Here are the bookies favourites for Milan - San Remo 2020
These are the riders who are most likely to spoil Philippe Gilbert's day
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

We're not used to waiting until August for the first Monument of the cycling season, but to be honest that's probably one of the least surprising things we've had to contend with in 2020.
Milan - San Remo was pushed back from it's usual March date due to the coronavirus pandemic, but on Saturday August 8 the sprinters will get their one real chance of taking a Monument victory.
A few other changes aside from the date have been made this year. An inland route replaces the coastal scenery as various local authorities refused passage of the race due to coronavirus fears, while organisers have also reduced squad numbers to six in order to invite 27 teams to the race.
One thing that has mostly stayed the same, however, are the favourites to cross the line first.
Should the race stay together and come to a bunch sprint, the quickest fast men will battle it out for victory, while riders capable of long-range attacks and known for their swashbuckling antics are also fancied.
>>> How to live stream Milan – San Remo 2020: watch the first Monument of the new season
How do we know for certain who's looking in shape for the win though? Go off previous races? Ask the riders or even their teams? Don't be silly. All we have to do is refer to the omnipotent power of the bookmakers!
The favourite for the race, at 11/2, is three-time world champion, Peter Sagan. The Bora-Hansgrohe man may seem an odd choice as the most likely to take the win, but these are uncertain times and who else would you trust to deliver a result than Mr 'Why So Serious?' himself. The Slovakian has already won two Monuments, with victory in the Tour of Flanders in 2016 and Paris-Roubaix in 2018. So, Milan - San Remo in 2020?
He will face stiff competition from another rider who has become accustomed to wearing the rainbow bands during his career, albeit winning his jerseys in cyclocross. Mathieu van der Poel is only at slightly longer odds to win what would be his first Monument, at 6/1. The Alpecin-Fenix rider had his breakthrough year on the road in 2019, and despite the delay will be looking to continue where he left off.
Caleb Ewan has the shortest odds of any pure sprinter set to take the start line, at 13/2. The Australian had a good start to life at Lotto-Soudal in the first few months of the year, with stage wins at the Tour Down Under and UAE Tour. Should a reduced bunch make it to the finish in San Remo, Lotto-Soudal will be putting everything behind getting Caleb Ewan across the line first.
Fourth favourite is the defending champion, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step). The Frenchman got his season going at Milan - San Remo last year with an impressive sprint to take the win, but even the most ardent fans of 'LouLou' won't have believed the season he went on to have.
Trying to follow up his 2019 may end up being impossible for Alaphilippe, but he's offered at 8/1 to get his first victory of 2020 under his belt in Italy this weekend.
Wout van Aert said he's in the form of his life after his Strade Bianche victory, and the bookies believe him, the Belgian at 9/1 to double his win tally in Italy on Saturday.
The Jumbo-Visma rider will be 100 per cent committed to the team's GC efforts at the upcoming Tour de France, but until then Van Aert can try his best to take as many one-day victories as he can.
Fernando Gaviria showed some impressive sprinting legs at the Vuelta a Burgos last week by winning stage two, having successfully recovered from the coronavirus. The Colombian will be vying to become the first of his nation to win the Italian Monument, and is 12/1 to do so.
Should Alaphilippe not be able to repeat his ride of last year, Deceuninck - Quick-Step also have Sam Bennett who's looked good since arriving at the Belgian team. The Irishman is 14/1 to take the bunch sprint.
The man who will be featured most heavily in the build-up to the race will likely be Philippe Gilbert. After the Belgian won Paris-Roubaix last year, talk turned almost immediately to whether he could become only the fourth rider in history to win all five Monuments. Milan - San Remo offers this opportunity, and anything is possible when it comes to the Lotto-Soudal rider. He's 16/1 to do it, so if you're a fan of PhilGil as well as making money, lump on.
For home fans, two Italians just about make it into the top 10 of favourites, with both Matteo Trentin (CCC) and Elia Viviani (Cofidis) offered at 22/1.
Milan - San Remo 2020 (Winner - Paddy Power)
Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe, 11/2
Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Fenix, 6/1
Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto-Soudal, 13/2
Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, 8/1
Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma, 9/1
Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates, 12/1
Sam Bennett (Irl) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, 14/1
Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, 16/1
Matteo Trentin (Ita) CCC, 22/1
Elia Viviani (Ita) Cofidis, 22/1
All odds correct at time of publication
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
'I'm studying maths – my brain needs something else besides cycling': Thomas Gloag on his hunger for learning on and off the bike
The 21-year-old Londoner and new Jumbo-Visma signing on rising to the challenge as he begins his WorldTour career
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Jess Roberts doubles up at British Track Championships as 19 year-old sprinter topples Olympian
Comeback queen wins her first solo national title in the scratch race
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
No win for Jonas Vingegaard? Cycling Weekly's bold predictions for the 2023 season
With under a fortnight until the WorldTour kicks off this year, it is time to take a look into our crystal ball
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From the World Championships to Paris-Roubaix: Cycling Weekly's wins of 2022
It is hard to look past Annemiek van Vleuten, but we tried, so here is the best win of the year, plus nine more
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Once in a lifetime': Matej Mohorič on his stunning Milan-San Remo victory in 2022
The dropper post, the daredevil descending, and the Monument win
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Milan-San Remo's organiser is planning to create women's event for 2023
RCS is looking to add a women's Milan-San Remo to the calendar next year
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Wout van Aert: 'I wasted a lot of energy on Pogačar’s attacks'
Belgian says lack of cohesion in the chasing group cost them a shot at Milan-San Remo victory
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar: 'I didn’t dare follow Mohorič at Milan-San Remo, I know that he's crazy when the road goes down'
The Tour de France champion came up short after repeated attacks on the Poggio
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Five talking points from Milan-San Remo 2022
The spring Classics season got off with a bang at the first Monument of the year
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel 'disappointed' after racing return at Milan-San Remo ends in podium finish
The Dutchman says his third place was 'another missed opportunity' but was pleased with status of back injury
By Richard Windsor • Published