One year ago Nacer Bouhanni was highly frustrated when FDJ decided to focus on Arnaud Demare in Milan-Sanremo, leaving the rival sprinter at home. This year the Frenchman wants to excel in the Italian classics and he has already checked the course.

Nacer Bouhanni knows that good preparation is the first step towards victory. And so the 24-year-old sprinter recently rode the final 50km of Milan-Sanremo, including the final few hundred metres of the Via Roma. The Cofidis rider is pleased with the outcome.

"I already knew the course and have done the Poggio several times but it's always good to check the final," he told L'Equipe. "Now I have seen the new finish on Via Roma which is useful."

Bouhanni did the reconnaissance with teammates Geoffrey Soupe, Steve Chainel and Dominique Rollin. Cofidis, Bouhanni's new team, needs to get a wildcard to ride Milan-Sanremo. That seems like a formality and Bouhanni has already red-circled the date in his calendar. "That race is on my mind. I will have my first peak between Paris-Nice and Gent-Wevelgem is my first peak of the season." 

Last year, Alexander Kristoff won Milan-San Remo while Bouhanni wasn't even selected by FDJ, laying the foundations for his decision to leave the team.