Mark Cavendish confident ahead of Milan-San Remo after tough week at Tirreno-Adriatico
Manxman says he's in good form to repeat 2009 win

Mark Cavendish at the 2016 Tour de France

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) may lack a Tirreno-Adriatico stage win, but says that the last week in central Italy has been perfect preparation for Milan-San Remo.
Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors), two of Cavendish's main rivals for Milan-San Remo, won the two sprint stages on offer in Tirreno-Adriatico.
"It's been a nice Tirreno-Adriatico, the stages haven't been overly difficult, but enough there that you can dig deep," Cavendish said.
"There have been some years where we've crossed the Apennines into a headwind and you lose form because you just go slow all day or other days that it's just so hard that you go slow, but it's gone back to that way have having short punchy climbs and it's quite good for everyone's condition."
The week began with a team time trial in Tuscany and ends with an individual time trial today along the Adriatic coast to the east.
The riders climbed medium-mountain stages to Pomarance, where Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) won, and to Fermo, and of course the summit finish to Terminillo that Nairo Quintana (Movistar) used to take the race leader’s blue jersey.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"If you are looking at Milan-San Remo, there are some years when Tirreno has been like I said before, a climber's race, then it would've been better to be in Paris-Nice, but when it's a week like this week, I think it doesn't matter much which one you do."
Watch: 2017 WorldTour changes
Cavendish won stages at Tirreno-Adriatico in 2009, 2012 and 2014. The stage race, along with Paris-Nice in France, leads up to the Italian monument Milan-San Remo, which Cavendish won in 2009.
His season is much more streamlined for 2017 without having to also focus on preparing for the track at the Olympics as he had to in 2016.
"I know about where I am a bit more compared to last year," Cavendish explained.
"I'd just come off the track last year. By not coming off the track I should have a bit more form for Milan-San Remo."
>>> 'Milan-San Remo is not a lottery if someone can win it seven times'
Cavendish will lead Dimension Data with Steve Cummings and Edvald Boasson Hagen. Englishman Scott Thwaites, who placed seventh in the stage six's sprint behind Gaviria, is due to form part of the eight-man roster.
"It's the easiest to finish, but the hardest to win, there are so many scenarios that happen over 300 kilometres every centimetre counts," Cavendish said.
"You never know until the last centimetres. For that's what makes it beautiful, you can never predict the winner."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Lidl-Trek, EF Education-EasyPost among first teams to seize ‘the only chance to race in the United States’
With a world-class field of competitors, organisers hope to showcase professional cycling to American spectators and reignite fan interest
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
'This sucks': Brixton Cycles closes its doors after 42 years
Iconic London shop announces closure after premises listed on property site
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel's history charge, the crucial Oude Kwaremont, and Lotte Kopecky time: Everything you need to know about the Tour of Flanders
The Tour of Flanders finally comes on Sunday, here's how to watch, who to watch, and what to watch out for
By Adam Becket Published
-
How to watch Milan-San Remo 2025: Everything you need to live stream the first Monument of the season
All the key information on broadcasters and live streams for Milan-San Remo on March 22, the first Monument of the cycling season.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tadej Pogačar's quest for glory, San Remo Women is here, and will a sprinter win? Everything you need to know about Milan-San Remo
Milan-San Remo and San Remo Women kick off the Monuments on Saturday, here's how to watch, who to watch, and what to watch out for
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Winning is a dream' - Suspense builds for return of women's Milan-San Remo after 20 years
Race's comeback marks a new milestone, say riders
By Tom Davidson Published
-
No Paris-Roubaix or Tour of Flanders for Tom Pidcock as he confirms spring calendar
AlUla Tour winner set to ride Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo for Q36.5
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'Finally, you broke the world record' - Inside reaction to Mark Cavendish's historic Tour de France revealed
Astana Qazaqstan have released Project 35, a documentary which shows the journey to triumph
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I haven’t entirely committed to what I’m doing' - Mark Cavendish refuses to rule out racing more, but will run a marathon next year
The Tour de France stage win record holder says that his plan is to head into cycling management
By Adam Becket Published
-
Mark Cavendish to conclude professional cycling career in Singapore
Tour de France stage win record holder to bring curtain down on racing career at ASO end of season criteriums in Asia
By Tom Thewlis Published