Cycling, Milan-San Remo: meeting in the Poggio descent

Milan-San Remo often breaks up on the hill climb. A long 285 km march from the Lombard capital to the Poggio, a steep incline whose foot is 9.2 km away via Roma de San Remo. Saturday, March 114, March 18^e The edition of the first “monument” (the most prestigious one-day events) of the cycling season should not escape the norm.

In 1960, the organizer added to improve the route, the Poggio, named after the village overlooking the Ligurian Sea, is almost insignificant in profile (3.6 km 3.7%). And yet, every year he suffers from legs that are associated with him at a terrible speed. Since 2016 and the victory of the French Arnaud Demar, the punchers have been enjoying themselves there. But as it slides Niccolò Bonifacio, rider of the Intermarché-Circus-Wanty team, who rides the Milan-San Remo roads for training, “Pojo’s climb ends at the bottom of the descent”.

Matej Mohoric would not say otherwise. In 2022, the Slovenian won thanks to the descent, where everyone took risks, his nose fell into the exhaust pipes of the organization’s motorcycles, he crashed twice. “I wrecked my bike”He was proud after crossing the finish line, pointing to the telescopic seat he only had in the peloton. This gadget, which allows you to adjust the height of the saddle using a button inside the handle, allows you to lower the center of gravity for aerodynamic gains, but also for better control of your machine.

No one knows how decisive this technological contribution was in obtaining his first “monument”, as Matej Mohorić figures, whatever his mount, among the best downhill riders in the peloton. The rider of the Bahrain-winning team is not a pioneer: Belgian Eddie Merckx in 1969 and Irishman Sean Kelly in 1992 have already won in the toboggan run back to San Remo. But, in 2022, Mohorić recalled the importance of this origin for those who hope to occupy one of the main roles during the “Primavera”, the nickname of this classic that accompanies or precedes the arrival of spring.

“no time to breathe”

“Since the slopes are not so demanding, the descent can become fundamental or even decisive”Confirms Jacopo Guarnieri, rider of the Lotto Dstny team, who regularly trains on the slopes planted with lemon trees of the Poggio. “It’s important, but it’s necessary to climb Adds Frenchman Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies), second in 2022. only.