Filippo Ganna doesn't want to wait until Poggio: "Maybe it’s better to find something earlier"

After twice finishing second at Milano-Sanremo, Filippo Ganna heads into this year’s edition aiming to take the next step and fight for victory against some of the peloton’s big favourites such as Tadej Pogacar or Mathieu van der Poel. His recent form at Tirreno-Adriatico has reinforced the sense that he arrives in top condition.

The INEOS Grenadiers Italian showcased his power again on the final stage of the Italian race. With a strong attack, he hauled back the escapee Jonas Abrahamsen at the head of the bunch, a move that ultimately triggered a mass sprint in which his teammate Sam Welsford took second, beaten only by sprinter Jonathan Milan.

However, that kind of finale is not common in the Italian Monument. Over the past decade, only a couple of bunch sprints (the last time in 2018) have unfolded on Via Roma. More often the win is decided by small groups or even solo attacks, a scenario that could favour a rider like Ganna, a specialist in prolonged efforts.

Tirreno-Adriatico also served as a testing ground for the Italian. The two-time world time trial champion dominated the opening stage against the clock and then left strong impressions on more demanding days.

On stage 4, with a mountainous profile that echoed a scaled-down version of Milano-Sanremo, Ganna managed to stay in a front group made up mainly of climbers. Moreover, on Saturday’s queen stage he even showed himself in a group ahead of some of the favourites.

That level convinced his sports director at the British team, Kurt-Asle Arvesen.

"Yes, everything is on track for Milano-Sanremo," Arvesen said in comments to the German sports programme Sportschau.

The Italian’s strong form has also been acknowledged by one of his main rivals at the Monument, reigning champion Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman was impressed by Ganna’s level at Tirreno.

"It was already clear last year how good he was at Sanremo. I expect him to be at the same level," Van der Poel said of the Italian. "If you saw his time trial here, it was very impressive. And then he was in the group that consisted almost entirely of climbers, besides him. I think he’s in good shape again."

Ganna himself did not want to reveal too many details about his race strategy, though he hinted he could try to move before the decisive section.

When asked about the famous ascent of the Poggio di Sanremo, he replied enigmatically: "Maybe it’s better to find something earlier."

That opens the door for the Italian to anticipate on the Cipressa, the preceding climb that has at times also been used to split the race before the final plunge towards Via Roma.

The British team prefers to stay cautious. Arvesen noted that in a race as unpredictable as Milano-Sanremo it is hard to forecast how things will unfold.

"There are many teams here, with many different plans. That makes any prediction difficult. But we are building a really strong team around him. And then we have to be in the right position on the Cipressa and the Poggio."