The race is normally run off in fine Mediterranean conditions but freezing temperatures and snowfalls have instead forced the Milan-Sanremo organisers to modify the race and remove the key climb of the Turchino Pass.
Approximately twenty kilometres of today’s 298 kilometres will be affected, with that Pass – the first major climb on the route – being deemed too dangerous to race on, due to the slippery conditions.
RCS Sport has decided that at Ovada, the riders will stop racing and be taken by car or bus to the town of Arenzano, where the race will restart. This will cut the entire climb and descent from the race route. It will encompass the section between kilometre 117 and 163, thus 46 kilometres in all.
A six man break went clear twelve kilometres after the start, with Lars Bak (Lotto-Belisol), Pablo Lastras (Movistar), Diego Rosa (Androni), Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale), Filippo Fortin (Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox) and Katusha’s Maxim Belkov being those present.
After sixty kilometres of racing the sextet had built a lead of over twelve minutes, and will consequently have a solid lead after the race restarts. They have continued to race hard before Ovada in order to have the largest buffer possible when the action recommences, but the bunch has responded and reduced the deficit.
Following the Turchino pass, a series of other climbs will also be encountered. These are Le Mànie (altitude: 318m, length: 4.7km, ave. gradient 6.7%, max. 11%) with 94km to go, Capo Mele (altitude: 67m, 52.4km to go), Capo Cerve (altitude: 61m, 47.1km to go), Capo Berta (altitude: 130, 39.6km to go, the Cipressa (altitude: 239m, length: 5.65km, ave. gradient 4.1%, max. 9%, 22.1km to go) and, finally, the famous Poggio di Sanremo, (altitude: 160m, length: 3.7km, ave. gradient 3.7%, max. 8%) which tops out with 6.2km to go.
The weather conditions were four degrees (39.2F) at the start, making for a very cold peloton, but are predicted to improve slightly by Sanremo. There, the riders are expected to face light rain and eight degrees (46.4F).
The tough conditions mean that whoever triumphs in Sanremo will be a very worthy champion indeed.