Snow forces Milan-San Remo route reduction

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Taylor Phinney (BMC) (Image credit: Twitter / Radsport)

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Snow meant that the Milan-San Remo course had to be changed (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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A mechanic works on a rider's bike (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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The peloton waits some more. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Cannondale Factory Racing riders lined up for the re-start. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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The peloton, all bundled up for the next phase of Milan San-Remo (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Racers try to stay dry before the second start. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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A Garmin-Sharp rider (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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An Orica rider (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Lars Bak blows hot air into his gloves. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Peter Sagan (Cannondale) (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Liquigas-Cannondale riders ready to start. Again. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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The race caravan awaits the re-start (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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The lemon is an old trick to help braking in the rain. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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A mechanic takes the time to work on a bike before the second start. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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A Chinese rider on the Argos-Shimano team (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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No one looked too thrilled by today's weather. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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A GreenEdge rider dressed in black (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Racers at the re-start (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Cannondale riders ready to go (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Riders all lined up and awaiting the start (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Racers roll out for the re-start (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

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Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Sharp) (Image credit: Twitter / Radsport)

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Fabian Wegmann (Garmin-Sharp) (Image credit: Twitter / Radsport)

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David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) (Image credit: Twitter / Radsport)

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A rider tucks in behind the Katusha car (Image credit: Twitter / Radsport)

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Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) (Image credit: Twitter / Radsport)

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The peloton stops in Ovada (Image credit: Twitter / Radsport)

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The start of the Turchino (Image credit: Twitter / Radsport)

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Snow falls near Turchino (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

The snow and bad weather which have hit Europe has forced a change in the course of Milan-San Remo. Snow on the Turchino climb was ruled too dangerous for the peloton to take on.

Instead of riding the first and biggest climb of the race, the breakaway and peloton climbed into team buses in Ovada to bypass the snow-covered climb, from the 117km mark to the 163km mark on the other side, cutting some 47 km from the route. Cyclingnews crossed the Turchino by car but it would have been impossible for the riders to reach the summit due to snow.

The six-rider breakaway will be allowed to start from Arenzano with the same seven-minute advantage it had on the peloton in Ovada.

Riders were covered in snow as they climbed off their bikes and onto the team buses. Some tweeted images of themselves and their teammates.