Cav aims to repeat 2009 triumph

Mark Cavendish and his brand new S-Works McLaren Venge bike tackle the first of the season's classic one-day races, and the longest, today (Saturday).

Riders in the Milan-San Remo compete over a distance of 298 kilometres, spending nearly seven hours in the saddle.

Yet the decisive action traditionally takes place in the final 50 kilometres of the race.

Often it's decided by those who survive the infamous Poggio climb, ten kilometres from the finish.

Cavendish, who was the winner in 2009, is among the pre-event favourites, along with Tyler Farrar, Oscar Freire, Alessandro Pettachi and world champion Thor Hushovd.