Cycling revolution: Plans unveiled for women's Milan-San Remo in 2025

Milan-San Remo stands out as the only spring monument without a women’s edition, but that might change soon. According to Belgian news outlet HLN, there are strong indications that a women’s race could be added as early as next year. RCS, the organization behind the Giro d'Italia, reportedly has firm plans in place to launch this event. However, several hurdles obstacles are still in the way...

While the Women's Tour of Flanders has existed since 2004, the other spring monuments were slow to follow. Liège-Bastogne-Liège became the second spring monument to introduce a women's race in 2017. After Paris-Roubaix hosted its first women's edition in 2021, following a failed attempt in 2020 due to Covid-19, Milan-San Remo was the last remaining spring monument without a women's version. That is, until next year if RCS has its way.

According to HLN, RCS wants to organize the women's race on the same day as the men's race: the third Saturday in March. This immediately presents a major obstacle. The day after the third Saturday in March, the women's calendar has the Trofeo Alfredo Binda scheduled. This Italian classic has been held since 1974 and is a staple on the women's peloton calendar. Travel-wise, this poses a problem as the riders would need to cover 350 kilometers from the finish in San Remo to the start of the Trofeo Binda in Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca. It would also be challenging to have two demanding races back-to-back.

World Champion Lotte Kopecky told HLN that there is definitely a desire for a Milan-San Remo for women, but the scheduling around the Trofeo Binda cannot be ignored. "We really want our own version of Milan-San Remo, but I and most of my colleagues do not want it at the expense of the Trofeo Binda, a race that almost has the status of a monument among the women," she said. The organization of the Trofeo Binda itself would be far from pleased with RCS's plans.

What could be the solution? The most straightforward option would be to move the Trofeo Binda forward by a week. In March, this would create a trio of Italian classics on the women's calendar: Strade Bianche on the first weekend of March, Trofeo Binda on the second weekend of March, and Milan-San Remo on the third weekend of March. Whether this solution will actually materialize remains to be seen. Whether we'll actually see Vuelta winner Demi Vollering at the start of Milan-San Remo is also uncertain. In any case, the UCI is set to hold a meeting at the end of May where this issue will undoubtedly be discussed. To be continued!