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As confirmed by Alpecin-Deceuninck, through CyclingNews, World Highway Champion Mathieu van der Poel will begin his 2024 highway season by defending his Milan-Sanremo title on Saturday, March 16.
Maybe to nobody’s shock, Van der Poel of Alpecin–Deceuninck had yet one more unbelievable cyclocross season. Final month, he secured his sixth cyclocross world title, main in Tábor from the gun to the end line. He received 13 of his 14 races by the season, many with full dominance, and solely Visma-Lease-a-Bike’s Wout van Aert might upset his streak.
However regardless of his continued success, the Dutchman just lately hinted that it may very well be his final cross season and that he’ll seemingly begin his 2024 highway season in Italy.
“Aside from the world title and the enjoyable, there’s not a lot left for me to achieve in cyclocross. My focus is more and more shifting to the highway,” van der Poel defined in interviews after his victory in Tábor, hinting at a possible shift in his profession focus in the direction of highway racing.
First up for Van der Poel’s 2024 highway season? Milan-Sanremo. Van der Poel had an epic performance there final 12 months, successful the 114th iteration of the race. He had a shocking end, with a breakaway from Tadej Pogačar, Wout van Aert, and Filippo Ganna with 5.4 km to go. That victory marked the fourth time a Dutchman has received the race and the primary in virtually 40 years to take action.
Milan-Sanremo, also referred to as La Classicissima, is the longest skilled one-day race in fashionable biking hitting almost 300 kilometers (182 miles) of Northwest Italian roads. Final 12 months 175 males took to the beginning line, together with fan favorites Mark Cavendish, Julian Alaphilippe, and Peter Sagan. Nevertheless it was all Van der Poel on the finish, and he’s gunning to make a repeat efficiency this 12 months.
The 2024 race takes place subsequent weekend, on March 16, with a first-ever begin from Pavia and a standard end alongside the By way of Roma in Sanremo after 288 kilometers. The brand new route will run within the Oltrepò Pavese for the primary 44 km, and as soon as in Casteggio, the race will return to the unique route tackling the Turchino, the Capi, the Cipressa, and the Poggio climbs earlier than descending into the end straight.
All eyes shall be on the returning champ in Italy, and he’s positive to have a full day of labor. Based on the lineup, Van der Poel shall be up towards some heavy hitters, together with Tadej Pogačar, Tom Pidcock, Matej Mohorič, Mads Pedersen, Julian Alaphilippe, and Filippo Ganna. Convey on the drama!
Micah Ling is a contract author who lives within the mountains of Colorado. She splits her free time between mountain biking and path working.
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