Degenkolb, Ewan, Gilbert and Wellens headline strong Milan-Sanremo squad for Lotto Soudal racing the 112th edition of ‘La Classicissima’, Milan Sanremo
![]() |
News: Lotto Soudal Ready for Milan SanRemo
Lotto Soudal will be lining up at the start of the 112th edition of Milan-Sanremo with four leaders: Caleb Ewan, John Degenkolb, Philippe Gilbert and Tim Wellens. The team targets a strong performance at cycling’s first Monument of the season.
The course has undergone a few little changes. Only the ascent of the Passo del Turchino has been replaced by the Colle del Giovo. Traditionally, the Capo Mele, Capo Cervo and Capo Berta will make up the prelude of a nerve-wracking finale on the famous Cipressa and Poggio before the race reaches its climax on the iconic Via Roma.
Philippe Gilbert will be at the start for the 17th time in his career and still is ambitious of trying to win his fifth Monument, but the 38-year-old Belgian is well aware it won’t be easy.
Philippe Gilbert: “Of course, I will get the most out of the race, like I do every year. I still have the ambition to win Milan-Sanremo, but it won’t be easy at all. Of course, Alaphilippe, Van der Poel and Van Aert are the main favourites for Saturday. But Milan-Sanremo is the only Monument where many different types of riders have a chance to win and this year will be no different. For the sprinters, it is the only chance to win a Monument. That explains why it’s always so close at the end between a breakaway and the bunch. This is what makes Milan-Sanremo a truly unique race.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t look into the future but I expect fast racing up the Cipressa and we might see some attacks there. There should be a tailwind in the final, which will have a big impact on the race, but it always does, in every race. I am part of a very strong team and I can only see that as an advantage. In modern cycling, the best way to win a race seems to be with a strong team. But in the end, the legs will do the talking.”
John Degenkolb knows how it feels to win Milan-Sanremo as the German sprinted to victory at ‘La Classicissima’ in 2015. This year, Degenkolb hopes to make use of that experience to help the team and to seize chances for himself. “Milan-Sanremo generally is the first big objective for the Classics riders”, states John Degenkolb. “The cliché says it’s the easiest one to ride, but the hardest race to win because it’s so unpredictable and of course also the longest race of the season. Both for me and the team, it’s a big goal and I hope we can make it a nice day out. Hopefully, I’ll have good legs and I can bring added value to the team and take the opportunities if they present themselves.”
For the fifth time in his career, Caleb Ewan will be at the start of Milan-Sanremo. The Australian already came close to the victory in 2018, when he finished second after Vincenzo Nibali, stayed clear ahead of the charging peloton after his attack on the Poggio.
“From Milan to the coast, it’s is a pretty straightforward race”, starts Caleb Ewan. “Once we get to the coast, the speed and tension goes up as we climb the multiple ‘Capi’. The crucial point in the race starts at the Cipressa, followed by the Poggio. These are also the two most difficult parts of the race for me. Generally, I struggle to get over these hills with the front group, but hopefully this year will be different. Having such a strong team at the start will definitely be a major advantage as we have multiple cards to play with. Contrary to two years ago – when I was the sole leader of the team – we now have different options, which can only be to our advantage. Tim and Philippe can play a crucial role on the climbs and John and I will be hoping for a sprint.”
After several years of absence, Tim Wellens will again be present this year. The 29-year-old Lotto Soudal rider had a strong start to the season and looks forward to racing Milan-Sanremo as one of the team’s leaders. Tim Wellens: “Milan-Sanremo is a long but beautiful race. It’s the first Monument of the year, so I really look forward to it. Having multiple cards to play with in the race will only benefit us. If one of us has a bad day, we still have some options left. With Caleb, we have one of the world’s fastest sprinters if it comes to a group sprint. Should Caleb be struggling on the climbs, we still have John as our second fast guy. Philippe Gilbert and I have the task to not get surprised on the climbs and follow interesting moves in the final.”
“I’ll definitely try to be up there on the Poggio and if a have a really good day, I should be able to get over it with the best riders. If not, we have to adapt to the situation and get our sprinters into place.”
Line-up Lotto Soudal: Jasper De Buyst, John Degenkolb, Caleb Ewan, Frederik Frison, Philippe Gilbert, Roger Kluge and Tim Wellens.
