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Start List Preview & History
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Milan to San-Remo
Milano - San Remo World Cup
Milan, Italy, March 18, 2000
Preview Start List Past Winners
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The traditional opening race of the Classics season is the 294 km Milan-San Remo, nicknamed "La Primavera", as it is always raced on the first weekend of spring. It is also the first race in the men's World Cup competition, a total of 10 races concluding with the Tour of Lombardy in October. The race is, to put it mildly, huge in Italy, and an Italian winner is given a huge amount of respect and prestige for the rest of his career - even if he never performs quite as highly again.
Although it certainly doesn't qualify as a hilly classic, it makes up for that in length, being almost 300 km from start to finish. The start (altitude: 112 m) from Milan into the plains is fairly flat, meandering along for 140 km until the riders crest the Turchino Pass (143 km). This is 432 m high at the summit, although it is not too steep, climbing 100 m in the last 5 kilometers.
After this, the race descends into Voltiri where it follows the Cote d'Azur for mmany kilometers, punctuated by a few short climbs (Capo Mele (65 m), Capo Serva Mimosa (75 m) and the Capo Berta (130 m)). These are a prelude to the main climb, the 240 m high Cipressa at kilometer 272. This climb is 6 kilometers long at an average of 4%. However, the speed of the peloton is usually great at this point, and it is a key part in the race's final selection. Once over the top, there is just 20 km until the finish and the riders in with a show are normally at the front of the peloton at this stage.
Finally, there is the climb of the 3.75 kilometer long, 162 m high Poggio, with the summit at 6 kilometers from the finish. The race is often decided here and should a rider escape on his own, he has a good chance of winning. However, in recent years the race has come down to a bunch sprint as more riders have managed to make it to the closing kilometers. A fully operational lead out train is very hard to beat, but last year's winner Andrei Tchmil managed to do just that as he slipped the bunch with 1 kilometer to go. This is rare, but not unheard of, especially when there is a rider of Tchmil's class and canniness in the lead group.
This year, all eyes will be on German Erik Zabel (Telekom), who has made no secret of the fact that he wants to win the classic for the third time. He almost did last year except for Tchmil. Zabel will be well supported by his Telekom team, as many seem to be in good form at the moment (not Jan Ullrich, who will not start). Steffen Wesemann and Andreas Klöden have all notched up wins this year, the latter in overall classification of the recently completed Paris-Nice.
In addition, there will be Belgian Peter van Petegem (Farm Frites) who believes he can do a "Colombo" (MSR 1996) and sneak away towards the end. Johan Museeuw (Mapei) is another one to look out for, as he has already won the Het Volk this year, however he normally is at his best in the Belgian classics. Compatriot Frank Vandenbroucke (Cofidis) will probably not be a force either, as he has missed the last few races due to an aggravation of his shoulder injury when he fell down the stairs before Paris-Nice. Neither will potential favourite, Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) who has stated that he will not ride, despite having won a stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico. The overall winner of that race, Abraham Olano (ONCE) would probably like to win Milan-San Remo but the parcours does not really suit him [it's not a 10-50 km individual time trial].
World number one, Laurent Jalabert (ONCE) does find the course to his liking, having won the race in 1995 and he will be a major threat on Saturday. Last year's winner, Andrei Tchmil (Lotto) will be there and can not be ruled out, but the pack will surely not let him go as they did last year. Another rider in top form is Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu, riding for his first time in the classic despite being 30 years old. The AG2R rider has already won six races this year, and will be more than a match for Zabel should he make it over the Poggio in reasonable condition.
World Champion, Oscar Freire (Mapei) is another who is in excellent form at the moment, having won two stages of the Tirreno-Adriatico, and several others in the Spanish tours earlier this year. Considering that he is such a powerful rider on the climbs as well, he will surely be a threat at the end, and will be well supported by his Mapei team. Finally there is the Lion King, Mario Cipollini, who has come close but never succeeded in winning this classic. It is probably the last race that Mario requires to complete his enormous palmares, and it would cement his place in Italian cycling forever.
