Here’s a great little video of Erik Zabel and Oscar Freire talking about the Milan San Remo parcours. It puts some context and visuals around the crucial sections of the course. The Passo del Turchino, Le Manie, Cipressa and the most important, the Poggio.

It’s interesting to see how life sometimes comes full circle. Freire is riding his final year on Katusha and Zabel is an advisor to the team (coming from the disbanded HTC). The photo above is from the 2004 edition of Milan-San Remo where four time winner Zabel lifted his arms to celebrate a moment too soon while Freire pippes him by a few centimeters with a bike throw at the line. Watch the video to find out Zabel’s tips for Freire to get his fourth win:

Update: Cavendish and Eisel talk about Milan San Remo:

Milan San Remo Profile

If you've read McEwen's book he likens the Cipressa or Poggio to Old Willunga Hill at the Tour Down Under. "It takes a similar effort to get over both, but Willunga is made a little tougher by the fact that the race doesn't descend immediately."

Cavendish is the bookies’ top pick at 3:1. Sagan is 8:1, Cancellara 10:1, and Goss and Boasson Hagen are 12:1. Who’s your tip?

It looks like Eurosport is the only one broadcasting Milan San Remo live on television. Don’t forget, it’s this Saturday night!