Silence: now the Milan-Sanremo speaks.

Last year’s Milan-Sanremo, we all remember it and we remember it well. It is hard to forget a day like that, when a team like ours debuted in such a beautiful race and managed to feel great among the big ones. The great breakaway of Rivi, able to run away immediately and hold on beyond all expectations in a heroic ride. The finish by Albanese, splendid in hitting an incredible 11th place: he, the first of the Italians.

And now, here we go again. Back in the presence of a race so great that it is difficult to tell, so beautiful that it is difficult to watch, so unpredictable that it is difficult to imagine. Back in the presence of Milan-Sanremo, a roll of honor that counts legends of the sport and the greatest in history, a route that is like a poem learned by heart: the Turchino, Capo Mele, Capo Cervo, Capo Berta, the Cipressa, the Poggio.

Samuele Rivi was there a year ago and will be there again on Saturday: “I think back to my race a year ago, and I think it was the best day of my career. A breakaway like that in a race like that is something that stays inside, that gratifies: I would love to repeat a day like that, I would love to be back in the breakaway, I would love to do better than a year ago even if doing better would mean passing first on the Poggio as well so…it won’t be easy. I am fine, I come from a difficult Tirreno-Adriatico in which I had a physical problem but now I have recovered.”

Stefano Zanatta is also ready: “And the whole team is ready too: we are going to this Milano-Sanremo to try to be protagonists, to try to show off as we always do. We don’t have to say anything to describe this race because it is part of cycling history and sees the strongest riders in the world coming to try to win it. We will be there, too, and we will do everything to deserve this invitation.”

Lineup: David Martin, Mattia Bais, Simone Bevilacqua, Francesco Gavazzi, Mirco Maestri, Samuele Rivi, Diego Sevilla