Milan-San Remo is the longest World Tour race on the calendar. At 291 kilometers, the opening stages of the race will proceed at a slow simmer. 

The smaller teams will vie for a spot in the breakaway of the day, while the pre-race favorites will go about hiding in the shelter of the peloton.

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The fireworks will begin in earnest as the riders approach the Cipressa at the 30-kilometers to go marker. From this point onward, there will be no hiding from the effects of attrition, as the riders approach the seven-hour mark of racing.

La Primavera is often won by a sprinter. However, the climb and ensuing descent of the Poggio with six kilometers to go introduces an element of chaos to the closing stages of the race. 

A well-timed attack on the Poggio has the potential to lead to a solo victor, or a drastically reduced group. More often than not, however, it takes a well-rounded rider with a fast finish to emerge victorious at the season’s opening monument.

Here, we present five favorites for the title at La Primavera.

Elia Viviani

The reigning Italian national champion has identified Milan-San Remo as one of his primary goals for the 2019 season. Viviani will come into La Primavera with no shortage of form or confidence, having notched up at least one victory in every race he entered in 2019.

Julian Alaphilippe

Having one outright favorite on the roster is seldom good enough for Deceuninck-Quick Step. In addition to Viviani, the Belgian powerhouse team will bring the ever versatile Julian Alaphilippe to Milan-San Remo. 

It is unlikely that any rider would be able to get the better of the Frenchman on the ascent, or on the descent of the Poggio. 

Alaphilippe is a bonafide threat to replicate the winning move of Vincenzo Nibali in 2018. The only question is whether he will be shepherding Viviani down the descent, or whether he will be given free reign to strike out on his own.

Peter Sagan

There are few races that have escaped the palmares of the three-time world champion. Milan-San Remo may be the most notable missing piece of Sagan’s storied career. 

The Slovakian champion finished in second place in both 2013 and 2017 and regularly features in the top 10. 

Milan-San Remo has the potential to be Sagan’s third monument victory.

Greg Van Avermaet

Like Sagan, Van Avermaet is often left to fend for himself in the finale of the classics, while receiving little to no help from his rivals. His best result in La Primavera is fifth, but he certainly has proven himself to have no shortage of grit at the end of cycling’s longest and hardest races.

If Van Avermaet can get over the Poggio in a reduced group of riders, not many will be able to out-kick him to the line.

Fernando Gaviria

The young Colombian sprinter is one of, if not the fastest sprinter in the bunch. Should the race come down to a field sprint, Gaviria stands as Viviani’s greatest rival. Gaviria enters Milan-San Remo backed by Alexander Kristoff. The duo from UAE Team Emirates may be the two most formidable allies in the closing kilometers of the race.