Milan-San Remo Gets Longer Route

The 2026 edition of Milan-San Remo will measure 298 kilometers, an increase of nine kilometers from the 2025 race which was 289 km. However, this will not be the longest route in recent history; the 2021 edition covered 299 kilometers, and the 2020 race, which was rerouted due to the pandemic, extended to 305 km. The race's distance has fluctuated in recent years. The 2024 edition measured 288 km, while the 2023 and 2022 races were 294 km and 293 km, respectively. The increase for 2026 adds length to the initial part of the course, with the race once again starting in the city of Pavia for the third consecutive year. This alteration in the early kilometers leaves the iconic finale of "La Classicissima" untouched. The decisive closing sequence over the Cipressa and Poggio climbs, which has been a fixture for decades, will remain the critical battleground where the race is typically won or lost. Known as the longest professional one-day race in modern cycling, Milan-San Remo's considerable distance is a defining characteristic that has remained central to its identity since its early editions. The race has historically been a supreme test of endurance, with the length playing a crucial role in the attritional nature of the event, even before the final climbs.