Good morning and welcome to our live coverage from this year's Milan-San Remo. We're right on the start line as rider and fans gather for one of the most iconic races in professional cycling. The sun is out, we have endless blue skies and the riders are ready to race.
We're around an hour from the official start/roll out but all the team are here and have gathered for the sign-in. Outside the Tinkoff bus, just to our right, all the Specialized bikes are lined out, with Peter Sagan's world champion's bike resting proudly at the front. More on him later today.
We're walking down passed the team buses, through the crowds, and there's Brian Cookson, already on the campaign trail as he seeks another term at the head of the UCI. The Cannondale bus stands out and there's already some activity with a few riders peaking out from the door to check on the conditions. They've a few interesting riders for today's race.
Outside the Trek Segafredo bike now. No sign of the riders, who are no doubt enjoying one last coffee before signing on. Here though is Fabian Cancellara's Trek for today's race.
It was of course Cancellara's birthday yesterday and he will be looking for one more Milan-San Remo crown in what is going to be his final Classics campaign. The Swiss rider won this race back in 2008 with a daring late attack. Did you know it's been ten years since an Italian won this race?
We're now outside the BMC Racing team bus. Now this is a team that could make today's race. In Greg Van Avermaet they have one of the race's favourites and they're stacked with attacking options too... riders like Daniel Oss, who broke off the front last year with Geraint Thomas. They are without Gilbert this year there's real belief inside the BMC camp that this could be their year in the Classics. And here's a snap of Greg's bike for today.
Just by the BMC bus we have the Death Star - or the Team Sky team bus, if you prefer. The British team come into this race with Paris-Nice winner Geraint Thomas in fine form. They're similar to BMC in that they have options - so expect Michał Kwiatkowski, Ian Stannard, and a fired up Elia Viviani to feature at some point. It will be interesting to see who works for who. Viviani has had a track programme of late so he may not have the legs for 300km but we'll see. We know he's passionate about this race and he'll want to show himself at some point.
Just as push our way through the crowds, why not take a second to download our free podcast. We preview Milan-San Remo and hear from Cancellara and Cavendish. You can also review/rate the podcast too. It's just a click away.
And speaking of Cavendish, we're just outside the Dimension Data team bus. The South African team have won this race before - back in 2013 - and they certainly have a stronger squad these days. Cavendish, like Viviani comes here after a track-road programme but as a former winner, the British rider can't be utterly discounted. His team have in fact been talking up his chances in recent days. Perhaps, Edvald Boasson Hagen has more of a shot this time around though. He's shown form already this year and he's probably their designated leader. He's gone missing in this race before but he's one to watch this afternoon.
We're now outside the Orica GreenEdge bus and their quietly confident of their chances today. Michael Matthews oozed class and form at Paris-Nice and he was third last year. There's no Simon Gerrans in the team but the Australian outfit are united behind Matthews. They a very capable looking team today as well. Here he is talking at the startline.
Our complete race start list is up to date and you can find it right here.
And we've just bumped into an excited Matt White from Orica GreenEdge. "Matt, how is Michael today"
How do you see the race unfolding and do you want a bunch sprint?
Mark Cavendish has signed on with his Dimension Data teammates. The former Milan-San Remo winner is now conversing with the media but we're about ten minutes away from the roll out.
And now the world champion appears. Peter Sagan, with all those second places this year, is still looking for his first win of 2016. Could today be his day? He certainly has the form and the team around him but can he get it right on the day?
The riders are now on the start line and the 2016 edition of Milan-San Remo is about to begin. They have 9km of neutralized roads before the official start begins.
The riders are rolling along, through the first few kilometres before the race officially begins. It's all smiles at the moment but as soon as the flag drops you can bet there will be a flurry of attacks. The break of the day tends to form inside the first 20-30km in Milan-San Remo and it can last for well over 200km. For a number of riders, making the break is crucial for them and their teams.
And we're off. The 2016 Milan-San Remo is now underway.
If your'e new to this race and want to find out which riders could feature, then please head to our top 10 rider video, right here.
For now there are a few Lampre riders on the front of the peloton. The all-Italian team have a few cards to play with today in Ulissi and Modolo but they're certainly not favourites by any means. Here's a look at their nine-man squad:
Dry, sunny spring conditions at the start and they should hold throughout the race today. And now the pace jumps up, with a series off attacks from the front of the peloton. Making that first main break is so crucial to a lot of teams and riders. It may not have an effect on the tactics for the final but it takes the pressure off teams, meaning they don't have chase, and it also provides valuable TV/online exposure.
