Six places to see the Milano-Sanremo race
Flower Riviera, Palm Riviera
Here are six places where you can watch out for the Milano-Sanremo: following the Classicissima, the race that welcomes in Spring.
The stages
Campo Ligure and the Turchino PassCelle Ligure
The three capes
The Poggio of Sanremo
Via Roma in Sanremo
Campo Ligure and the Turchino Pass
The Milano-Sanremo is the race that brings Spring. So, it has a special meaning to see it enter Liguria from the Turchino Pass, which connects Piedmont and Liguria. The race passes through Rossiglione and Campo Ligure before tackling the not-so-difficult climb of the Turchino Pass. In the past, cyclists emerged from the old Turchino tunnel, which was passed through by Bottecchia, Coppi, and many others during their breakaways. Today, the race takes the new road variant, but the wait still holds an heroic flavour.
Celle Ligure
When the race reaches Celle Ligure, it will pass by the Olmo bicycle factory. Did you know that Giuseppe Olmo won two Milano-Sanremo races, in 1935 and 1938? His story is deeply tied to Liguria. Yes, Olmo, the one with the bicycles: who hasn’t had an Olmo bike? For many in Liguria, it was the gift for First Communion, others made their first pedal strokes on it, some raced their first competitions on it; for everyone, “Olmo” is the bicycle of Liguria. Giuseppe Olmo was not only a great entrepreneur but also a great champion: he won two Milano-Sanremo races, in 1935 and 1938, as well as twenty stages of the Giro d’Italia and an Olympic title.
The Malpasso
It’s not a decisive location in the race, the group will pass quickly, but the pace will still be calm. However, seeing the race tackle the curves of the Malpasso near Finale Ligure, and just a stone's throw from the beautiful Varigotti, is always a great thrill. Between the rocks and the sea, the bicycles will shine.
The three capes: Mele, Cervo, Berta
The road steepens, and the race enters its climax. The Classicissima doesn’t forgive those without stamina, and these three climbs, one after the other, create the first gaps. Capo Mele, with its historic lighthouse that watches the horizon, Capo Cervo, adorned with mimosa flowers, just a short distance from the beautiful Cervo, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. For those who love the history of cycling, Capo Berta, in Diano Marina, is a must-see, where there’s a memorial dedicated to cycling champions: Girardengo, Bartali, Coppi, and Gimondi, in Belvedere, with views over the entire Dianese Gulf.
The Poggio of Sanremo
All year long, it's a road winding between the greenhouses and flowers of Sanremo. But once a year, during the race, it fills with thousands of people of all ages and nationalities. Leaving the Aurelia, the Poggio of Sanremo, the last steep section before the descent towards the finish line, is often decisive. Some might pinpoint the exact moment of the winner’s decisive sprint there, just past Madonna della Guardia. It’s lovely to wait for the race among the pines in the churchyard that overlooks the promontory and the Capo Verde lighthouse. Down below, Sanremo, the City of Flowers, is already buzzing with joy; the descent lasts but a moment.
Via Roma in Sanremo
Some people wait for hours at the finish line, on Via Roma in Sanremo, to see the final metres, the last centimetres of the race. We are in Sanremo, just a stone's throw from the Ariston Theatre, and the spectacle is at home here. To enjoy it to the fullest, if you can’t secure a spot in the much-coveted grandstand at the finish line, look for the famous “Zampillo”, one of Sanremo's symbols. You will probably see the winner speeding by up close!
