LA CLASSICISSIMA, A PREVIEW

As classics go, Milano-Sanremo is the longest of them all (almost 300km) and one of the oldest (1907).
Eddy Merckx has won it a record 7 times. It has been marred by late snow at times and its route has been modified here and there, but at its core is the length and flatness, so one for the sprinters traditionally but not so much of late.
There are a few lumps, but although short and not very steep, they usually come at the end of a long day on the saddle and have been decisive in the outcome of the race.
In recent times, the climbs of Cipressa (added in 1982) and Poggio (added in 1960) have been the theatres of all-out attacks. The breakneck and twisty descent from the Poggio especially, induced some of the most entertaining racing... and some awful crashes too.
The finish in the town of Sanremo has moved posts a few times but whether it was in the false flat of Via Roma or on the pan flat promenade by the sea, many a time it has ended in a bunch sprint.

From recent and current riders there have been a few surprises:
Pozzato, Goss, and Ciolek would not have been the bookies' favourites.
Cavendish won it by a tyre width after chasing Haussler.
Cancellara and Nibali won it after a successful solo attack on the Poggio.
And two years ago there was the controversy when the winner Demare was accused of seeking help by climbing attached to the team car.

Nibali, Demare, Degenkolb and Kristoff have all won it once and will try to double up on the monument. None of them have shown great form so far.

For Bahrain Merida, Nibali and Colbrelli. Nibs was not considered for the win last year because of his lackluster form in his first few months, but he pulled it off somehow. The same is happening this year, but, considering his performance on his latest race, Tirreno-Adriatico, last year he finished 11th at 1:59 from the winner, while this year he finished 15th at 4:34 on a less hilly course. So it seems unlikely he will repeat the feat, but as it's a long race of attrition and incredible passion for an Italian rider, you never know.
His teammate Colbrelli is rearing to have a go at the Primavera and has shown speed but struggles against his fellow sprinters.

Bora Hansgrohe's Sagan has been on the podium twice and he came so close two years ago. He has the know-how, the team, and the legs. He's one of the top favourites. They have another option in a sprint finish with Bennett, who's fighting for a space in a GT.

CCC are not having a great 2019. Van Avermaet is not as strong as in past years but he has the experience and the tactical sense and a mean sprint. He will be marked closely.

Deceuninck-QuickStep have the widest choice: Alaphilippe, who's on fire, winning left right and centre. The Frenchman came very close two years ago when after 300km of racing he was third, beaten on the line by Sagan and the winner Kwiatkowski;

Viviani is their most prolific sprinter and after his many wins last year, his confidence is sky high (no pun intended); Gilbert would love to add this monument to his long and rich palmares, has 2 podiums but not done well here since 2011.

Kwiatkowski is Team Sky's hope for a result in the classics. He has won it two years ago by pipping Sagan on the line after the Slovak underestimated his two breakaways' companions and started the sprint too soon, running out of steam in the closing metres. Kwiato has been concentrating more on stage races since 2017 but a late attack can always succeed and if anybody can do it, he definitely can.

Lotto Soudal have Australian sprinter Ewan. He has come second and he is going fast this year with his new team. If it's a bunch sprint he'll be there.

Mitchelton Scott will back Trentin for Saturday. The Italian sprinter can climb really well and that can be crucial on the Cipressa/Poggio combo. I don't see him attacking solo, but he could follow the wheels of someone who will go just before the Poggio apex.

Jumbo Visma have one of the fastest sprinters in Groenewegen and they'll hope for a bunch sprint to launch the Dutch rocket.

Trek Segafredo and UAE will have Degenkolb and Kristoff, both eager but struggling to show past form (and speed). But surely Gaviria will be UAE's main man for the job, as he's shown speed and he wants to start winning big.

Riders to watch: Cort Nielsen (Astana), Kragh Andersen (Sunweb), Nizzolo (Dimension Data).... and how about an early attack mid-Cipressa by Bardet of AG2R, after all he has shown great qualities in one day racing.

Weather forecast:
17C - Dry
slight headwind along the coast