No Longo Borghini, no Vos, a headwind – Is Milan-San Remo Women playing into the sprinters' hands again? Team directors analyse the race

The upcoming Milan-San Remo Women's race faces a significant shift with the confirmed absence of Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini and multi-time winner Marianne Vos. This development, coupled with a predicted headwind, has prompted team directors, including those from Movistar and Canyon-SRAM, to speculate on the race's potential outcome. Despite these factors, some still believe a different finale than last year's sprint finish, won by Demi Vollering, remains possible, though the odds for a pure sprinter are undeniably increasing.

These high-profile withdrawals, particularly Longo Borghini's, remove two of the peloton's most aggressive and tactically astute riders, known for their ability to animate races and break away. Their absence, combined with the energy-sapping headwind, historically favors riders who can conserve power for a late surge or a mass sprint. This scenario echoes previous editions where the Poggio's challenge wasn't enough to drop the fastest finishers, raising questions about the course's inherent difficulty for truly selective racing without strong, attacking protagonists.

Ultimately, the cycling gods, or perhaps just the weather and rider roster, seem to be conspiring to deliver another sprinter's delight. One might wonder if the Poggio is truly a climb, or merely a scenic speed bump for the women's peloton.