Milan-Sanremo – the 101st edition

The journey: 298 miles. Departure at 09:20 (Local). Arrival at 16.50. Passage to Turchino (532 m) before the halfway (142 km). Then, mania (Km 204 to 318 m), Capo Mele (Km 245 – 67 m), Capo Cervo (km 250 – 61 m), Capo Berta (km 258 to 130 m), Cipressa (km 275 to 239 m) and Poggio (km 291.8 to 160 m).

25 Teams Participating
HTC-Columbia,
Acqua e Sapone,
AG2R, Androni,
Astana,
Bbox,
BMC,
Caisse d’Epargne,
Carmiooro,
Cervélo,
CSF,
Euskaltel,
French Games,
Garmin,
ISD,
Lampre,
Liquigas,
Omega Pharma,
Quick Step,
Rabobank,
Sky ,
Katusha,
Milram,
RadioShack,
Saxo Bank

Favorites:
Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR),
Tom Boonen (BEL),
Filippo Pozzato (ITA),
Oscar Freire (ESP),
Daniele Bennati (ITA),
Alessandro Petacchi (ITA),
Thor Hushovd (NOR),
Tyler Farrar (USA )
Mark Cavendish (UK)

Notably absent:
Lance Armstrong (USA),
Alejandro Valverde (ESP),
Samuel Sanchez (ESP),
Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP),
Alberto Contador (ESP),
Cadel Evans (AUS),
Frank Schleck (LUX)

Victories:
100 editions raced since the inception of the event in 1907.
50 wins for Italy, 20 for Belgium, 12 for France, 5 Germany, 4 Spain, 3 in the Netherlands, 2 for Great Britain, Ireland and Switzerland
Most wins: 7 Eddy Merckx (BEL) between 1966 and 1976
Last French winner: Laurent Jalabert in 1995

Past winners:
2000: Erik Zabel (GER)
2001: Erik Zabel (GER)
2002: Mario Cipollini (ITA)
2003: Paolo Bettini (ITA)
2004: Oscar Freire (ESP)
2005: Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)
2006: Filippo Pozzato (ITA)
2007: Oscar Freire (ESP)
2008: Fabian Cancellara (SUI)
2009: 1. Mark Cavendish (GBR)
2. Heinrich Haussler (GER)
3. Thor Hushovd (NOR) at 2 sec
4. Allan Davis (AUS) at 2 sec
5. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) at 2 sec