"Filippo can win" - Daniele Bennati backing compatriot Ganna for Milano-Sanremo success

Ex-pro Daniele Bennati has given his support to his compatriot, Filippo Ganna as the Italian looks for success at the upcoming Milano-Sanremo.

"Of course, Sanremo could also be good for him: due to his characteristics Filippo cannot win a group sprint, but he can also be very fast in a small group," Bennati says of Ganna. "If I have to think of a comparison I say Cancellara: Filippo can win with a Fabian action. Just as he can think of Roubaix, at the top of his condition he could do very well."

Of course as big as a Milano-Sanremo winnwouldnbe for Ganna, Bennati realises there could be bigger targets in his eyeline. "Unfortunately he has to make the choices, thinking about what he feels. I say unfortunately because I would love to have him available for the world championship too," he explains. "But this year it coincides with the one on the track, and at least until Paris I understood that the priority is the velodrome."

"Everyone would like Ganna, I would have also wanted him in Australia for the road test but he chose to set the hour record. Too bad, even for him: the paths of the World and European Championships will not always be suited to his characteristics. It’s nobody’s fault, it’s normal to make choices," he concludes.