Mark Cavendish is relishing the opportunity to take the start line of Milan-San Remo, for its 105th edition, on Sunday.
The British champion, who won La Primavera in 2009 is part of a strong Omega Pharma-Quickstep line-up announced for the event, which they confirmed in the video below.
Following his comprehensive stage six win at Tirreno-Adriatico, Cavendish will once again be joined by sprint legend Alessandro Petacchi – himself a former winner – and Mark Renshaw, a team-mate when Cavendish won five years ago.
Cavendish admits he is not expecting a straight-forward race when the longest Monument on the calendar rolls out of Milan on Sunday however.
“This year, for me, the race goes how it goes,” he said. “I might win it, and that’s why I’m riding it. I might get dropped, and I might not.
“If it comes to a sprint, I’m the best opportunity we have. I had a win in 2009 and a top ten last year, there is always that possibility, but there are 200 guys on the start line that can possibly win.
There are so many variables and that is what makes it so beautiful. It’s a long race, the easiest to finish but the hardest to win – Mark Cavendish
“It’s not like any race. There are so many variables and that is what makes it so beautiful. It’s a long race, the easiest to finish but the hardest to win.
“I am just really happy to have the opportunity to try.”
Cavendish was not expected to compete this year with organisers planning to add the ascent of the Pompeiana to the route for the first time.
However, with bad weather forcing its removal, the race returns instead to a sprint-friendly route opening the door for the likes of Cavendish, Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) and John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) to be in contention for the prestigious win.
Jan Bakelants, Iljo Keisse, Michal Kwiatkowski, Zdenek Stybar and Matteo Trentin round off the Belgian super team’s squad, with in-form Kwiatkowski and Stybar also among the possible contenders should Cavendish falter.
Team director Davide Bramati said: “We have a strong team that can be a factor no matter how Milano-Sanremo plays out.
“As always anything can happen, and we are ready with a team that is motivated and has already had some races together this season.”
Milan-San Remo will be shown live on Eurosport on Sunday. For the full television schedule see here or read our full race preview here.
