Spring must be here in Europe, at last, as the first big Classic of the season leaves Milan on Sunday morning to make the near 300 kilometre journey to Sanremo, but this year without the climb of La Manie. Our ‘Primavera’ expert, Ed Hood, takes a look back at his Sanremo experiences and forward to this years protagonists in the battle to the Ligurian coast. La Primavera, Spring time that says it all – the first Monument; the longest Classic; an Odyssey across geographic, social and climatic zones with the percorso for the finale the stuff of legend.First, the stats:The race was first held in 1907 when Frenchman, Lucien Petit-Breton took the laurels. This year’s edition will be number 106; the race only surrendered the 1916, 1944 and 1945 editions to the World Wars. Italy has won 50, Belgium 20, France 12, Germany six, Spain five, The Netherlands three, Ireland, Switzerland, Australia and Britain are all on two.“Record-man” is Eddy Merckx of Belgium on seven wins between 1966 and 1976 – if theres ever any doubt about who the greatest cyclist in history is, then that statistic dispels it. Second, behind Eddy in the palmars is the first of Italys Campionissimo, Costante Girardengo on six wins; another Italian legend, Gino Bartali triumphed four times; sharing that number of wins is German Erik Zabel but it should really be five wins. He committed the novices error of throwing his hands up too early in victory celebration not the best idea when...
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