Well, we’re here for the first big Classic of the season. It’s one of my favorite races of the year, but also one of the most stressful. Though the early morning start in Milan is always relaxed with a strange, dull, cold Milan-feeling about it, the mood is soon blanketed by what’s to come.
After heading out along the plains from Milan toward the coast, the tension begins to build. By the time you pass the first feed zone and head down to the coast after 120 km, everything is on the up – the stress levels, the energy levels, the speed, the temperature. They’re all heading toward a massive crescendo. Once along the coast, with every kilometre, the race becomes faster as the tension continues to build.
By the time you get to the 270 km mark, which welcomes us with the Cipressa, you know you’ve come to the first critical part of the race. The Cipressa signals the first make or break point. For me, the Cipressa is the most critical part of the race. Position is important and if I have that well covered, I just have to hang on as best as I can over the 6km accent; one ten-minute block of intensity.
After that, it’s back down to the coast. Then, before you know it, you hit the next critical moment of this epic race – the Poggio. This is, like the Cipressa, is no more than a ten-minute make or break point. Position is everything and you have to be in the top 30 at the top of the Poggio to eliminate the ‘luck’ factor, or the game is all but over. Once at the top you have the most crazy descent down to the finish you’ll do all year.
Put it on the line and hope that you don’t crash. It’s that simple.
The amazing thing about Milan-San Remo is that it’s 300 km or about 7 hrs, and really it only comes down to making it through two 10-minute periods – the Cipressa and the Poggio – and a gnarly descent.
- Julz
