Milan-Sanremo organisers RCS Sport have tried to throw the race back in favour of attackers by returning to the old Via Roma finish.

“Via Roma is a part of cycling’s story with wins like Eddy Merckx’s. It gives a different style and charm to the race than the seaside finish.”

From 1907, Milano-Sanremo finished on Corso Cavallotti on the edge of the seaside town. In 1949 it began reaching the heart of Sanremo on Via Roma. It stayed there and moved only in 2008 when roadworks forced it seaside on Italo Calvino.

“Now they are doing other work, where we normally pass through the S-bend at 400 to 500 meters to go, so it’s no longer possible to finish on the seaside. The city proposed that we return to the city center on Via Roma, and I’m more than happy to do so. It’s the classic finish and more prestigious than the seaside one.”

The change means that there is one kilometer less to race from the bottom of the Poggio climb to the finish line, which could favour any attacks that go on the Poggio.

“The finish changes the shape of the race and opens it up to many more cyclists than it did before. Instead of three, now they only have two kilometers to race — that one kilometer makes a difference in a 300-kilometer race,” Vegni explained.

Vegni says that he had to rethink the initial inclusion of the Pompeiana climb as it would take too much away from the sprinters, and he wants the sprinters to have a chance in Milan-Sanremo.

“Sanremo is one of the classics that that is open to the sprinters, which is fine because they also have a right to have a classic. Sanremo has its charm and has to stay as it is. It would no longer be Sanremo if you finished in another town or begin in another city besides Milan,” Vegni said.

“We changed small things, the addition the Cipressa and the Poggio, but they are insignificant and don’t change the classic route. Returning to the Via Roma made me rethink the Pompeiana climb. Now we have the classic Sanremo, and we can see how it opens the door to the attackers.”