Cipressa. “
Live News
12:03:46
Sergio Andrés Higuita, the explosive 23 year old from Medellín climbs and sprints, and seems to have all the skills necessary to do well here. 3rd and 4th in the mountain finishes at the UAE Tour in February, and 3rd and 4th in the uphill finishes at Tirreno Adriatico, he has been showing good form already this spring. Before the stage, the Colombian road race champion said, “It’s an important race. I’m in good form. I’ts my first Milano Sanremo, although I’ve never ridden this far is my life. I hope to do it well today. Yes, it suits my characteristics. I hope I have recovered well from Tirreno Adriatico, and I hope I can be with the favourites today. It’s hard, becauses those chicos‘ – Van Der Poel, van Aert, Alaphilippe – ‘are in much higher form than me. We’ve seen that in the races where they’ve been. But you always have to try go with them, even if they are stronger, and try to bring the win home.”
Live News
11:59:24
Average speed for the first 2 hours: 42.55 kph
Live News
11:54:12
The Team Qhubeka Assos sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo, 5th last year, is riding in the jersey of the European champion. Before the stage, he said, “It’s a special feeling because I love this race, and this year I can ride it in this jersey. I’m in good shape, My form is growing, and it’s a long race, so I hope to be able to ride it in the best possible way. I don’t think I can surprise anyone, but I’ll try. I hope [it will end in a sprint]. It looks unlikely that it will end in a sprint, but we are here to hope, so we hope for a sprint.”
Live News
11:26:46
Wearing dossared number 222, Edvald Boasson Hagen (TDE) is riding his 12th consecutive Milano Sanremo. He has finished the race ten times, his best results being rather surprisingly modest: 10th in 2015, 16th in 2018 and 19th in 2017. BEfore the start, he was asked to reflect on his connection to Milano Sanremo. “I have been doing [this race] for many years now, and I’ve not been able to win it, but, of course, it’s a big race and nice to win. I’ve not been in the best shape now, not great after Paris-Nice, but I hope to be able to help the team in a good way today and maybe I can be also good at the front. But the main thing is to help Anthony [Turgis]. I’m looking forward to the racing to come. Niccolò Bonifazio is super-motivated. He lives close to the finish, so he’s motivated and really. He is strong, and Anthony Turgis is really strong, so I’m looking forwad to the race to help them. It’s going to be a nice day.”Turgis is riding only his fourth Milano Sanremo. He DNFed in 2018, and he was 41st in 2019 and 29th in 2020. As for Niccoló Bonifazio, he finished 5th in his debut Milano Sanremo in 2015, but since then, he has finished only 17th (2016), 96th (2017), 131st (2019) and 46th (2020). Bonifazio hails from Diano Marina, just beside Imperia in Liguria.
Live News
11:23:11
Warren Barguil (ARK) is one of the 38 Milano Sanremo debut riders. Before the race got underway this morning, he said: “I’m like a kid! I’m like a junior, I’m so happy to be here. First Milano Sanremo, it’s been a long wait, but I’m really happy to be here. I hope to be part of the fight for the podium. If I can follow it will be nice, otherwise I will work for Nacer [Bouhanni] for the podium.”The Arkea sprinter Nacer Bouhanni finished 6th in 2015, 4th in 2016 and 8th in 2017, although more recently he has been able to finish only 62nd in 2019 and 38th last year.
Live News
11:18:44
Romain Bardet (DSM) is riding his third Milano Sanremo, after finishing 17th in 2013 and 50th in 2019. In good form after his 8th place in GC at Tirreno Adriatico, he commented this morning: “Yeah, it’s a really special race. You can never know at the start what to expect. Just one second… The time is really long at the beginning and in the end you never know if you will have a good spot or not at the foot of the key climbs to unroll this race, so, yeah, for us it’s a matter of waiting and then trying to stay with the best when the attacks comes. But, yeah, for sure it’s one of the great races. Everyone is hoping to have a good run on the Poggio and cross the line on Via Roma in firsst position. That makes the race so exciting.”
Live News
10:57:21
Average speed for the first hour: 42.7 kph
Live News
10:49:44
At km 15, the gap was 7'32", and at km 30, it was 7'16".
