Milan-San Remo

Milan-San Remo will start 40km south in Pavia this year after relations between RCS and the Milanese authorities turned sour. The name, however, stays the same, as does its status as the longest Monument, with 288km leading to the finish on the Via Roma after the ascent of the Cipressa followed by the Poggio, the race’s final climb.

- Tom Thewlis

Saturday, 16 March | Italy

Judging by Tadej Pogačar’s form and audacity at Strade Bianche earlier in March, it might be an atypical edition. Attacks from far out traditionally fail here, but if the Slovenian is on form, tradition could be turned on its head.

It is also Mathieu van der Poel’s road debut for 2024, with last year’s winner hoping to hit the ground running, as his training partner Pogačar did a fortnight previously. All eyes will be on that pair, but this is a race which is hard to pick favourites for, such is the breadth of possibilities. Crucially, however, there is no Wout van Aert, with the Belgian opting to skip it to train at altitude for the cobbled Classics.

Historically a race for the sprinters, La Classicissima has gradually become a race for the all-rounder, like a Pogačar or a van der Poel. Grand Tour winners like Vincenzo Nibali are counted among the list of recent winners, as are an array of puncheurs including Julian Alaphilippe, van Aert and Jasper Stuyven. It has not been won by a sprinter since Frenchman Arnaud Démare triumphed in 2018. One former sprint winner, Mark

Cavendish, will skip the opportunity to race a final Milan-San Remo, as his team, Astana-Qazaqstan, are prioritising the need to win vital UCI points. The 38-year-old won the 2009 edition of the Classic on debut.

“Milan-San Remo will always be a special race for me but this season I also have a job to do,” he said.