As it happened: Reduced group sprints for glory on the Via Roma at Milan-San Remo Women

It’s 15 minutes until the riders will set off for the neutral start of the first Sanremo Women for 20 years. Click here to catch up on everything you need to know about the race before it starts.

It’s a wet start in Genoa but it looks like the rain should dry up by the time the peloton reach Sanremo. 

While we wait for the race to start let’s take a look at some of the contenders: 

Lotte Kopecky, Elisa Balsamo, Demi Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini all go into this race as favourites but does the unpredictability of the race means we could potentially see a surprise winner? 

There’s already been a surprising outcome at World Tour level this season with Lotte Claes taking victory at Omloop Nieuwsblad from the early breakaway. The fact that this peloton has never raced Sanremo Women before makes it hard to predict. 

As we often see in the men’s race, it is likely to come down to how the peloton race over the Capo Berta, Cipressa, and the infamous Poggio. Climbers like Demi Vollering will be looking to put sprinters on the back foot but if those with a fast finish can make it over the Poggio the race will be in their favour. 

The riders are off for the neutral start.

World Champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx – Protime) and Olympic Champion, Kristen Faulkner (EF Education – Oatly) are both making their season debut today. Kopecky in particular has made a point of targeting this race. 

Returning to racing following her crash at Strade Bianche is Kasia Niewiadoma. If she is recovered from her injuries the Canyon//SRAM Zondacrypto rider will be one to watch on those final climbs today. 

156 km to go

They’re off! The official start has been given 🏁

The peloton are all together after 6km of racing.

It’s a cold, wet, and windy start for the riders.

Here are the riders leaving Genoa