The 116th edition of the men’s Milan-Sanremo, scheduled for 22nd March 2025, will see the first Monument of the season start in Pavia for the next three years. The agreement, reached between RCS Sport and local authorities, ensures the city hosts the Grand Départ until at least 2027.
Pavia’s mayor, Michele Lissia, welcomed the announcement, describing the race as both a sporting spectacle and a promotional asset for the city. “The 2025 Milano-Sanremo, which will take place on Saturday, March 22, kicks off the eagerly awaited season of the great Classics and, as has become tradition, will be a must-see event for all cycling and sports enthusiasts,” he said. “However, the race is not just a sporting event: it is also a powerful promotional tool for Pavia and its territory.”
Route overview
The race will begin in Pavia before heading north towards Milan, passing the Certosa and linking up with the traditional course. Riders will travel through Casteggio, Voghera, Rivanazzano, and Salice Terme before merging back onto the classic route at Tortona. From there, they will tackle the Passo del Turchino and descend into Genoa, before following the Ligurian coastline along the SS 1 Aurelia.
In the closing stages, the familiar climbs of the Cipressa (5.6 km at 4.1%) and Poggio di Sanremo (3.7 km, max 8%) will once again play a pivotal role. The descent from the Poggio leads directly into Sanremo, where the riders will navigate the final urban roads before sprinting for victory on Via Roma.
Significance of Pavia’s inclusion
Mauro Vegni, Area Cycling Director at RCS Sport, highlighted the significance of Pavia’s continued role as the start city. “Milano-Sanremo is one of the most fascinating and legendary races in world cycling. It is the Classicissima di Primavera, the first Monument of the season, a challenge that has tested the greatest champions of our sport for over a century. Again this year, and for the next two editions, Pavia will host the start of the race following the great success of 2024.”
Angela Barbara Gregorini, Pavia’s Councillor for Sport, Youth Policies, and Tourism, reinforced the city’s ambition to use the event to attract visitors. “The city of Pavia, despite having enormous potential in terms of history, culture, and landscapes, is still relatively unknown as a tourist destination. Hosting major sporting events such as Milano-Sanremo is undoubtedly a way to attract visitors, promote the city, and boost tourism.”
Giovanni Palli, President of the Province of Pavia, also underlined the race’s significance for the local area. “Our commitment to host the start of Milano-Sanremo for the next three years in the Province of Pavia, with the ‘Classicissima’ winding over 60 kilometres through our province, is not just the best gift we could give to cycling fans and enthusiasts in our area. It is also the culmination of years of territorial promotion efforts.”
Teams announced
A total of 25 teams will take the start, including 18 UCI WorldTeams. The line-up includes:
- Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Arkéa-B&B Hotels
- Bahrain Victorious
- Cofidis
- Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
- EF Education-EasyPost
- Groupama-FDJ
- Ineos Grenadiers
- Intermarché-Wanty
- Lidl-Trek
- Movistar Team
- Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
- Soudal Quick-Step
- Team Jayco AlUla
- Team Picnic PostNL
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- UAE Team Emirates-XRG
- XDS Astana Team
Joining them will be three teams qualifying by ranking: Israel-Premier Tech, Lotto, and Uno-X Mobility, while four teams have received wild card invitations: Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Solution Tech Vini Fantini, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, and VF Group Bardiani CSF-Faizanè.
With the route and teams now confirmed, attention turns to the riders set to battle it out for one of the most prestigious victories in cycling.
Main photo credit: LaPresse