LOTTO-ADECCO AG2R PREVOYANCE 1. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) 11. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 2. Mario Aerts (Bel) 12. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) 3. Koen Beeckman (Bel) 13. Lauri Aus (Est) 4. Thierry Marichal (Bel) 14. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) 5. Paul van Hyfte (Bel) 15. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) 6. Kurt van Lancker (Bel) 16. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 7. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) 17. Gilles Maignan (Fra) 8. Geert Verheyen (Bel) 18. Benoît Salmon (Fra) AMICA CHIPS-TACCONI BANESTO 21. Ivan Basso (Ita) 31. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) 22. Vitali Kokorine (Rus) 32. Tomas Brozyna (Pol) 23. Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) 33. Alberto Benito Guerrero (Spa) 24. Oscar Pozzi (Ita) 34. Franciso Mancebo Perez (Spa 25. Ruslan Ovanov (Mda) 35. David Navas Chica (Spa) 26. Diego Ferrari (Ita) 36. Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) 27. Kurt Asle Arvesen (Nor) 37. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) 28. Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) 38. Alex Zülle (Swi) CANTINA TOLLO COFIDIS 41. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) 51. Steve De Wolf (Bel) 42. Roberto Sgambelluri (Ita) 52. Peter Farazijn (Bel) 43. Marco A. di Renzo (Ita) 53. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) 44. Alessandro Baronti (Ita) 54. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) 45. Massimo Giunti (Ita) 55. Nico Mattan (Bel) 46. Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) 56. Chris Peers (Bel) 47. Paolo Bossini (Ita) 57. Jo Planckaert (Bel) 48. Guido Trenti (USA) 58. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) FARM FRITES FASSA BORTOLO 61. Geert van Bondt (Bel) 71. Fabio Baldato (Ita) 62. Sergei Ivanov (Rus) 72. Wladimir Belli (Ita) 63. Andreas Klier (Ger) 73. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) 64. Servais Knaven (Ned) 74. Dimitri Konyshev (Rus) 65. Michel Lafis (Swe) 75. Nicola Loda (Ita) 66. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) 76. Luca Mazzanti (Ita) 67. Peter van Petegem (Bel) 77. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 68. Glen Magnusson (Swe) 78. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) FESTINA KELME-COSTA BLANCA 81. Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) 91. Oscar Sevilla Ribera (Spa) 82. David Clinger (USA) 92. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) 83. Giuseppe di Grande (Ita) 93. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) 84. Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) 94. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Spa) 85. Rolf Huser (Swi) 95. José J. Gomez Gonzalo (Spa) 86. Fabian Jeker (Swi) 96. Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) 87. Jonathan Hall (Aus) 97. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) 88. David Plaza Romero (Spa) 98. Ruben Galvan Manchon (Spa) FRANCAISE DES JEUX LAMPRE-DAIKIN 101. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) 111. Oscar Camenzind (Swi) 102. Frank Hoj (Den) 112. Franco Ballerini (Ita) 103. Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) 113. Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) 104. Xavier Jan (Fra) 114. Robert Hunter (Rsa) 105. Bradley McGee (Aus) 115. Marco Serpellini (Ita) 106. Christophe Mengin (Fra) 116. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) 107. Lars Michaelsen (Den) 117. Jan Svorada (Cze) 108. Franck Perque (Fra) 118. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) LIQUIGAS-PATA MAPEI-QUICK STEP 121. Davide Rebellin (Ita) 131. Michel Bartoli (Ita) 122. Marco Zanotti (Ita) 132. Paolo Bettini (Ita) 123. Fausto Dotti (Ita) 133. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) 124. Ellis Rastelli (Ita) 134. Johan Museeuw (Bel) 125. Cristian Salvato (Ita) 135. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) 126. Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) 136. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) 127. Denis Zanette (Ita) 137. Andrea Tafi (Ita) 128. Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) 138. Stefano Zanini (Ita) MEMORY CARD-JACK & JONES MERCATONE UNO-ALBACOM 141. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) 151. Ermanno Brignoli (Ita) 142. Bo Hamburger (Den) 152. Michele Coppolillo (Ita) 143. Martin Rittsel (Swe) 153. Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) 144. 154. Riccardo Forconi (Ita) 145. Jesper Skibby (Den) 155. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 146. Allan Johansen (Den) 156. Marcello Siboni (Ita) 147. Frank Corvers (Bel) 157. Marco Velo (Ita) 148. René Jörgensen (Den) 158. Enrico Zaina (Ita) MOBILVETTA-ROSSIN ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK 161. Mirko Gualdi (Ita) 171. Inigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) 162. Evgueni Berzin (Rus) 172. Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) 163. Milan Kadlec (Cze) 173. Davide Extebarria (Spa) 164. Serguei Lelekin (Rus) 174. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) 165. Filippo Baldo (Ita) 175. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 166. Ivan Quaranta (Ita) 176. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) 167. Graziano Recinella (Ita) 177. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) 168. Michele Gobbi (Ita) 178. