Milano-Sanremo 2024: When is it? Is Tadej Pogacar riding? Who is competing? How to watch on Eurosport and discovery+

ByAndrew Wright

Updated 16/03/2024 at 11:14 GMT

When is Milano-Sanremo 2024? Who is riding? What is the route? How to watch on Eurosport and discovery+. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) completed a brilliant victory last year and will defend his title in the 115th edition of the race in Italy. The men will compete over a 288km course that begins in Pavia and finishes in Sanremo, with the route sure to provide plenty of drama.

The 2024 cycling season continues in Italy as the world's leading male riders go for glory in the iconic Milano-Sanremo race.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) held off Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) to storm to victory 12 months ago and will attempt to defend his title.

But a host of big names will be hoping to take his crown on the longest day of the cycling season, with Pogacar looking to build on his Strade Bianche triumph, while Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) is also in the field.

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We look at everything you need to know about Milano-Sanremo, including when race take place, how to watch on Eurosport and discovery+, the route and who is racing…

When is Milano-Sanremo?

Milano-Sanremo will take place on Saturday, March 16.

How to watch Milano-Sanremo

It's an early start!

You can watch all of the action from Milano-Sanremo live on Eurosport 2 and discovery+ from 08:30 UK time on Saturday, March 16.

Pidcock: There's only one way Pogacar can win

Who is riding Milano-Sanremo?

The last three winners - 2023 champion Van der Poel, 2022 winner Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) and 2021 victor Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) - will all be on the start line.

But after his stunning 81km solo attack at Strade Bianche, all eyes will be fixed on Pogacar to see if he can end his wait for victory in Sanremo.

The 25-year-old could be tempted to strike out early again, having ended up in sprint showdowns with the fast men at the last two editions, finishing fifth in 2022 and fourth in 2023.

Pogacar already has three different Monument titles on his palmarès: Tour of Flanders (2023), Liege-Bastogne-Liege (2021) and Tour of Lombardy (2021, 2022, 2023).

On Monday before the race the team confirmed that Pogacar would be ably supported by the likes of Brandon McNulty and Marc Hirschi in the squad for the race.

Pogacar said "I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year like I had in Strade Bianche. The team is racing well and achieving good results so we want to stay on that path and keep it going. I’m excited for Milano-San Remo. The finish is not too far from where I live in Monaco so I know the last part of the race and the final climbs quite well.

Highlights: Van der Poel claims stunning Milano-San Remo victory

"As we’ve seen before, this race is one of the most difficult to win and can end in many outcomes. For sure we will make a plan and put ourselves in the best position possible. It’s a race we’d dearly love to win .”

Former winner Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) will also be in the field, while Olav Kooij will likely carry Visma-Lease a Bike's hopes in the absence of Wout van Aert.

• De Kleijn sprints to memorable first World Tour win at Paris-Nice
• Evenepoel and Bernal animate Stage 1 at Paris-Nice as Kooij wins sprint

What is the route for Milano-Sanremo?

Milano-Sanremo is held in Italy, typically starting in Milan and finishing in Sanremo. However, for the second year in a row, riders will set off outside of Milan, instead being released in Pavia.

The men are competing over a 288km course which features a series of climbs and descents sure to test riders to the limit.

The route will also take competitors through the famous Ligurian hills before hitting the coastline and finishing on the Via Roma in Sanremo.

‘I cannot imagine a better scenario than this one’ – Van der Poel reacts to Milano-San Remo win

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