Live News
10:31:11
In August 2020, riding for Team Sunweb, Michael Matthews won the sprint for third place against Sagan and Nizzolo, despite a produse bleeing from a hand injury. High up on the Poggio, he had wanted to attack, but the door closed in front of him and he veered into the side wall, scraping his hand and shoulder. This morning, Matthew, riding dossard 181 and leading his new team, BikeExchange, was asked about the incident. He said: “Yeah, it’s pretty hard to forget, to be honest. Yeah, it’s not the way I planned my Sanremo to finish, with one hand and blood everywhere, but, yeah, in the end I got away with a podium and that was nice, but here we are ready to go better. [Q; You were an underdog last year. Even more so this year?] Yeah, I think so. When you see the guys in Tirreno, they were really on another lesson. Hopefully we can try to and prop up from that and see what happens.”
Live News
10:20:53
Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert’s 27 year old Loic Vliegen, from Rocourt, just outside Liège, said before the stage: “It my 2nd time at Milano Sanremo. Last year, I attacked a bit early. I had no experience of the race, no familirity with the race. So this year, I’ll be a bit more strategic. [Q: For a Wallon, what does this race mean, it being the only Monummnent Philippe Gilbert has not won?] “Yeah, it’s the only race missing from his palmares, I’ts not going to be easy, and I think he knows it. He’s a great champion either way, and even if he doesn’t win, Philippe will remain an idol for me, and I wish him good luck.”
Live News
10:11:33
35 Filippo Tagliani (ANS) Ita is still chasing a good way behind.
Live News
10:09:49
The first photograph of the breakaway!
Live News
10:02:43
- 135 Taco Van Der Hoorn (IWG) Ned
- 162 Mathias Norsgaard (MOV) Den
- 37 Mattia Viel (ANS) Ita
- 232 Nicola Conci (TFS) Ita
- 66 Alessandro Tonelli (BCF) Ita
- 205 Andrea Peron (NTT) Ita
- 206 Charles Planet (NTT) Fra
35 Filippo Tagliani (ANS) Ita is chasing
Live News
09:36:43
In 2009, the rider wearing number 54 today finished 2nd in Milano Sanremo. Before the start, Australia’s Heinrich Haussler (TBV) was asked for his memories of that day. “It really is a long time ago. I still remember the whole day, kind of like it was yesterday. I remember coming into the last kilometre, the last sprint. And I remember directly on the line, I knew I was second, and just this bad feeling in my body. I’ve also been a part of the race when Nibali won. So the race has changed over the years, it’s become more of a harder race, more of a puncheur’s race, and less for the sprinters, so I think I expect the same today. We have Matej Mohorič, he’s been in the top ten the last few years. We have Sonny [Colbrelli], who has also been in the top ten, so Sonny’ll be our wildcard if it comes to a sprint. And obviously we have Damiano [Caruso] and Matej [Mohorič] if the breaks to do, like for example already on the Cipressa and Poggio… if they can, they have to follow.”
Live News
09:25:48
Giovanni Visconti (BCF), aged 38, said before the stage,”It’s one of the most beautiful races of all for an Italian rider. It’s my 13th Sanremo. I’ve never done better than 16th, but here you always start with a dream. Nothing is impossible. You try, even if the condition isn’t what it has to be for this type of race. We want to animate the race, put a man int he breakaway, and if there’s a big breakaway, have a go myself.”
Live News
09:22:22
Wearing dossard 33, Andrii Ponomar (ANS) an 18 year old Ukrainian mentored by Andrei Grivko, starts his first professional race in Milan this morning. After signing in, he spoke to the press. “Yes, thid for me is my first race, and it’s a great race: Milnao Sanremo. All the riders are good, in the WorldTour. It’s my first year as a rpfoessiona, but I want to gain experience for the future, to win nice races. I’m 18 years old, and I’m happy to be here.”
Live News
08:56:12
I’m Matt Rendell, and I will be updating you on the action today. Signing in has already started in Piazza Castello. Roll out is at 9.40 am CET, with the racing start (km 0) scheduled for approx. 10 am. The riders have 299 km of racing ahead of them.
Live News
08:55:04
ENIT is the Italian national tourist board.