TNN Prepared for Milan-San Remo, First Monument of the Season

Race: Milan-San Remo

Country: Italy

Total Distance: 291 kilometers

Race Class: WT

Team Novo Nordisk is set to return to Milan-San Remo, the longest single-day race on the UCI calendar, when the prestigious World Tour race kicks off in Milan on Saturday, March 18th. In both 2015 and 2016, Team Novo Nordisk’s Andrea Peron had a momentous day in his home country when he rode the majority of the race in the day’s main breakaway.

“Year after year, our riders are gaining more experienced. We have raced at multiple World Tour events, which allows them to race against the best riders in the world at a high pace,” Team Novo Nordisk Senior Vice President of Athletics Vassili Davidenko said. “For this year’s Milan-San Remo, we are setting realistic goals, and each rider’s success will be measured based on his day. We expect solid teamwork, and at Milan-San Remo, no mistakes can be made. We know we are improving and we hope that shows with a better result at the finish line.”

The first of the five Monuments, or the oldest, hardest and most admired one-day races in cycling, Milan-San Remo is known as the Sprinter’s Classic due to its primarily flat course. While the race typically ends in a reduced bunch sprint, the course features two notable climbs, the Cipressa and Poggio. Both climbs come late in the race and tend to be decisive.

“For the first time, we are racing Tirreno-Adriatico before Milan-San Remo. I feel this will be helpful for the riders to achieve better form coming into San Remo and we plan to take advantage of that opportunity,” Davidenko said. “As a team, the next two weeks are very important. There is only a short gap between the two races and proper recovery will be critical.”

Eleven-time Spanish national mountain-bike and cyclocross champion David Lozano was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 22 years old. The Spaniard is staring his third Milan-San Remo and wants to build on the experience he’s learned in prior editions.

“My goals are to be part of the breakaway or finish the race in the front group. Last year, when I arrived at the last climb, the pace was too much for me after nearly 300 kilometers of racing. This year, I want to pass the Poggio with the front group if that’s possible,” Lozano said. “I’m mentally ready for a long day in the saddle. This is the first year I’ve done Tirreno leading into Milan-San Remo, so hopefully that will add to my form.” 

**Team Novo Nordisk’s official roster will be announced 12 hours before the race start.

(Photo: ©TDWSport)