La Primavera: Milan-San Remo

Milan-San Remo is rapidly approaching, just like the rest of the Spring Classics, but serves as a good indicator of things to come for the Classics Contenders.  Last year’s race ended with one of the finest finishes in recent memory, with Mark Cavendish just pulling off the sprint victory over Heinrich Haussler.  He won by the smallest of margins, but the margin he overcame in the final 200 meters was simply incredible.

The voyage from Milan to San Remo has been known as La Primavera for decades, and is known widely as a sprinter’s race, it can reward those with endurance rather than ultimate finishing speed.  In 2009, there were some words between Boonen and Cavendish about Cav’s ability to climb the Poggio and Cipressa.  These two hills can spell disaster for a sprinter that isn’t quite as prepared, and Cav made Tommeke eat his words, as he passed the former World Champ on them.  Cav’s victory showed the preparation that has to have resulted from his coach Erik Zabel, himself a 4-time winner.  Haussler nearly owned the victory, and was crushed in defeat.  It was an impressive sprint with Cavendish closing a 10 meter gap in the final 100m.

For 2010, many of the previous contenders will be back to show their legs.  One competitor that may not make it into the race is Haussler.  It’s been reported that a nagging knee problem may keep him from La Primavera for 2010.  So, unless he makes a quick recovery, it looks like last year’s near-winner will be sitting this one out.  Here are a few picks for this year’s edition:

Ale-Jet – Alessandro Petacchi has made a strong return to the peloton this season, already racking up a couple victories in early season races.  He has overcome some injuries, and banished some of the ghosts of doping in his past, and seems to be returning to past form.  At best, he is a dark horse for victory, but as a former winner, it’s hard to count him out.  He has a strong finish, but luck decides many of these early races, and this one is no different.  5th place in 2009

Thor Hushovd – Thor has proven that he is a forced to be reckoned with all season long, and he too is coming back from some illness and setbacks this season.  In one of the most miserable editions of KBK, he endured to the finish with teammate Dom Rollin.  As a Green Jersey winner at the Tour, he obviously possesses the finishing strength, but if you remember last season, Thor set off on an attack in the mountains on Stage 17 to pick up intermediate points.  He picked up and passed well-known climber Franco Pellizotti in the process.  Thor has been building strength all spring, and I think he has a great chance of pulling of a victory. 3rd Place in 2009

Pippo Pozzato – A winner in 2006, Pozzato has been coming around to form, and has his heart set on the Spring Classics once again.  Last year’s 2nd place at Roubaix, and 5th at Flanders showed that he is always a contender, but he needs to make it into the front group on the Poggio to have a chance at victory.  Last year, he attacked on the Poggio, but cited the peloton’s slower pace on the Cipressa as the reason he couldn’t stay away.  Look for him up front, and attacking in a similar fashion if his legs are good.  22nd in 2009

Cavendish – As last year’s winner, he will be marked and followed everywhere he goes, but his form thus far has not been impressive.  He was expected to be climbing better at this point in the season, but some serious dental problems had kept him off the bike for some time.  I hope he can prove me wrong, but I consider him a very, very dark horse.

Dominique Rollin – Ok, I know I’ve talked Rollin up for weeks now, but this really is a guy that is still unlocking his potential.  At KBK, he was able to attack out of the peloton to bridge up to Thor, and finished together.  Rollin is filled to the brim with potential as he has found his legs, and I think if teammates Haussler and Hushovd prove to be non-contenders, he will be there to pickup the torch.  If he can pull off a Classics victory, I think it will be the first in a strong career for him.

Those are my main picks for victory, but there are many other options out there, Boasson-Hagen, Philippe Gilbert, Boonen, Bennati, basically any sprinter who can make it up the Cipressa and Poggio in the front, has a chance.  Luck makes these races a crapshoot to pick.

Well, lets hope I get close with some of these picks, we’ll be on the edge of our chairs here at Winston’s Headquarters in anticipation.