What if, for some strange reason, you were following the route of La Primavera ("Springtime" in Italian) tomorrow, yet you were not paying attention to the race - not to the drama of 250 riders ticking away almost 300 kilometers from Milan to the seacoast, not who has attacked, who has been caught or who has been dropped. What towns and scenery might you see? Here is a "travelogue" view of Milan-Sanremo.

First is a map of the race route, which runs through six provinces - Milano, Pavia, Alessandria, Genova, Savona and Imperia. We start in the first province, Milano.

The Milan-Sanremo race route. Courtesy Gazzetta dello Sport.

Through the Province of Milano

Past the comune of Binasco at 11 km into the race.
By www.binasco2000.com. Click for larger image.

Binasco Castle.

Through the Province of Pavia

Descending down slightly through the outskirts of Pavia at 29 km.
By http://www.comune.pv.it.

Mezzana at 39 km. The peloton crosses south of the River Po. By http://media.supereva.it/prolocomezzanese.freeweb/. Click for larger image.

The Province of Alessandria

Into Pozzolo Formigaro - at 92 km into the race, the countryside is slowing rising - maybe not noticeable to the eye, but perhaps to the legs here, at 171 meters. by www.francobampi.it. Click for larger image.

Pozzolo Formigaro. By http://www.comune.pozzoloformigaro.al.it.

Formigaro. By http://www.pozzoloonline.it/

Past Basaluzzo at 101 km. By www.zuccotti.com.

Through Silvana D'Orba at 112 km - getting a little more altitude now - 175 meters. By http://www.prolocosilvano.com/. Click for larger image.

The Province of Genova

The town of Rossiglione at 129 km into the race, climbing to 289 meters... By http://www.italia-liguria.com.ar. Click for larger image.

Rossiglione. by http://www.italia-liguria.com.ar.
Click for larger image.

The Castle of Campo Ligure, on the climb toward Turchino,
134 km into the race, and 342 meters of elevation. By www.comune.campo-ligure.ge.it.

Masone, just before the summit...at 139 km into the race - elevation 433 meters.
By http://www.italia-liguria.com.ar.

Masone. By http://www.italia-liguria.com.ar.
Click for larger image.

The 19th century brick Forte Geremia at Masone...by http://www.italia-liguria.com.ar.
Click for larger image.

Forte Geremia. By http://art.supereva.it/giorgioangelocroce.
Click for larger image.

Now the famous tunnel, the Turchino Pass, at 143 km. By http://www.controsterzo.com/turchino/turchino.shtml. Click for larger image.

A quick descent into Mele, and 151 km of the ride down - this is the comune between the mountains and the sea at 125 meters. By http://www.comune.mele.ge.it/. Click for larger image.

Mele. By www.apt.genova.it.

And down to the sea...Voltri at 155 km. Now the race turns along the Ligurian coast. By www.hotelacquaverde.it.

Arezano, five kilometers later, at 161 km. By www.hotelacquaverde.it.

Cogoleto - 167 km. By http://www.cogoleto.it.

The Province of Savona

Through Savona.  By http://www.internetsavona.com. Click for larger image.

Noli - 200 km of the race down. By www.cbgenova.it

Albenga - at 229 km of the race. By www.marketgl.com.

The Port of Andorra, at the 244 km mark. By www.sancarlohotel.it/.

And finally, into the Province of Imperia...

The town of Cervo, a kilometer from the Capo Cervo hill - at the 248 km point of the race.
By http://beetrains.com. Click for larger image.

The 14th century Alpicella Tower on the Capo Berta climb in Diano Marina - 254 km.
By www.arimperia.net.

The town of Costarainera at 271 km - now the riders are tackling the copas, or hills, near the end of the race. By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org. Click for larger image.

Cipressa, where riders tackle one of the well-known final climbs, at 272 km. By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org. Click for larger image.

San Stefano al Mare at 277 km. By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org.
Click for larger image.

Riva Ligure at 279 km. By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org.
Click for larger image.

And finally we near the end of the race - Sanremo.
By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org. Click for larger image.

While you are in Sanremo, have a look around...

Webcam of Sanremo. By http://www.sanremonet.com. Click for larger image.

Old town Sanremo, also known as La Pigna. By www.infosanremo.com.

The famous casino. By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org.
Click for larger image.

The statue of la Primavera. By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org.

The bell tower of the San Siro cathedral.
By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org.

Old town. By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org.

By http://www.rivieradeifiori.org. Click for larger image.