Luke Lamperti backed as Milan-Sanremo outsider as EF Education-EasyPost eye podium

Lamperti, who swapped Soudal Quick-Step for EF Education-EasyPost at the end of last season, looked ahead to the first Monument of 2026 with confidence in his team’s race preview. “I am confident. The whole team is going well. We’re coming here, having won a stage at Tirreno and won a stage at Paris-Nice. We have the ball rolling and momentum, so hopefully we can continue that into this weekend.”

Lamperti already rode Milan-Sanremo in his neo-pro season and quickly felt it was a race that should suit him in the long term. “I did Sanremo in 2024, my first year as a pro. It was super good. I did the positioning into the Cipressa and got there in good position. I don’t know how I finished, but it was a really good experience. I really enjoyed it.”

“For me, Sanremo is the Monument I believe the most that I can win in my career,” the sprinter-classics rider continued. “For that to happen, a lot has to go right in the end. That’s the case in most bike races, but especially this one. Everything has to go in your direction.” “A lot of that comes down to legs, but you have to be there in position and be on a good day and be able to follow the best guys to fight for the win.”

EF Education-EasyPost also have Harry Sweeny and Michael Valgren as riders who could make it deep into the finale. The latter recently showed his excellent condition in Tirreno-Adriatico, where he stayed just ahead of the general classification contenders from the breakaway on one of the tougher stages. That victory has clearly fuelled Valgren’s ambitions for La Primavera, even if the Dane has never finished higher than 25th in six previous appearances.

“It’s always nice to come off a win,” said Valgren. “Then, you know the form is there and the shape is really good. I have high hopes, but I'm also realistic. With the legs I have, I think I can be in the fight for the podium. That’s my ambition.”

Like Lamperti, Valgren stressed just how decisive positioning is in Milan-Sanremo, where one poorly timed move can make or break your race. “Positioning is going to be the key. We have a super strong team. Guys like Kasper and Harry could also ride the finale if they are on a top day. And then Luke is going really well,” Valgren said, making clear how highly he rates Lamperti’s chances.

“If he can come over the Poggio in a group that catches the attackers, he can go for the sprint. I think there’s a realistic chance for him to finish on the podium if he rides the perfect race. We have some good cards to play.”