Lidl-Trek arm Pedersen and Milan with former Milano-Sanremo winner Stuyven: “I think we all want to be there in the front group after Poggio”

Lidl-Trek have confirmed their line up for Milano-Sanremo, and it’s one packed with experience, speed, and serious firepower. With former winner Jasper Stuyven at the helm and support from Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan, the team heads into Saturday’s Monument with multiple cards to play.

Pedersen enters the race still chasing his first ever Monument win. A former world champion with stage victories across all three Grand Tours, the Dane is one of the most talented riders in the peloton. His performances at Paris-Nice last week was the most impressive climbing of his career, a crucial weapon for surviving the Poggio alongside the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar.

Alongside him is Jonathan Milan, the winner of the points classification at the last two Giro d’Italia. The Italian is set to make his Tour de France debut in July, but all focus for now is on whether he can hang on over the Cipressa and Poggio and fight for a result in Sanremo.

Crucially, Jasper Stuyven returns to the race he won back in 2021. The 32-year-old Belgian is full of experience and thrives in tactical scenarios, which Sanremo often delivers in abundance. Speaking via a team press release, Stuyven made it clear that this is a race that still motivates him deeply.

“I definitely always like to be back on the start line of Milano-Sanremo, I think that’s normal. I think even for me, I mean, even if it’s not a Monument race, I always like to go back to races where I did well. So of course, Sanremo is on the top of that list to go back to. Even if it’s not the most exciting race, I still like to look at it as, you know, a big day and just be focused from the start.”

His preparation has mirrored last season's build-up, and that consistency gives him plenty of belief heading into the weekend.

“I think at this moment my preparation has been very similar to last year’s, from winter training on until first races, till Opening Weekend. Even here, at Tirreno, I think it is the same for me like last year, at Paris-Nice, I ended strong and I have the feeling I’m doing the same here. So having that preparation from the winter on already and going in the same way also gives confidence that I know that that was a good way to do it and that I am in a very very good shape.”

While the race is known for its slow build-up and explosive finish, Stuyven believes Milano-Sanremo remains one of the most unpredictable races on the calendar, which could work in the team’s favour.

“I think if you look to the past two years, three years, I don’t know, I think we can agree that Sanremo is a race where the big favourites didn’t necessarily win, where in Flanders and Roubaix they did. So yeah, if you just look at the facts, I think Sanremo has more chances of, I wouldn’t say surprise winners because I think it’s, I’ve never seen someone in the final that hasn’t shown his strength the week before or isn’t a good rider, I mean isn’t a rider that is doing finals in Monuments.

“But, of course, the winner itself is more unpredictable and I think also Sanremo is one of those races where in every race everyone always talks about so many different scenarios but at the end of the day, there’s maybe only you know two or three with a little bit of twitching. But in Sanremo there are a lot of scenarios that can happen in the very final so that also makes it a bit more unpredictable, I guess.”

While nothing is guaranteed in a race like Sanremo, Lidl-Trek know they have the strength in depth to shape the outcome, especially if multiple riders are present over the Poggio.

“I think it’s clear we have we have a solid team and I think we showed last year in the classics that we managed to ride as a team and be present in the final. Of course Sanremo is all in a split second and it’s a long day and positioning is key in the final so yeah it would be, I think we all want to be there in the front group after Poggio.

“And then hopefully we are not in the situation where you have to chase someone of the likes of Tadej or Mathieu and then, I think a lot can happen but, of course, it’s not a guarantee if you have the numbers that you win but, it’s of course, good to know that you have very strong cards to play with.”

Joining Stuyven, Pedersen and Milan in Lidl-Trek’s lineup are Giulio Ciccone, Alex Kirsch, Jacopo Mosca and Andrea Bagioli. They will certainly be a team to watch tomorrow.