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.