Pogačar Wins Dramatic Milan-San Remo After Crash & Van Aert Fightback

Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates defied a chaotic Milan-San Remo on Saturday, winning his first La Classicissima after a crash involving several key contenders 32 kilometers from the finish line. The World Champion, along with Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), were all caught in a crash rounding a bend in Imperia, but Pogačar demonstrated remarkable resilience to rejoin the peloton and ultimately outsprint Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) for the victory.

The crash occurred as Pogačar was positioned within the peloton ahead of the Cipressa, a pivotal climb often used as a launchpad for attacks. He sustained abrasions to his leg and a tear in his shorts, according to reports, but quickly remounted and began a determined chase back to the main group. Van Aert, yet, required a bike change after the incident, losing valuable time as he waited for a team car.

Despite the disruption, Pogačar launched a series of aggressive accelerations as the peloton approached and ascended the Cipressa, effectively neutralizing any attempts to distance him. He rode at the front alongside a briefly-affected van der Poel, who later faded due to cuts sustained to his right hand in the crash.

While Pogačar focused on closing the gap and setting up a sprint finish with Pidcock, Van Aert orchestrated a surprising late attack. “My legs were very good. Unfortunately, I had to use them in the chase,” Van Aert told Sporza after the race. He capitalized on a moment of hesitation within the chasing group, accelerating past Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) to secure third place.

Van Aert credited teammate Matteo Jorgenson for assistance in his return to the peloton following his bike change. He similarly highlighted the efforts of Edoardo Affini and Owain Doull, who aided in the recovery. “It’s a shame I couldn’t fight for the victory, but that’s how it goes. I kept pushing after the crash and gave it everything I could. To still finish third in the end is, of course, very satisfying,” Van Aert stated in a team release.

Defending champion Mathieu van der Poel’s challenge was hampered by the injury to his hand, causing him to lose contact with the leading group on the Poggio, the final climb before the finish in San Remo. The race concluded with Pogačar claiming the victory, followed by Pidcock and a resurgent Van Aert.