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) TEAM POLTI RABOBANK 181. Pascal Hervé (Fra) 191. Jan Boven (Ned) 182. Rossano Brasi (Ita) 192. Steven de Jongh (Ned) 183. Enrico Cassani (Ita) 193. Maarten den Bakker (Ned) 184. Mirko Celestino (Ita) 194. Karsten Kroon (Ned) 185. Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) 195. Rolf Sørensen (Den) 186. Fabio Sacchi (Ita) 196. Leon van Bon (Ned) 187. Richard Virenque (Fra) 197. Marc Wauters (Bel) 188. Bart Voskamp (Ned) 198. Markus Zberg (Swi) SAECO-VALLI&VALLI DEUTSCHE TELEKOM 201. Mario Cipollini (Ita) 211. Rolf Aldag (Ger) 202. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) 212. Alberto Elli (Ita) 203. Alessio Galletti (Ita) 213. Gianmatteo Fagnini (Ita) 204. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) 214. Kai Hundertmark (Ger) 205. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) 215. Jan Schaffrath (Ger) 206. Guiseppi Calcaterra (Ita) 216. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) 207. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) 217. Steffen Wesemann (Ger) 208. Mario Scirea (Ita) 218. Erik Zabel (Ger) US POSTAL SERVICE VINI CALDIROLA-SIDERMEC 221. Lance Armstrong (USA) 231. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) 222. Frankie Andreu (USA) 232. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) 223. Julian Dean (NZl) 233. Mauro Gianetti (Swi) 224. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) 234. Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) 225. George Hincapie (USA) 235. Marco Milesi (Ita) 226. Benoit Joachim (Lux) 236. Matthew White (Aus) 227. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) 237. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) 228. Steve Vermaut (Bel) 238. Mauro Radaelli (Ita) VITALICIO SEGUROS 241. Elio Aggiano (Ita) 242. Francisco Cerezo Perales (Spa) 243. Juan C. Dominguez (Spa) 244. Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) 245. Victor Pena Grisales (Col) 246. José L. Rebollo Aguado (Spa) 247. Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) 248. Jan Hruska (Cze)
1907 Lucien Petit-Breton (Fra) 1908 Cyrille Van Hauwaert (Bel) 1909 Luigi Ganna (Ita) 1910 Eugene Christophe (Fra) 1911 Gustave Garrigou (Fra) 1912 Henri Pellessier (Fra) 1913 Odiel Defraeye (Bel) 1914 Ugo Agostoni (Ita) 1915 Ezio Gorlaita (Ita) 1917 Gaetano Belloni (Ita) 1918 Costante Girardengo (Ita) 1919 Angelo Cremo (Ita) 1920 Gaetano Belloni (Ita) 1921 Costante Girardengo (Ita) 1922 Giovanni Brunero (Ita) 1923 Costante Girardengo (Ita) 1924 Pietro Linari (Ita) 1925 Costante Girardengo (Ita) 1926 Costante Girardengo (Ita) 1927 Pietro Chesi (Ita) 1928 Costante Girardengo (Ita) 1929 Alfredo Binda (Ita) 1930 Michele Mara (Ita) 1931 Alfredo Binda (Ita) 1932 Alfredo Bovet (Ita) 1933 Learco Guerra (Ita) 1934 Joseph Demysere (Bel) 1935 Giuseppe Olmo (Ita) 1936 Angelo Varetto (Ita) 1937 Cesarde Del Cancia (Ita) 1938 Giuseppe Olmo (Ita) 1939 Gino Bartali (Ita) 1940 Gino Bartali (Ita) 1941 Pierino Favalli (Ita) 1942 Adolfo Leoni (Ita) 1943 Cino Cinelli (Ita) 1946 Fausto Coppi (Ita) 1947 Gino Bartali (Ita) 1948 Fausto Coppi (Ita) 1949 Fausto Coppi (Ita) 1950 Gino Bartali (Ita) 1951 Louison Bobet (Fra) 1952 Loretto Petrucci (Ita) 1953 Loretto Petrucci (Ita) 1954 Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel) 1955 Germain Derijcke (Bel) 1956 Fred DeBruyne (Bel) 1957 Miguel Poblet (Spa) 1958 Rik Van Looy (Bel) 1959 Miguel Poblet (Spa) 1960 René Privat (Fra) 1961 Raymond Poulidor (Fra) 1962 Emil Daems (Bel) 1963 Joseph Groussard (Fra) 1964 Tom Simpson (GB) 1965 Arie den Hartog (Ned) 1966 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1967 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1968 Rudi Altig (DEU) 1969 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1970 Michele Dancelli (Ita) 1971 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1972 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1973 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) 1974 Felice Gimondi (Ita) 1975 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1976 Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1977 Jan Raas (Ned) Frisol-Gazelle 1978 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) Sanson 1979 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) Gis 1980 Pierino Gavazzi (Ita) Magniflex Olmo 1981 Alfons DeWolf (Bel) Vermeer-Thijs-Gios 1982 Marc Gomez (Fra) Wolber Spidel 1983 Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) Del Tongo 1984 Francesco Moser (Ita) GiS Gelati-LucTuc 1985 Hennie Kuiper (Ned) 1986 Sean Kelly (Ire) KAS Mavic 1987 Erich Mächler (Swi) Carrera 1988 Laurent Fignon (Fra) System U 1989 Laurent Fignon (Fra) System U 1990 Gianni Bugno (Ita) Château d'Ax 1991 Claudio Chiappucci (Ita) Carrera 1992 Sean Kelly (Ire) Festina 1993 Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Lampre 1994 Giorgio Furlan (Ita) Gewiss Ballan 1995 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE 1996 Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Gewiss Playbus 1997 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom 1998 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom-ADR 294 kms in 7.10.14 (41.00 km/h) 1999 Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 6.52.37 (42.752 km/h) Mario Stiehl from Berlin compiles the Past Winners
Victories by Country at Milan-San Remo
Italy: 46 Belgium: 20 France: 12 Holland: 3 Ireland, Spain and Germany: 3 Great Britain and Switzerland: 1