Ahead of just his second appearance at Milan-San Remo, Fernando Gaviria has been tipped by commentators and fellow riders alike as a hot favourite for the first Monument Classic of the season.
The Quick-Step Floors rider made it to the finale in good position in his 2016 San Remo debut, but crashed in the last kilometre and missed on out a shot at sprinting for victory. Nevertheless, he'll toe the start line Saturday as a bona fide contender, having proven his form this season with four impressive victories. All that remains now is to prove that he can read the hectic finale to perfection and sprint effectively after nearly 300 kilometres.
Staying alert on the race's final two climbs, the Cipressa and the Poggio, will be critical.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I think we can expect more attacks on the Poggio this year," Gaviria said to media this week in Italy. "I think this year Van Avermaet, Kwiatkowski and Sagan will attack on the Poggio. So we will wait to see what happens and how the legs are in the moment."
A track specialist with a powerful finishing kick, Gaviria's best chance for San Remo glory would come in a big bunch sprint on the Via Roma. He's occasionally delivered results in less controlled finales on lumpier profiles in the past, but he knows that in this race and against this field, burning even a little bit of energy trying to follow the wrong move could ruin his chances.
"It's about waiting to see if I am feeling good, if I have the legs, and expecting what happens with the other riders. It's a hard race, so you have to be expecting the key moment to act, because if you act at the wrong moment, the race is over for you," he said.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://ift.tt/2nNZju2
No comments:
Post a Comment