How to manage watching 300 km of Milan-San Remo

On Saturday, pros will ride the first Monument of the year, Milan-San Remo. The race is known for its considerable length. The distance varies from year to year, but it’s always near the 300 km mark. This year it’s 298km.

The women are taking on the (sort of) second edition of the race, and doing a more civilized 156km. (Although there is an argument it should be longer for them.)

Pidcock says everyone knows where Pogačar will attack at Milan-San Remo

That’s a long day in the saddle, anywhere between 6.5 and 7 hours. In 2025, it was an amazing race, with Tadej Pogačar trying to hard to drop eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel on the Poggio. This time, however, sounds like the world champ may go for it on the Poggio. The startlists are still not final, but we do know that two Canadians are listed for the women’s event: Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Movistar’s Olivia Baril. There should be more added to the list by Friday. Victoria’s Van Dam has shown some pretty great results with her sprint, so she may have a big day on the Via Roma.

Mathieu van der Poel won Milan San-Remo, but it’s not on Strava

Although there will be breakaways and breakaway attempts, it usually comes down to the Poggio–either the ascent or the descent. Unless this year, Pogi does something nutty on the Cipressa. Either way, stuff will happen with 20 and 30 km to go. But you call yourself a cycling fan, right? So you gotta watch it all.

Or, as is often the case, a sprint in a reduced pack. Since that’s a whole lotta bike racing to watch, why not make the most of it while you have it playing in the background? Here’s a selection of things you can do. Mix and match a few of them and the time will fly.

1. Change your winter tires

Spring is around the corner–I mean, the race is called La Primavera, so why not use part of the race to change into your summer tires? (This depends on where you live in Canada, obviously.) Depending on your skill level, jack and surface, (and wherever you store your tires) it’s probably going to take you an hour or two. So if you get going when the race starts, you’ll only be 80 km in when you’re finished.

2. Do your taxes

Depending on how complicated your situation is, this could take you an hour…or the whole day. But still, good to get it done. Besides, knowing the way the race traditionally goes, it might just come down to the last ten minutes anyway.

3. Watch 77 per cent of the Lord of the Rings…