One non-starter today and that's Moreno Hofland. That's a real blow for Lotto Jumbo who will have to do without one of their best riders today. He won a third of their races in 2015, granted that was only 2/6 but still... a blow for the Dutch team.
One rider on the start list here for the first time in his career is Fernando Gaviria. He's a dark horse for many but there's a huge difference between winning over 170km and winning after nearly 300km. Few riders can actually manage that feat. There's no pressure on the Etixx rider today but his team certainly have a few riders who can shine.
And we have a break: They jumped after 14km of racing and they've quickly established a lead over the peloton. Tinkoff and FDJ are leading the bunch but the riders up the road are almost two minutes clear.
There are some decent names in there - and certainly a few strong riders with Kluge and Tjallingii standing out with the most experience and/or horsepower.
Tjallingii - now 38 - has been with Lotto, formerly Belkin, Blanco and Rabobank since 2009. He's only ever ridden the Tour de France twice but he's well respected within the bunch as one of the most hardworking and dedicated riders going. In fact, Oscar Freire, picked him in his cycling dream team.
271km remaining from 291km
The break are heading towards Pavia as they look to extend their advantage over the field. Trek Segafredo have 27-year-old Coledan in the break and his job will be to sit and work with the leaders, allowing the rest of his team to prioritise their work for Cancellara and keeping their team leader out of trouble.
The bunch have well and truly sat up now with the break picking up a minute per-kilo at the moment. The gap to the bunch is at 4'25 after 24km of racing.
Bono - 32 - and from Iseo is in his 12th season with Lampre and he takes a turn on the front of our breakaway. He has won a stage in Eneco and Romandie - the latter way back in 2007 when he beat Beppu and Pinotti into Fribourg. He's a solid domestique and Lampre will be content to have a man in the break at this point in the race.
Cyclingnews' Barry Ryan spoke to Michael Matthews at the start this morning. Here's what the race favourite had to say:
Sounds like Matthews is going to follow the attacks on the Cipressa and Poggio - it all depends on if he marks the right move. Also, are riders really going to work with Matthews if he makes it into a small group on the run-in to the finish?
29km remaining from 291km
At the start of the race, Mark Cavendish made the point about the weather.
Does Vincenzo Nibali have the weight of a nation on his shoulders? He's without doubt the one Italian who could pull this off today but he's called on several riders to be aggressive with him on the final two climbs of the race. Here's what he said in a pre-race press conference:
Like Cavendish, Tom Boonen - a former teammate of the Manxman - pointed out that we could have a larger group than usual at the finish.
One rider who will be hoping for a bunch sprint is Bouhanni. He was totally isolated last year in the sprint and he'll be expecting more from his Cofidis teammates.
246km remaining from 291km
One rider who has gone under the radar is Alejandro Valverde. He's not won here before, and his record isn't great, but he can't be counted out. We caught up with him at the start in Milan.
241km remaining from 291km
Kristoff has decided to put one man on the front of the peloton. Katusha aren't concerned by the break but they just want to keep an eye on things.
We're hearing some reports of a landslide on a section of the course. Not much more than that at the moment but we'll bring you news as we receive it.
Photos are emerging online now of the landslide. There appear to be several cars involved - not from the race though - and so organisers will need to find an alternative route.
5 of the 11 riders in breakaway #MSR @Milano_Sanremo were in the breakaway in 2015 as well pic.twitter.com/q8fk9XGBtB
From the landslide images we're looking at, and again this isn't from the race organiser, it's going to be hard for the race to pass along this stretch of road. It's around Arezano, near Genova.
We're still waiting on more details to emerge but here's our brief story on the landslide.
One option for the race could involve a neutralisation. We could then see the riders shipped off in buses to a new point where the race could start safely. Once we have confirmation on any plans we'll bring them to you. At the moment the race is still over an hour away from the landslide.
Another option could see the organisers route the rider onto the motorway and off the coastal rode where the incident has taken place.
We have now been told that RCS will release an announcement once a decision has been made.
Nothing is confirmed until RSC make a statement but we are hearing that there will be a 9km diversion onto the motorway. We're also hearing that the Turchino climb may be cut from the route as a result.
News of the landslide on the #MSR course confirmed via race radio. Peloton will have 9km diversion on motorway.
