There isn’t a doubt that Laurence Pithie has left an enormous impression within the opening months of his second season within the WorldTour, and consequently, the alternatives are quickly increasing for the rider from New Zealand who will on Sunday debut at his first Monument, Milan-San Remo, with some large ambitions.
The Groupama-FDJ rider, who secured his first WorldTour win in January with a fastidiously performed hand on the Cadel Evans Nice Ocean Street Race, additionally stepped as much as the rostrum twice at Paris-Good earlier this month. The quantity on the outcomes sheet at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne – simply the second cobbled Basic of his profession – could have been a far much less spectacular forty third however his efficiency through the race, the place he was in the break alongside eventual winner Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) was revelatory.
Milan-San Remo on Saturday will present a complete new expertise – the 288km size for a begin provides one other layer of problem – and fierce rivals comparable to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) have entered the fray. Nonetheless, the season to this point has supplied loads of proof that Pithie shouldn’t be ready to curb his ambitions or cease striving for that subsequent step up.
“The final 10 kilometres are among the many most enjoyable of the yr and I am hoping to race them within the main group and are available away with an excellent consequence,” Pithie stated in a staff media launch. “I do know there’s a whole lot of competitors, however at the beginning my intention is at all times to win.”
Milan-San Remo is a race the place the French staff has tasted success prior to now, with Arnaud Démare profitable in 2016 and stepping onto the rostrum in third in 2018, however may definitely do with a fillip to their Milan-San Remo outcomes.
“Milan-San Remo is a race the place all the things occurs within the ultimate,” stated Groupama-FDJ sports activities director Yvon Caër. “Over the previous couple of years, we have seen a change in technique on the a part of the groups. Earlier than, victory was determined by a small group of riders in a dash; now, it is a extra bodily race with sturdy assaults and leaders who open hostilities earlier within the race. We will should adapt to the tempo as much as the summit of the Cipressa, and be in an excellent place on the Poggio to maneuver up with the most effective.”
The Groupama-FDJ squad consists of Sven Erik Bystrøm, Lorenzo Germani, Stefan Küng, Quentin Pacher, Clément Russo and Sam Watson.
“In our colors, we’ll have some skilled riders, but additionally Laurence Pithie who shall be discovering his first Monument on terrain that will swimsuit him,” stated Caër.
Whereas the terrain could swimsuit the 21-year-old, he’s additionally nicely conscious that the course will present a brand new problem and new take a look at of his capability, given the 288km distance.
“It will be the longest race of my life, in order that’s clearly an element to bear in mind,” stated Pithie. “We’ll have to avoid wasting our vitality and be very nicely positioned on the strategic factors.”
