Fabio Jakobsen will make his debut at the Italian race this weekend.
The easiest Monument of the season, but the most complicated to win, the race that always has the most electrifying finale of the calendar and which many riders have called it a lottery, Milano-Sanremo (293km) takes place this Saturday.
The 113th edition will once again start from Lombardy’s biggest city and travel to the Ligurian Riviera, where the peloton will take on the well-known selection of Capi (Mele, Cervo and Berta) before the famous Cipressa and Poggio, from the top of the latter plunging down on the fast and technical descent leading to the center of Sanremo and the iconic Via Roma.
Victorious here in 2019, when he outsprinted a select group, World Champion Julian Alaphilippe won’t be at the start of the Italian Monument due to bronchitis, making it the first time in six years that he won’t ride Milano-Sanremo.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s team for Saturday will consist of Andrea Bagioli, Davide Ballerini, Mattia Cattaneo, Mikkel Honoré, Fabio Jakobsen, Florian Sénéchal and Zdenek Stybar.
“Milano-Sanremo is an event we love and which we are always happy to race, but this year we know the chances won’t favour us, as we can’t count on Julian, who we hope will make a fast and complete recovery. We have a young team at the start, featuring also Fabio, who has had a great season so far and will make his first appearance here. Despite not being among the favourites, we are still motivated to do a good race”, said sports director Davide Bramati.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
Mattia Cattaneo 