The 117th edition of Milan-Sanremo, one of cycling’s most prestigious one-day races, is set for Saturday, with defending champion Mathieu van der Poel facing a formidable challenge from Tadej Pogačar and a host of other contenders. The 298-kilometer race, known for its unpredictable nature and grueling final kilometers, will test the endurance and tactical acumen of the world’s top cyclists.
Pogačar, the reigning world champion, has finished third in the last two editions of Milan-Sanremo and is determined to finally claim victory. He’s acknowledged Van der Poel’s strength in this race, stating, according to cyclingnews.com, that the Dutchman “has a better hand of cards for La Classicissima.” Despite this, Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad is expected to aggressively challenge Van der Poel early in the race, potentially launching attacks before the Cipressa climb, a key point in the race’s finale.
Van der Poel, however, appears to be in peak form, aiming for a third consecutive win. He has demonstrated a knack for outmaneuvering Pogačar in previous encounters, notably surging ahead on the Poggio in 2023 and responding to Pogačar’s attacks on both the Cipressa and Poggio in 2024, ultimately winning with a powerful sprint in Via Roma. Cyclingnews.com reports that Pogačar recognizes Van der Poel’s superior race tactics and speed in the final sprint.
The race’s final 60 kilometers, featuring the climbs of Cipressa and Poggio, are expected to be decisive. Analysts predict a potential duel between Pogačar and Van der Poel on the Cipressa, with Pogačar likely to attempt a long-range attack. However, Van der Poel has proven capable of staying with Pogačar’s accelerations, as demonstrated in past races. The Athletic notes that the men’s race is one of the longest of the season, and the action is packed into the final 60km.
Other riders to watch include Filippo Ganna, Wout van Aert, Tom Pidcock, Mads Pedersen, and Primoz Roglic, all of whom are expected to be competitive. Tom Pidcock, in particular, is being touted as a potential dark horse, with some analysts suggesting his descending skills could give him an advantage on the Poggio. Jens Claussen, writing for radsport-news.com, suggests Pidcock could “risk everything” in the descent, potentially snatching a surprise victory.
In the women’s race, Lorena Wiebes will attempt to defend her title against a strong field, including Lotte Kopecky and Marianne Vos. Wiebes’ success has been closely linked to the tactical support of Kopecky, who can neutralize attacks and set up the sprint. However, Marianne Vos is considered a strong contender, with some predicting she could launch a successful late attack, as suggested by Christoph Matt of radsport-news.com.
Kasia Niewiadoma is also expected to be a threat, having consistently placed highly in recent races. Sebastian Lindner, also writing for radsport-news.com, believes Niewiadoma is determined to break her streak of second-place finishes and could launch a decisive attack on the Poggio.
The Athletic reports that both the men’s and women’s races promise drama and variety, as the course suits all types of riders – sprinters, climbers, puncheurs, and rouleurs.
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