Milan–San Remo Preview: The Start of Laurence Pithie’s 2025 Classics Campaign

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It’s no secret that the Spring Classics are my favourite races. I loved racing them, and I love watching them as a fan. But, in my 10th year of doing Life In The Peloton, you’ve heard all the stories I’ve got about the likes of Flanders & Roubaix; it’s time for me to pass the torch. This season, I’m going to be covering the cobbles classics a little bit differently.

I’m going to bring you with me inside the 2025 peloton as we follow young Kiwi up and coming classics star - Laurence Pithie. Laurence burst onto the scene last year when he won Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in January, and went toe to toe with Van Der Poel and Pedersen at Gent Wevelgem, rounding out his classics campaign with a stellar 7th place at Roubaix. 

I’m going to be chatting to Laurence before and after all the big races for the next few weeks - San Remo, Flanders, and Roubaix - to get insider information on how he’s feeling, how his team are planning on tackling the races, and just how it feels to take on the superstars at the pointy end. He’ll be sending me voice notes straight from the team bus straight after the finish to share his raw, unfiltered thoughts, and I can’t wait to bring you along and share Laurence’s 2025 classics journey with you guys. 

After transferring from FDJ to Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe in the offie, Pithie is heading into this season as a co-leader with a really strong team. He’ll be supported by class riders like Oier Lazkano, Gianni Moscon, Maxim Van Gils, Danny Van Poppel, Jordi Meeus, and heaps more - plus he’ll have the wise words of Bernie Eisel and my old mate Heinrich Haussler down the radio from back in the team car; Bora really aren’t messing around at the classics this year, and Laurence is a rider they believe can go all the way and knock out a big result.

Fresh off an altitude training camp and a delayed start to his 2025 classics campaign, Laurence is about to kick things off at Milan San Remo, so I spoke to him to kick off this mini series and get his initial thoughts on the Spring Classics in 2025. A lot has changed since I retired, and these races are almost unrecognisable to me now, so it’s great to see them through the eyes of a fresh, young, motivated rider with a real shot of winning BIG this season.

Guys, I hope you enjoy part 1 of this series. I can’t wait to bring you more from our man Laurence over the next few weeks. Hopefully, you’ll join me in really rooting for the young Kiwi after listening to this.

And Laurence; go and get it buddy. We’re all behind you. 

Cheers!

Mitch

 

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:19 - Who is Laurence Pithie? The Rising Star’s 2024 Breakthrough
• 00:03:11 - Pre-Classics Training & Altitude Camp
• 00:06:13 - A Day in the Life on Altitude Camp
• 00:08:04 - Confidence & Pressure After a Breakout Year
• 00:10:45 - What Changed in 2024? Reflections on His Breakthrough Season
• 00:12:09 - Learning to Race with the Best
• 00:15:42 - Milan–San Remo Team Plans & His Role
• 00:17:00 - Working with New DSs at Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe
• 00:20:44 - Falling in Love with the Classics
• 00:23:06 - Final Thoughts & San Remo Course Recon
• 00:24:29 - Rivals to Watch at San Remo
• 00:27:55 - His Full 2025 Spring Classics Program

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