Since Tirreno-Adriatico things have been pretty hectic. Immediately after the final stage we drove 3hrs toward Milan, stayed the night in a roadside hotel, woke up the next morning and then drove the final 3hrs to San Remo. We have been here for the last 2 days to look at the final 50km of the first of the Classics, Milan San Remo, which is on Saturday.

It has been a pretty tiring couple of days since finishing Tirreno-Adriatico and I can?t help but wonder if all the traveling and the hotel-changing is worth it. Maybe a couple of days relaxing and staying in the same hotel might have been better for the recovery after last week?s racing than knowing the MSR course a little better.

On the other hand, it has been good to check out the Cipressa and Poggio - the last two critical climbs of MSR. I have done this Classic a few times but have never had the opportunity to do the climbs in training to familiarize myself with them. The problem is that they?re not easy and it?s difficult to pass over them after having already ridden 260km - especially for me at this time of year when I?m not at the top of my game. I would love to be able to do well here as I like Milan-San Remo and think that it?s one of the nicer races of the year. But as always, I struggle at this time of the season and for me to go well on Saturday will be difficult. I have never made the final for San Remo so I don't know if all the trouble of travelling and changing hotels to recon the final 50kms is going to be of much benefit to me. I guess that knowing the course a little better can only help my chances. And you never know. I am feeling a little better this year and maybe it might be enough to make it over those climbs?

Still, I know how I have to be going and how the others are going and a good result is going to be a long shot. I only hope that I don't have to take too much heat if I don't go well?

My pick? Well, I reckon a group of 40-50 will come to the line with at least 5 Fassa Bortolo to drop Petacchi off. The first three will be Freire, Petacchi and Hondo.

Julian