I have always watched the Milano-Sanremo on TV, even when I was living in USA. It was a day of “Festa”, the arrival of spring, the opening of the cycling season, as I explain in My Milano-Sanremo 2024.
This was the first time, ever, I watched it Live. 
For months I planned this day. I climbed many times the Cipressa and Poggio (the last two climbs of the race) to pick the “perfect” spot where to watch the race coming by. 
Finally, arrived the day! 
I slowly climbed the Poggio already closed to the traffic.
I wanted to enjoy the atmosphere around, I wanted to breathe every moment of this experience, of this vibe of excitement. 
I reached the spot; it is the steepest switchback of the Poggio at 8% grade. Everyone around me, agreed: “it is here where everything will happen. If there will be an attack, it will be here”. 
Yet, it was the fastest race! What I will remember is that everything happened so fast!

The countdown started when we heard that the race was climbing the Cipressa. 
In no time here it is, the roaring of the helicopter. I looked up in the sky at the helicopter, I can feel the excitement in the air, the goosebumps on my skin. The policemen started screaming “Sono Qui”, “Sono Qui!! “Attenzione!”. 
Team Cars started streaking by, they held their cellular outside the car window to film us. Soon after, 3 motorcycles were leading the peloton. 
Yes they are here! Pogacar was leading a small group, forcing a crazy pace, Van der Poel is on his wheel just a few cm behind. Pogacar is still not able to drop the main sprinters.
They zipped by us on an 8% grade at 39 km/h. I just have time to scream “Go Poga!” and I can only see their backs. 
I was amazed, almost disappointed. They came by so fast I could not even get a fine shot. 
It struck me that, now, even top pure sprinters, can climb anything below 10% at a crazy pace, not being dropped.
Right away I knew that it would have been a sprint finish.

The Finish

I was on the Poggio, while the rest of us were on Via Roma, in downtown, close to the finish line. They ended up witnessing the “win”. 
When I met up with my friends, after the race, for an aperitif, we all excitedly shared our experiences, interrupting each other for how much the adrenaline was still running in our veins. 
We all had a great time and another great memory to nurture in our hearts.
Slowly I rode back home, it was dusk, the sea was calm, the city lights glowing in the water, I was happy, tomorrow I could say “I was there”.