High Road ready for all options in Milan-San Remo

March 20, 2008

Team High Road is sending a squad that aims to cover all bases in the first major Classic of the season, Milan - San Remo. Taking part in the arduous 298 kilometre challenge on Saturday 22nd March for High Road will be Gerald Ciolek (Ger), Bernhard Eisel (Aut), Roger Hammond (GB), George Hincapie (USA), Kim Kirchen (Lux), Andreas Klier (Ger), Thomas Lovkvist (Swe) and Vicente Reynes (Spa). Best placed of the High Road riders in 2007 was Vicente Reynes, who finished ninth whilst Kim Kirchen was 13th. Andreas Klier and George Hincapie have both posted top 15 places in recent years.

“We haven’t got a single leader we’ll be working for 100 percent, rather we’ll be keeping a look-out on all fronts.” team sports director Valerio Piva (Ita) says.
“Last year Gerald did very well in his first participation in San Remo, placing amongst the top 30. He was in the front group over the Poggio climb and there at the finale.”
“This year, therefore, it’s reasonable to expect the same or something more from him.”
“He’s done an excellent Tirreno,too. It’s true he crashed on the last day, but it wasn’t serious and he’s still in good shape.”

Lovkvist’s third place overall in Tirreno was another good omen for High Road. According to Piva “he, Roger [Hammond] and George [Hincapie] will be keeping a sharp eye on the breaks on the Cipressa and Poggio.”
“Bernhard [Eisel], like those three, will be trying to go with the moves before San Remo itself. Vicente was ill during Paris-Nice but he is now doing a lot better, so we expect him to be present in the finale.”

Asked about the extra distance added to Milan-San Remo after the traditionally crucial Poggio climb, Piva argued that “we’ll be expecting the sprinters’ teams to keep things more under control than usual.”

 “They’ll have a little more margin to reel in the breakaways after the Poggio, and will want to use it.”

“But San Remo is so long, something unpredictable always happens, and that extra climb of Le Manie they’ve added in 100 kilometres from the finish will make it even tougher. You have to keep a close eye out at all times!”