For the first time in 20 years, a women’s peloton will thunder down the hair-raising Poggio descent and charge along Via Roma in downtown Sanremo, but for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto, this territory isn’t entirely unfamiliar.

On March 19, 2005, the fastest woman in the sixth and final edition of Primavera Rosa, the original women’s Milano-Sanremo, was a 23-year-old German, Trixi Worrack, riding for Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung.

Worrack’s victory was a defining moment in a career that saw her achieve great success both before and after. In 2012, she joined Team Specialized-Lululemon, the setup that would later pave the way for CANYON//SRAM Racing, where she remained until 2018.

On that day in 2005, Primavera Rosa mirrored the men’s race for 118 kilometres along the Ligurian coast from Varazze, taking in the renowned Cipressa and Poggio climbs. Over the crest of the Poggio, with just five kilometres remaining, an elite group of 15 riders broke clear from a scrambling peloton, with Worrack’s team well-represented at the front. As they hit the bottom of the descent and began the closing flat kilometres, their plan to lead out the team’s designated sprinter was well underway. In a dramatic turn of events, Worrack’s sheer power and speed opened an unexpected gap to her teammates, sending her off solo to claim a remarkable victory by one second – her teammate crossing the line in third.

“It was a bit of an accident that I was winning there,” Worrack recalls. “I was the last lead-out person for our sprinter, but she lost my wheel in the last corner. I could just hear in the radio, ‘Go.’”

Despite the event’s short-lived history, Worrack reminiscences over its undeniable prestige and status.

“As I remember it, the feeling around the race was really special. Twenty years ago, there weren’t as many races like the men’s. I think it was just Sanremo, Fleche Wallonne, and the Tour of Flanders. So, for the women, it was a big thing to race there.”

That victory would remain her only one-day race win, alongside three German national titles, in a decorated career marked by many stage racing triumphs, which ended in 2021. She doesn’t necessarily regard her Primavera Rosa win as the pinnacle of her career, a testament to the team-first mentality that earned her such high regard as a rider. Ironically, it was her unwavering commitment to the team that ultimately led to her victory in Sanremo.

“It was a highlight, but I wouldn’t say it was more special than other victories, like the Tour of California, which was a real team effort. That was also special.”

Worrack is measured in both her predictions and hopes for future editions of the race, but will be watching Saturday’s 156-kilometre affair, hoping for a feel-good dose of nostalgia.

“I’d say there might be a group of 20-25 riders coming to the finish, with some fast riders who can climb a bit. I think it’s a good distance compared to the Tour of Flanders, which is 169 kilometres. I think that’s too long for such a hard race.”

Meanwhile, on that historic day in 2005, Erik Zabel finished 14th in the men’s Milan-Sanremo. While the result doesn’t reflect his incredible achievements in the race, his remarkable palmarès still stands strong, even as new cycling phenoms rise. The German legend won the race four times from 1997 to 2001, and finished on the podium three additional times.

Nowadays a Pro Sport Manager at Canyon, Zabel has been lending his expertise to CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto for several years, driving in the team car as Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney claimed the yellow jersey in the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. He’s excited about Sanremo’s inclusion on the women’s calendar, noting that its thrilling finale was always a major drawcard for him, and he’s pleased that the women will now experience the same frenzy. Even with his largely unparalleled Sanremo credentials, he’s not sure he has any special tips for the riders this year.

“There are no secrets anymore with Sanremo,” Zabel explains. “On the Capo Berta, the last of the three Capo climbs, you’ll feel your legs. You’ll know right away if you’re having a good day or a bad day – good legs or not. Then, the Cipressa entrance is important. I still consider it a serious climb. The same goes for the Poggio. It’s shorter, easier, but it’s deep into the final and it’s the decisive point of the race.”

Zabel will not be attending the event this year, choosing instead to watch from afar and gain a full vantage of the race’s unpredictable outcome as the women head into the unknown. This uncertainty is further amplified by the fact that, unlike the men, it will not be the longest race on the Women’s World Tour calendar. The peloton will enter the final 30 kilometres of climbs with comparatively more freshness in their legs.

“Honestly, I don’t know what race scenario might play out,” Zabel says. That’s the beauty of Sanremo. There are so many different types of riders who can win – a sprinter, a finisher, or just the strongest rider. We’ve seen that throughout history, and I’m excited to watch.”

One last name not found in the Sanremo winner’s circle but deeply ingrained in the fabric of CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto is Alessandra ‘Ale’ Borchi. She was on the start line in 2005 and will return on March 22, 2025. 

A rider turned soigneur, Borchi jokes that her memories of Sanremo mostly revolve around starting the race and searching for the gruppetto at the base of the Cipressa. Beyond that, she reflects on the stark contrast between the men’s and women’s environments in 2005.

“At that time, it was one of the only races we were doing alongside the men, and it was really a completely different planet in terms of organisation and professionalism. I remember our tiny vehicles compared to the massive parking lot filled with big buses for the men’s teams… We were going to races with just one race car and a small sprinter van with six riders to fit in!”

As an Italian, Borchi is particularly excited to see the race return and hopes for its continued growth, with the potential for a slightly longer route in the future.

“It’s definitely nice to have this race back. As an Italian, it’s one of the big classics in my home country. So, welcome back ‘Milano’-Sanremo! It’s a special race, even though, unlike the men’s edition, it won’t be the longest race on the calendar. I was honestly expecting the same for us, too, but it’s still exciting to see it return.”

As the women’s peloton readies itself for the return to Sanremo, it’s clear this iconic race holds a special place in cycling history – not just for the men’s peloton. With strong German and team ties stretching from Erik Zabel’s remarkable palmarès to the contrasting days of Trixi Worrack and Alessandra Borchi, this year’s edition promises both a fresh start and the revival of cherished memories.