Mark Cavendish wins Milan-San Remo 2009
(Image credit: Watson)

The Milan-San Remo one-day classic has generated a long list of statistics since its debut year in 1907. This year, it celebrates its 107th edition and Cycling Weekly looks back at some of the numbers.

1907

The year the race debuted. Frenchman Lucien Petit-Breton won. The race was shorter, but he needed 11 hours and 4 minutes to complete the 286 kilometres.

20

The age of the youngest winner Ugo Agostoni. Eddy Merckx was 20 years, but slightly older than when the Italian won in 1914.

36

Andrei Tchmil became the oldest winner in 1999. Tchmil, then Belgian, jumped from the pack at 600 metres remaining after the group had caught an earlier attack. He held off the sprint led by Erik Zabel.

50

The number of Italian winners in the previous 106 editions. Foreigners took the other 56 wins: Belgium 20, France 12, Germany 7, Spain 5, The Netherlands 3, Switzerland 2, Ireland 2, Great Britain 2, Australia 2, Norway 1

Watch: 2016 Milan-San Remo essential guide

4

Winners in the rainbow jersey: Alfredo Binda (1931), Eddy Merckx (1972, 1975), Felice Gimondi (1974) and Giuseppe Saronni (1983). Can Peter Sagan make it five in 2016?

7

Record number of wins held by Eddy Merckx: 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1976.

16

Number of cyclists to win Milan-San Remo in their debut. Mark Cavendish was the last to win in his first year.

In 2009 Mark Cavendish jumped clear of the bunch to catch Heinrich Haussler on the line.

Mark Cavendish takes a narrow win over Heinrich Haussler in the 2009 Milan-San Remo
(Image credit: WATSON)

11

The distance in centimetres in which Mark Cavendish won over Heinrich Haussler in 2009.

45.806

The fastest average speed in km/h recorded when Gianni Bugno won in 1990. He attacked free on the Cipressa, held 18 seconds at the top and 15 seconds on the Poggio. He won by four seconds over German Rolf Gölz.

9-36

Fastest time in minutes up the 5.7-kilometre Cipressa set by Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo) in 2001. It was not enough to break up the group, which Erik Zabel led into San Remo over Mario Cipollini.

5-46

Giorgio Furlan's time, a record, up the 3.7-kilometre Poggio in 1994. He held 15 seconds on the group over the top and won by 20 seconds over Mario Cipollini.

23

The number of curves on the descent of the Poggio in addition to the seven switchbacks. Going up, the riders face six curves and four switchbacks over 3.7km.

1960

Year race director, Vincenzo Torriani added the climb to the Poggio hilltop down. The climb to Cipressa was added in 1982. The 4.7-kilometre Le Mànie, last used in 2012, came in 2008.

Cyclists climb the Poggio during Milan-San Remo

Cyclists climb the Poggio during Milan-San Remo
(Image credit: Watson)

2007

The last year the race finished in the centre of town on the Via Roma. Spaniard Oscar Freire won from a bunch sprint.

44

Solo winners in San Remo, with Swiss Fabian Cancellara succeeding last in 2008. He attacked from three kilometres out.

15

The maximum temperature forecast for San Remo on Sunday. Clear skies and a light southerly breeze are also predicted. In the morning, forecasts show 10°C and sunshine for Milan.

291

Distance in kilometres of Saturday's race. It jumps to 299.5 when you added in the 8.5-kilometre neutral section out of Milan's centre.

The peloton in the 2014 Milan-San Remo

The peloton in the 2014 Milan-San Remo
(Image credit: Watson)

200

Riders due to start on Saturday, 25 teams with eight-man rosters.

4

Previous winners in the 2016 edition: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) and Filippo Pozzato (Southeast-venezuela).

44

Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) is the oldest rider competing in the 2016 race.

20,000

The amount of money in euros (£15,600) for the winner on Sunday. The total prize purse is €50,000 or around £39,200. Prize money is awarded to the first 20 riders.

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Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.