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- West Lothian Grand Prix, biggest ever prize pot
- Pro Gravel Team: Ribble Outliers
- Result: Exeter University Early Season Crits
- STARTLIST: PEAKS TWO DAY STAGE RACE
- TT Result: Matlock CC 25
- Start Lists: 17th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- Entries: Evesham Vale Road Race 2025
- TT Result: North Road CC Hardriders 25
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs CC 2-up
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team 10
- TT Result: Chris Edwards Hilly 17
- TT RESULT: University of Bristol Cycling Club 10
- Events: Tuesday Night Youth Race Series (West Lothian Cycle Circuit)
- Result: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series #1
- Result: Velo Bavarian Crit League 1 (Darley Moor)
- Result: Hillingdon Slipstreamers Spring Series 5
- Result: Surrey League Road Races (March 9)
- Result: 41st Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race
- Result: Lancaster Uni CC Spring Series 2
- Result: Early Season Lung-opener Road Race (Wales)
- Result: North Lincolnshire Womens Classic
- TLI Cycling Report: Rhyl CC Races
- Result: NCRA Handicap Road Race (March 1)
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 3
- TT Result: The Milers 15m TT
- TT Result: VTTA (Yorkshire) Ice Breaker 10
- BMCR’s TOUR OF THE ABBERLEYS
- Youth Result: Hillingdon Slipstreamers Spring Series 4
- Coming Soon: Peaks Two Day (YBC)
- News: Prestigious Award for Cat Ferguson
- TT Result: Swindon Road Club 29.6m TT
- Youth Result: Chilly City Crits 4
- Quiz Time with James Ingham ( Prologue Race Team)
- Crit Result: ART Winter Warmer Series 2
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #18
- Crit Result: Royal Navy Cup Road Races
- Result: Lancaster University CC Spring Series 1
- Startlist: 41st Jock Wadley Memorial
- TT Result: Kettering CC 20m TT
- TT Result: Redhill CC Sporting Time Trial
Other News on VeloUK
- West Lothian Grand Prix, biggest ever prize pot
- Pro Gravel Team: Ribble Outliers
- STARTLIST: PEAKS TWO DAY STAGE RACE
- Start Lists: 17th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- Entries: Evesham Vale Road Race 2025
- Events: Tuesday Night Youth Race Series (West Lothian Cycle Circuit)
- TLI Cycling Report: Rhyl CC Races
- BMCR’s TOUR OF THE ABBERLEYS
- Coming Soon: Peaks Two Day (YBC)
- News: Prestigious Award for Cat Ferguson
- Startlist: 41st Jock Wadley Memorial
- Quiz Time: Leon Atkins (Fensham Howes MAS Design)
- Quiz Time! Seth Jackson
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup Race
- Day 3 Report: British Track Championships
- SUNDAY: Clayton Spring Classic Handicap
- Quiz Time! Harrison Dainty (Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team )
- BMCR NEWS: Race dates change & new one
- News: CHS Host Winning Brits in Spain
- News: Pedal Club February Lunch Report
- News: Ribble Cycles to Sponsor Women’s CiCLE Classic
- NEWS: Lancashire Road Club – West Lancs Ronde
- News: Fensham Howes MAS Design 2025 Team Launch
- 20TH YEAR OF THE CICLE CLASSIC
- CELEBRATING WELSH LEGEND ‘G’!
- Track Euros Report Day 5
- TRACK EUROS REPORT (DAY 3)
- TRACK EUROS REPORT (DAY 2)
- STARTLIST: Azets Spring Classic (February 23)
- Entries: Clayton Spring Classic Handicap 2025
- News: John Barclay Academy Launch
- NEWS: 2025 ELITE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
- Another World Title for Zoe Backstedt
- TRAGIC NEWS: Aidan Loses His Life in Training Accident
- Tom Pidcock wins the AlUla Tour
- 2025 West Midlands road race league
- NEWS: Ribble Cycles Bike Sponsor for Smurfit Westrock Team
- Startlist: RCR Portsdown Classic Road Race (February 9)
- CYCLOCROSS: 2025-26 LLOYDS NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES CALENDAR
- 2025 British CycloCross Championships Day 2