It was March 19, 1965 when Franco Balmamion stepped onto the podium (third place) at the Spring Classic, a surname that had already established itself at the highest levels achieved by the Canavese rider through his double victory as winner of the Giro d'Italia in 1962 and 1963.

Sixty-one years later, who is participating in the Milan-Sanremo Women? She is, Anita Baima, granddaughter of the champion who went down in history for wearing the pink jersey on two occasions, without ever winning a stage. An example of consistency and tactical wisdom, without diminishing the greatness of the athlete. Just to leave nothing out regarding family history, we should add that the Sanremo also saw among its participants Ettore Balmamion (or Balma Mion, as it was written back then), nicknamed "Magninot", Franco's uncle, who managed to place fifth in the 1931 Giro.

A further curiosity: the rider born in Nole Canavese in 1907 won the Turin-Sanremo in 1932, which is to say that the Riviera locality seems written in destiny. Anita Baima, registered with Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria, experiences the anticipation of the Classic also comforted by her second-place finish in mid-February in the Trofeo Arti e Mestieri della Tradizione Mugellana. A sign that we're not just talking about an established, emerging talent—as one might say—but already a multi-medalist, track specialist, and member of the Fiamme Azzurre: Anita Baima has collected two gold medals and three bronze medals between 2023 and 2024 at the junior level in world championships in "elimination" and Madison, standing out at the 2025 Europeans.

«What will I tell my granddaughter about the Sanremo? I'll simply tell her to enjoy it, in all its nuances, convinced as I am that for her this is only the beginning of a career. We shouldn't rush things when it comes to young people».

And what memory does the 1965 Classic evoke?

«We discussed the matter in different ways, and more than once, with the late Adorni, who finished second behind the Dutchman Arie Den Hartog. The winner was certainly strong, but in my opinion Vittorio didn't push hard enough and we were caught on the Poggio. Let's say the collaboration between us—me at Sanson and him at Salvarani—wasn't the best... Den Hartog, however, was going very strong and the Sanremo was the jewel of a brief career, which also included a victory at the Tour of Catalonia and the Amstel Gold Race».