As the peloton lines up for
Milano-Sanremo, all eyes in
Italy will be on
Filippo Ganna, perhaps the nation’s best hope of ending a seven-year
wait for a home victory at the race. The 28-year-old powerhouse has collected
stage wins at both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana, and has twice
worn the rainbow jersey in the time trial. But a Monument? That box remains
unticked.
Not since Vincenzo Nibali’s audacious solo victory in 2018
has an Italian stood on the top step of the podium. As the race returns to the
Via Roma, could Ganna finally deliver number 52 for Italy?
Alessandro Petacchi, who last claimed this title for Italy
in a bunch sprint back in 2005, believes Ganna has more than one path to
victory.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, he praised the INEOS Grenadiers
rider’s versatility.
“He can go solo but he can also finish it in a sprint.
Filippo does not have the reputation of being a good sprinter but he is really
fast, especially at the end of a long and difficult race like San Remo. I rate
his capabilities as a sprinter almost as high as those of Jonathan Milan.”
As always, competition will be fierce. Defending champion
Mathieu van der Poel, one of the top favourites for today’s race, weighed in on
Ganna’s form and threat level.
“Filippo Ganna is in reasonably good shape, but I am not
impressed. I think everyone knows how strong he is as a rider and he has been
close a few times in San Remo. He will definitely be someone to be reckoned
with.”