'It is fantastic to have one more card to play' – Ineos Grenadiers look to Josh Tarling as a wildcard for Milan-San Remo alongside Filippo Ganna

Ineos Grenadiers have confirmed Josh Tarling will ride Milan-San Remo this Saturday, positioning the 20-year-old British time trial champion as a potential "wildcard" alongside Filippo Ganna. Sporting director Leonardo Basso indicated the team plans to utilise both riders from the Cipressa to the finish, suggesting a dual threat strategy for *La Classicissima*. This marks a significant Grand Tour debut for Tarling, who impressed with a bronze medal at last year's World Time Trial Championships.

This deployment speaks volumes about Tarling's rapid ascent and Ineos's evolving tactical playbook. Historically, the team has often relied on a single leader for major Classics, but Ganna's consistent top-tier performances at San Remo (2nd in 2023, 5th in 2022) make him a prime candidate, while Tarling offers a powerful, unpredictable element. His raw engine, honed in time trials, could be devastating on the Poggio if he can conserve energy, potentially forcing rivals to chase or providing a springboard for Ganna.

Ineos, ever the pragmatists, are simply ensuring they have more than one hammer in the toolbox for cycling's longest Monument. Whether two pure powerhouses can truly outmaneuver the punchier specialists on the Poggio remains the perennial question.