Milan-San Remo 2008: Wide Open

The build up to the 99th running of the Milan-San Remo race will be remembered as one where anything was possible, when pundits and fans alike were touting various names as prospective contendors, and hope grew eternal, like the fast approaching spring. Some riders are favored more than others, but there is rarely such a long list of contenders in any other race during the cycling season. That said, here is a quick summary of all those in with a chance for the 2008 Milan-San Remo cycling classic. For my full preview, see my other article on Milan-San Remo.

Oscar Friere, more than anyone else, has been labeled the biggest favorite, but there are a handful of riders to be considered right along side of him. Alessandro Pettachi, Tom Boonen, Robbie McEwen, Thor Hushovd, and Fillipo Pozzato complete the "first tier" of contenders. They'll for sure be at the front if the race finishes in a sprint, and any one of them have the horsepower and team support to take the top prize on Sunday.

Oscar Friere is the favorite to repeat his 2007 success

The "second tier," while less heavily-favored, should still be considered serious threats to take the win in the year's first classic. Davide Rebellin, Philippe Gilbert, Gerald Ciolek, Danilo Napolitano, Alessandro Ballan, Enrico Gasparotto, Stuart O'Grady, Rinaldo Nocentini , Juan Antonio Flecha, Danilo Hondo, Robbie Hunter, Erik Zabel, Fabian Cancellara, Paolo Bettini, Baden Cooke, and Danilo di Luca will all be at the front at some point in the race. And perhaps, with the right combination of skill and luck, one of these "second tier" riders will be the victor.

San Remo scenery: Them's is some purty big palm trees!

The "best of the rest" include Magnus Backstedt, Alberto Loddo, Bernhard Eisel, Mikhail Ignatiev, Igor Astorloa, Kim Kirchin, Heinrich Haussler, Karsten Kroon, Yaroslav Popovych, George Hincapie, and Julian Dean. They'll need a bit more luck to take the win, but all are still more than capable of jumping away at the right time for the win. All questions answered on Sunday, as the first true classic, Milan-San Remo, unfolds in Italy.

Petacchi winning in the Via Roma in 2005. Thor Hushoved is to his left, who finished third, while Boonen is at far right