ORICA-GreenEDGE will stand on the start line in Milan for the first monument of the season with the two most recent Milan-Sanremo winners amongst its ranks. Matt Goss (‘11) and Simon Gerrans (’12) offer their team two options for the Italian Classic on Sunday.

“The way I won last year is rare,” said Gerrans. “Milan-San Remo isn’t often won by a breakaway that forms in the closing km of the race. Obviously, it can happen – and if it does, we know that I can win in that type of situation. In that regard, we have a couple cards to play. Our main card, our ace, is that we’ve got Gossy in great shape.”

The eight rider squad will be devoted to Goss’ service during the longest race on the cycling calendar. In 2011, Goss won an eight-up sprint that came on the heels of an animated finale. He outsprinted the likes of Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard-Trek), Philippe Gilbert (then Omega Pharma-Lotto, now BMC) and Alessandro Ballan (BMC) to give Australia its first win in San Remo in the 102nd edition of the race.

“With Gossy’s Tirreno [stage] win late last week, he’s shown that he’s in fantastic shape at the moment,” said Gerrans. “If the race comes down to a bunch sprint, which is the most likely scenario, he’ll be our man. The team will line up with the plan to support Gossy. I’ll have a bit of free rein in the final. That was our approach last year, too.”

The bulk of the Milan-San Remo squad played a part in Goss’ Tirreno-Adriatico stage win. Baden Cooke, Jens Keukeleire and Gerrans were the only three to race Paris-Nice. Daryl Impey, Jens Mouris, Matt Goss, Sebastian Langeveld, Stuart O’Grady and Svein Tuft chose Italy over France.

Different roles for different riders

Although the team are reluctant to talk specific tactics, Gerrans can project select roles for his teammates.

“We’ll use certain riders early in the race and save come guys for the likely sprint,” he said. “Daryl Impey, for example, has proven to be Gossy’s most reliable last lead out man, so I imagine we’ll save him for the final. When I speak about the guys that we’ll use early, these are riders that probably will not finish the race. Their job is done before we reach the closing kilometres.”

The Cipressa and the Poggio di Sanremo usually decide the race while providing fabulous racing. The final two climbs and their ensuing descents make for a spectacular end to the events of the day.

“This race is unique in that it’s the longest race of the season, but it does not typically truly unfold until the final ten kilometres,” noted Gerrans. “It’s exciting for spectators because there’s no real sense of who is going to win until basically the end. The suspense lasts for seven hours.”

ORICA-GreenEDGE for Milan-San Remo:

Baden Cooke
Daryl Impey
Jens Keukeleire
Matt Goss
Sebastian Langeveld
Simon Gerrans
Stuart O’Grady
Svein Tuft
Jens Mouris (reserve)