"The 2023 edition taught me to believe in myself" - Filippo Ganna is not afraid of anyone ahead of Milano-Sanremo
Cycling
Filippo Ganna started this season in attack mode, and as we approach Milano-Sanremo he fearlessly lists all the scenarios that could play into his hand. He already has vast experience with the first Monument of the season and now seems to be the high time to capitalize on previous defeats.
"The 2023 edition taught me to believe in myself more, the next one that the head does more than the legs in certain situations," Ganna told Tuttobiciweb about the previous iterations of La Primavera.
Last year was far from ideal with just a 40th place - disappointing after a 2nd place in 2023: "I wasn't the best Ganna ever but I gritted my teeth and I played it out as long as I could. In 2025 I hope to experience even better sensations, we'll talk about it after crossing the finish line in Via Roma."
Who will be the main favourites?
"If for Roubaix it is easy to name Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper Philipsen, Stefan Küng, Mads Pedersen, the riders in the top ten are more or less always the same, Sanremo on the other hand is a question mark," he notes. "Every year someone different and unexpected arrives at the end, so an outsider could win as often happens or the world champion Tadej Pogacar will manage to outwit everyone."
The INEOS Grenadiers rider has a variety of weapons he could use on Saturday, but which one would he prefer? "My dream finale can be one of three types: I get to the bottom of the Poggio with my best legs and I anticipate like Fabian Cancellara did, I get there with half a leg and I try to go all-in in the sprint, or from the Poggio we find ourselves in a small group and we play it as it comes."
We can only fantasize of all the possible outcomes, however Ganna acknowledges this is what attracts so many riders and fans alike to this 7-hour adventure year after year. "We're dealing with the same route, the same slopes, more or less the same riders, but the Sanremo is unpredictable and never predictable. That's the beauty of this race."
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- Yeah, looks slow up there.Jumpyjohn28-03-2025
- lol His aim was well off! MVP was well past him before the guy decided to spit.Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- But you know that’s what makes this website live ;-)Mistermaumau28-03-2025
- I hope he stays upright too and I hope that in this years Paris Roubaix we get a proper good old fashioned man against man race. Can't wait!Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- What can you expect from a guy like that. Probably home now enjoying his pseudo fame before his evening session of paid sex chatting.Mistermaumau28-03-2025
- There is a lot of wisdom in some of our older people and some have the wisdom to use it wisely. Others not so much.......Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- I loved De Vlaeminck back in the day, but I have to agree with him: he probably is a little burned out. I don't see him winning much this year.
Barney28-03-2025 - Tadej is 26 year old, Mr. Sour. And now, as you said, because the money, the cycling is extremely professionalized and competitive: winning is very hard, even for very talented riders.
maria2024202428-03-2025 - How many grand tours did Vlaeminck enter/finish let alone win? This article gives "old man yells at cloud" vibesPedalmasher28-03-2025
- I think Hinault is right: Pogacar is the first rider since he and Merckx who can win such a wide variety of races with such audacity and verve. I hope by the time he is done, Pog is widely acknowledged at the greatest of all time. Unlike Merckx and Hinault who were (probably necessarily in their era) pretty unpleasant characters, Pog is a cool, refreshingly humble guy who routinely thanks his teammates after they've taken their last bleedout pull for the day, gives bottles to little kids in the middle of a solo breakaway, walks around and congratulates his competitors at the finish, win or lose. There will always be those within the peloton and fanbase who resent his success, but he seems genuinely well-liked. He seems like the antidote to past other dominant champions who still inspire bitterness or disappointment. That said, Paris-Roubaix is a race that is both dangerous and requires a lot of specialized experience. I hope he stays upright.Barney28-03-2025