The winner of Milano-Sanremo comes from here. Someone says that one rides Paris – Nice to win Paris-Nice, but those who ride Tirreno-Adriatico do it to win Sanremo. Tirreno-Adriatico links two seas divided by Italy. Different seas and different people; you really cannot imagine how different. It’s the race that wakes me up from the long winter, the first breath of the new season.

The season 'opening' Italian stage race Tirreno-Adriatico commences Wednesday, marking the build up to the year's first Classic, Milan-San Remo. The 'race between two seas' promises some 200km+ stages, hills a-plenty, and an always worthy winner... here's a closer look.