“I rate his capabilities as a sprinter almost as high as those of Jonathan Milan” – But can Filippo Ganna return Italy to the top of Milano-Sanremo?
Cycling
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.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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Front24209-11-2026 - Eccelente! That's 7 riders in total in Red Bull who come from the devo team, 8 if you include Lipo
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- as excellent as maga rednecks chloe dygert (and quinn simmons)?Ketterechts09-11-2026
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