224km remaining from 291km
LottoNLJumbo Cycling @LottoJumbo_road:
Journalist Felix Mattis is on the scene of the landslide and he's reported that:
211km remaining from 291km
Confirmed: The race will not be neutralized. They will have the 9km deviation, however. So after the Turchino, the riders will deviate onto the motorway at Voltri. They will then race 9km before heading back onto the coastal road at Arenzano. A similar situation occurred in 2003.
Here's the official statement from RCS:
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The Passo dello Turchino is on the horizon for the riders in this year's Milan-San Remo. The climb will not decide the race but it will sap the energy of everyone out there, adding to the culminated fatigue that comes with racing for 300 kilometres.
The peloton have eased off in their chase ever so slightly and it's allowed the 11-man break to extend their advantage to 8'37.
Tinkoff have sat up, and it allows the break to move their lead back up to nine minutes. This brings Katusha back into play, with Kristoff's men setting up shop on the front of the peloton.
No John Degenkolb in this year's race. The German is still recovering from being hit by a car earlier in the year. He won last year with a perfectly timed sprint and he has taken to Facebook recently to post this photo.
We spoke to Kristoff, the winner from 2014, at the start this morning. In the last two years he has had Luca Paolini with him but the Italian is fighting a drug charge after testing positive for cocaine last summer.
World Champion Peter Sagan was a man of few words at the start this morning.
Susan Westemeyer is taking over live for the next few minutes. Over to you Susan...
Susan here while Dan hits the feed zone.
The break group has started on its way up the Turchino. With 146 km to go, the gap is 7:22.
We now have official confirmation that this year's Milan-San Remo is 295km long. That is an additional 4 km due to the change in course.
Mother Nature seems to often play a role in this race. This is not the first landslide to change things, and we certainly all remember the heavy snow several years ago which shortened the race.
The gap is dropping dramatically on this climb -- with 141km to go, it is down to under six minutes.
The lead group has crested the Turchino and is now starting on the detour route.
Back in the peloton, Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) punctured. That was quickly taken care of and he is back with the bunch.
The riders are now on the autostrada, on their way around the landslide.
129km remaining from 291km
It is good for the race that they can use the autostrada -- but what about those in cars, who just want to get somewhere? We picture long back-ups of frustrated travelers.....
129km remaining from 291km
The peloton has passed through a toll booth on the autostrada -- but we doubt that they stopped to pay.
So far we have an average speed of 41.6km/h. This would put us at the finish in just over 2.5 hours, or 17:00 (5 p.m) CET.
The riders have hit the coast now, and apparently buoyed by the palm trees and water, they have brought the gap up to over five minutes again. 107 km and 5:05.
The gap continues to drop and it's now at 5'12.
In around 20km of racing Bobby Julich will be joining us for live coverage from the race.
Simon Clarke is now near the front of the peloton. He's come here promising to be aggressive, along with his Cannondale teammates. The Australian has already won this year for his new squad so he'll be full of confidence.
Only two Australian's have won this race before. Matt Goss, and Simon Gerrans. Neither are here today but Michael Matthews is here, and he's a red hot favourite after his stunning start to the season. He was third last year too and can win either in a bunch sprint or if a break goes on the Cipressa or Poggio.
100km remaining from 291km
Dimension Data have a rider on the front of the peloton but the real muscle comes from Katusha who have almost their entire team near the front of proceedings. The peloton are lined out, an indication that the pace is constantly increasing.
Bobby Julich:
The gap has dropped below five minutes, it's 4'54 with 95km to go, so still around two hours left in the race. The break aren't riding badly, it's just that the peloton have really stepped up.
Cancellara drifts around the bunch as if he's just out on a Sunday club run. The former winner will be content with how the race has gone so far for him. He has a man in the break and it's meant that the rest of the Trek Segafredo team can sit back while other teams chase. Tinkoff, Cofidis, Etixx and Orica have now started to set the pace on the front of the peloton.
There's Geraint Thomas, a little further back in the bunch, and with a number of teammates around him. The Paris-Nice winner went on the attack last year, and he'll be looking to do the same on the Cipressa or Poggio, once more.
The bunch are currently descending, with riders tucked right up against their stems as they try and stay as aero as possible.
Julich:
Nibali in the Italian national jersey is coming back through the cars at the moment. He has a teammate with him.
Kluge cramps up and drifts to the back to stretch out. He's been on the attack since KM 14.
86km remaining from 291km
Julich: