Milan-San Remo to restore classic Via Roma finish

Milan-San Remo will return to its classic finish on the Via Roma for the first time since 2007, organisers RCS Sport confirmed on Friday.

The Via Roma has been used between 1949 to 1985 and 1994 to 2007, only switching with the races' original finish on the Corsa Cavallotti until race organisers moved the line to Piazzale Italo Calvino seven years ago.

Oscar Freire, who won Milan-San Remo three times in his career, was the last rider to take victory on the Via Roma. Eddy Meckx holds the record for wins, with all seven of his victories at the race coming on the Via Roma.

The change reduces the course length by 1km to 293km, and will move the finish line 2km close to the descent of the Poggio, which can prove decisive in the first monument of the season.

Earlier this week Race Director Mauro Vegni hinted at the change to the finish by saying to Cycling Weekly  that we would "see a surprise" in the route for 2015.

The 5km Pompeiana climb, which when introduced turned the race away from favouring the sprinters, will not reature again next year after it was removed from the 2014 edition because of poor road conditions.

The omission of the climb will be good new for the likes of Mark Cavendish, who had abndoned hope of taking victory at the race a second time as long as the Pompeiana was included.

The 2015 Milan-San Remo will be held Sunday, March 22.

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Credit: Gregor Brown

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