Warren Barguil eyes Milano-Sanremo results: "Warren will be our leader on the entire Italian front"

Warren Barguil is returning to World Tour level, and after a very busy season the Frenchman will now focus more on specific goals, as he follows a well-known early-season calendar and eyes Milano-Sanremo with special interest.

“Warren's program at the start of the season is essentially the same as last year. He is nevertheless a little lighter due to medium-term goals for him. He will therefore run a little less at the start of the year 2023,” Théo Ouvrard, team sports manager, said in a press release.

“We have also made the choice that he competes again in Milano-Sanremo because of the appearance that this race has taken on for a few seasons. It may indeed be one of our best cards if a group of around twenty runners emerges at the top of Poggio," he continued. Barguil has only raced Milano-Sanremo once, but was not in contention for the win. This season however "Warren will be our leader on the entire Italian front at the start of the season.”

The 31-year old has shifted his focus to the classics in recent seasons, thriving this year with wins at the GP Miguel Indurain and Tirreno-Adriatico and consistency that saw him finish 42nd in the UCI ranking. He's contributed to Arkéa's success rising into World Tour level.

Barguil will start his season in the Mallorca classics where he will aim for a win. He will then race the Vuelta a Murcia and Volta ao Algarve in February, Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico in the lead-up to Milano-Sanremo. As is his spring, he will also focus on the Italian Grand Tour as he prepares for a debut at the Giro d'Italia.