Tadej Pogačar Wins Milan-San Remo on Damaged Bike | 2026 Race Recap
Tadej Pogačar’s historic victory at Milan-San Remo on Saturday was achieved despite riding the final 32 kilometers with a cracked bike frame and a malfunctioning disc brake, a revelation that underscores the improbable nature of his win.
The world champion, riding a Colnago V5Rs, crashed on the approach to the Cipressa climb, a fall that initially led him to believe his race was over. However, Pogačar not only continued but ultimately outsprinted Tom Pidcock on the Via Roma to claim his first Milan-San Remo title.
The extent of the damage to his bike was not discovered until after the finish line. “Only after the finish did we realize Tadej had ridden the finale on a cracked frame,” Pogačar’s mechanic, Boštjan Kavčnik, told Slovenian outlet Delo. “The rear triangle was damaged, but fortunately it held together. The disc was also rubbing against the braking surface.”
The crash, which also involved Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, triggered “crash mode” on Pogačar’s Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 gears, despite him using a single ring set-up with no left-hand shifter. Kavčnik explained that Pogačar was able to reset the system himself and continued without realizing the full extent of the mechanical issues.
“If Tadej had known the condition of the bike, he would never have descended and attacked so aggressively as he tried to push Tom Pidcock to the limit,” Kavčnik added.
The revelation adds another layer of drama to Pogačar’s already remarkable performance. He became the first reigning world champion to win Milan-San Remo since Eddy Merckx, and is now one victory away from completing the prestigious “five monuments” set – Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Tour of Lombardy.
Oliver Naesen, a longtime classics hopeful, described Pogačar’s return to the peloton after the crash as “hallucinatory.” Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws, Naesen said, “After that crash, I honestly thought, ‘We won’t observe him again today, and maybe not even in the coming weeks.’ But a moment later, I saw him – with a black flank – already passing me on the Cipressa. I didn’t know what I was seeing, but I knew what time it was – the indicate was about to begin.”
Naesen also highlighted the speed of Pogačar’s ascent of the Cipressa, noting it was the fastest on record. “We see one of the most impressive feats I have ever seen,” he said. “Normally you stand no chance if you don’t start Cipressa in the top-20, but they just flew right past.”
Kavčnik confirmed that the damaged Colnago will be added to Pogačar’s collection, a testament to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his victory.