It’s time for the first Monument of the season as Mads Pedersen and Elisa Balsamo lead our men’s and women’s squads for La Classicissima
Apart from early holidaymakers and local traffic, the Ligurian coastline is tranquil on the spring days before Milano-Sanremo. Glittering azure ocean spans far into the horizon from the jagged cliff faces holding a winding, long strip of tarmac leading to the base of the Poggio di Sanremo. This specific road on the Italian Riviera is part of professional bike racing myth and legend. It sets the stage for La Classicissima, the longest of the classics, the season’s first Monument – and perhaps the hardest one to win of them all.
On March 21, 2026, the hum of the WorldTour men’s and women’s pelotons will harmonise with the sounds of the ocean, and things won’t be quite so peaceful in this postcard-perfect part of Northern Italy. Riders will be racing up and over the Capo Mele, Capo Cervo and Capo Berta towards the Cipressa and the Poggio, with anticipation building towards the most exciting and tense finish of the season. Who will make it to the base of the climb in the best position? Who will make their move first when the gradients kick up? Who will bide their time and wait for a sprint?
How the race might play out in the finale of Milano-Sanremo is notoriously difficult to predict, which is why it is so challenging to cross the line first in this Monument. One thing for sure is that riders need to be ready for every race scenario, fighting for position when it matters and using experience to know when to make their move.
Lidl-Trek comes with a line-up for both the men’s and women’s races which combines newer talent and well-practiced Monument riders. Mads Pedersen, who finished in fourth place in the 2024 edition of San Remo, makes his comeback to racing after over a month out recovering from his crash on the opening stage of Volta Comunitat Valenciana.
After a few hard trainings this week, we believe that it is a good decision to race again, pin the numbers on, and get comfortable in a race again. Of course, the doctors and my coach also had a say in how and when I could make it back. Dr Jens did a lot of examinations with me and my hand and he is 100 percent confident that I am able to race again already — so it’s pretty nice to be back already. It’s really nice to be able to be at this point and start here in Italy. It’s a good starting point ahead of the Belgian Classics too.
The Danish puncheur has been in the top-10 on three occasions in this race and he will be supported by a squad that will ensure he is exactly where needs to be at crunch time. Riders like Søren Kragh Andersen, Toms Skujiņš and Giulio Ciccone know the San Remo roads well and how to expertly manoeuvre through the peloton. The line-up is completed with punchy climber Andrea Bagioli and strong all-rounder Mathias Vacek – Lidl-Trek’s men’s team will be sure to make their mark on La Primavera.
Elisa Balsamo leads the women’s outfit for the second edition of Milano-Sanremo Donne after the race made a historic return to the calendar in 2025. The Italian sprinter finished in the top-10 last season on a course which is well-suited to her characteristics.
My favourite thing about Milan-San Remo is that it is in Italy which is really nice because my family and friends are here cheering for me. This race has a really long story and it is finally back on the women’s calendar. From last year I learned it is important to keep fighting on the climb but also stay focused on the downhill as it is a bit technical and can make a big difference. I also know that the finish goes a little bit uphill so you need to have your best legs for a good sprint, because after the Cipressa and Poggio it is going to be really hard. I am really excited and I am really looking forward to Saturday, it is my dream to win this race so I will fight hard for it.
This year, she’ll have a team around her which both supports her ambitions and provides a number of options for the finale of tough climbs. Niamh Fisher-Black, Amanda Spratt, Margot Vanpachtenbeke and Ricarda Bauernfeind will relish the steep gradients that set the springboard for attacks, while Lucinda Brand’s technical skills, honed off-road, will be imperative for the crucial descent towards the finish line in San Remo.
Our riders are ready to fight for victory, and the stage is set for another stunning Milano-Sanremo. All that’s next is to lock in and enjoy what is expected to be the most exciting finish of bike racing this season.
