Filippo Ganna is hoping to become the first Italian since Vincenzo Nibali to win Milan-San Remo as the first Monument race of the year kicks the cycling season into gear on Saturday.
Four-time Grand Tour winner Nibali won 'La Classicissima' in 2018 and was himself the first rider from the Mediterranean nation in 12 years to claim the honours in one of the sport's most important races.
But this year's edition comes at a good time for Ganna who finished second overall in last week's Tirreno-Adriatico stage race, highlighting that he is more than just a time-trial and track specialist.
The 28-year-old's form is such that he was picked by countryman Jonathan Milan – who as a sprinter could also be a contender – as the favourite for this year's race which as usual will feature a who's who of professional cycling.
"I hope I'm in there among the contenders. I'll have to put in a perfect performance, especially at the end when you can be made to pay for any small mistake," said Ganna to the Gazzetta Dello Sport.
Two years ago Ganna, alongside Tadej Pogacar and Wout Van Aert, was overpowered by Mathieu van der Poel just before the summit of the final, and critical, Poggio di San Remo climb.
Ganna eventually finished 15 seconds back in second and is encouraged by the shifting nature of a race which used to be dominated by sprinters but has taken on a different shape in recent years.
"What did I learn from two years ago? To believe in myself more because then maybe I could have stayed with Van der Poel," he said.
"Every Milan-San Remo is different and that's what makes it great... I'm trying to get there in the best possible condition, we'll see where I am when I arrive on via Roma."
POGACAR ON THE HUNT
Cycling's biggest star Pogacar will once again attempt to tame one of the few major races he failed to win in an incredible 2024 in which he claimed the triple crown of the World Championships, the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia.
The 26-year-old has already added to his growing legend this season by winning the Strade Bianche for the third time despite crashing into a ditch with 50 kilometres remaining.
And Pogacar has a great record racing in Italy, with his Strade Bianche hat-trick going alongside two Tirreno-Adriatico victories, last year's procession to the Giro d'Italia title and wins in each of the last four editions of the season-closing Il Lombardia.
UAE Team Emirates' team manager Joxean Fernandez Matxin told Spanish sports website Relevo that Pogacar has recovered from his crash in Tuscany earlier this month but may not be in perfect shape for Saturday's battle on the Italian Riviera.
"He was in pain for two days after his crash but he's getting a little bit better with each passing day," said Matxin.
"I don't know if he'll be 100 per cent, but he'll be good. You've seen the kind of performances he's put in recently, so he'll be good for San Remo."
Also among the contenders will be Briton Tom Pidcock who battled with Pogacar at Strade Bianche after sportingly stopping to wait for the Slovenian following his crash.
Pidcock is racing for second-tier team Q36.5, where the 25-year-old has said he is more "energised" after a frosty break-up with Ganna's team Ineos Grenadiers.