Mauro Mondonico, son of the famous frame builder, Antonio Mondonico, has a fabulous part-time job. In races sponsored by La Gazzetta dello Sport, he drives the UCI Commissar. This year he took pictures at the sign-in area before the start of the Milan-San Remo. Mauro's pictures nicely convey the atmosphere of the start. Some riders from various teams are talking, another is getting a last minute massage. Just the start of another day at work, if work means covering 294 kilometers of Italian countryside on a bike and trying to beat Erik Zabel to the line in San Remo over 6 hours later.

Paolo Savoldelli in the crowds that are part of the Italian racing scene.

Michele Bartoli of Mapei talks to the press before the race.

Lance Armstrong

All you riders: don't you wish you had legs like this?

Mario Cipollini

Above and below: the pre-race massage. All cyclists have that unique tan! Above is Franco Ballerini of Lampre-Daikin (two time winner of Paris–Roubaix); below is Marco Serpellini.

The Vitalicio team discusses strategy before the race.

Johann Museeuw talks to Belgian TV.

The Postie's bikes are ready to roll.

Above and the next 5 photos: sign-in. Above is Oskar Freire of Mapei, world champion.

Alberto Elli of Team Deutsche Telekom, and behind him Laurent Jalabert of Once.

Frank Vandenbroucke of Cofidis.

Cipollini signs in.

Signing in, Abraham Olano (Once), winner of the Tirreno-Adriatico 2000

Riders from several teams share some time together before the race.

Team cars, riders, and crowds await the start.

Andrei Tchmil (Lotto), and Belli (Fassa Bortolo).

Alec Zulle, the swiss rider from the spanish team Banesto.

Also, see Mauro's photos of the 1999 Giro d'Italia.

---