Milan San Remo, March 21, 2026, 298 km monument

[Lequack]

It is hard to see how Pogacar drops MvdP in those 2 hills. Very hard for Pogi to win unless there are external issues affecting MvdP. Pogi can win in a year when the organizers add a hard climb before the finish.

He can't beat him alone, that's why he needs Del Toro for 1-2 attacks where one attacks then slows down etc. It's the only way, even though it might not end in a Pog win.

 

[YavorD]

4 or 5 domestiques it's impossible. There is no team able to have 5 riders in a group just 30" behind.

I didn't mean a team with 6 domestiques.
I meant 3-4-5 teams with one or 2 domestiques each.

 

[Unchained]

I didn't mean a team with 6 domestiques.
I meant 3-4-5 teams with one or 2 domestiques each.

UAE has no real secrets.. Pogacar has never won the race, If he sends Del Toro as a rabbit people who have done the homework will not take the bait and chase Del Toro, they will still key on Tadej. Guys showing form like Thom Pidcock could try something earlier and people will chase him..Are Ganna and Philipsen going to do something bold against Pogacar backed by Del Toro? I doubt it.. The only surprise would be for UAE to go with Del Toro and have everyone confused about who to key off of..

 

[jono]

I

I don't see a group of 7 riders clear after the Cipressa, with Del Toro in it, as a problem. For Pog it will rather be and asset.

I think it is quite likely that if Del Toro is there, the number of riders present is quite a lot more than 7.

 

[Extinction]

I think it is quite likely that if Del Toro is there, the number of riders present is quite a lot more than 7.

If it's quite more than 7, then the Cipressa was not ridden fast enough. If Del Toro makes a serious attack half way up the Cipressa, there should only be a handful of riders left at the top. But if he isn't able to drop most of the bunch, but put the hurt on everybody, then a kilometer from the top Pog should go. Either way, Del Toro has done his job. I'm just saying Del Toro may have the legs to allow only the strongest to follow and, in that case, Pog can use him on the Via Aurelia to get to the Poggio and then take it from there.

 

[canina82]

I didn't mean a team with 6 domestiques.
I meant 3-4-5 teams with one or 2 domestiques each.

Okay, I agree.

 

[jono]

If it's quite more than 7, then the Cipressa was not ridden fast enough. If Del Toro makes a serious attack half way up the Cipressa, there should only be a handful of riders left at the top. But if he isn't able to drop most of the bunch, but put the hurt on everybody, then a kilometer from the top Pog should go. Either way, Del Toro has done his job. I'm just saying Del Toro may have the legs to allow only the strongest to follow and, in that case, Pog can use him on the Via Aurelia to get to the Poggio and then take it from there.

If Del Toro has dropped all but a few riders, it will be in a terminal effort like Narvaez last year.

I don't believe Del Toro is strong (read: explosive) enough to drop everyone but van der Poel and remain a useful card to play after Cipressa. It's one or the other.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Mads Pedersen is ready to race again. Time will tell if he can be of some use for Pogačar and Van der Poel.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2034675380544475300

View: https://x.com/LidlTrek/status/2034675380544475300

 

[Boehmand]

Mads Pedersen is ready to race again. Time will tell if he can be of some use for Pogačar and Van der Poel.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2034675380544475300

View: https://x.com/LidlTrek/status/2034675380544475300

This is wild

If feels much too soon - but wtf do I know

I'll expect little else than a training ride from him, possibly an exit halfway through, but I have also learned to never underestimate Mads P

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I tried to make a poll for.who will win but I can only think of 4-5 riders who I can see as favourites. The start list is also very incomplete. Probably won't do one

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I tried to make a poll for.who will win but I can only think of 4-5 riders who I can see as favourites. The start list is also very incomplete. Probably won't do one

who are the other 2-3 riders?

 

[Red Rick]

Now that Roglic is also racing, he can just attack while the favorites are marking each other. Like Nibali.

We live in the post-strategy era

 

[Boehmand]

who are the other 2-3 riders?

I'd say Ganna, Pidcock and Brennan.

And then there is Del Toro

 

[Mayomaniac]

Mads Pedersen is ready to race again. Time will tell if he can be of some use for Pogačar and Van der Poel.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2034675380544475300

View: https://x.com/LidlTrek/status/2034675380544475300

Incoming pointless "Lidl closing down a good move"!

 

[Red Rick]

Incoming pointless "Lidl closing down a good move"!

Can't wait for someone to make the brilliantly times attack on the flat after the Poggio only for Van Aert to close it so that Van der Poel can win the sprint

 

[Tim Cahill]

Someone’s launching a surprise assault on the Capi to get madly closed down by Lidl working hard for Pedersen’s 37th.

 

[Extinction]

If Del Toro has dropped all but a few riders, it will be in a terminal effort like Narvaez last year.

I don't believe Del Toro is strong (read: explosive) enough to drop everyone but van der Poel and remain a useful card to play after Cipressa. It's one or the other.

That's precisely what I'm curious to know. But I'm not so sure he's not strong-explosive enough. Let's see.

 

[Berniece]

Can't wait for someone to make the brilliantly times attack on the flat after the Poggio only for Van Aert to close it so that Van der Poel can win the sprint

I’m ready for a normal MSR, want to see 20 possible candidates for the win

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Someone’s launching a surprise assault on the Capi to get madly closed down by Lidl working hard for Pedersen’s 37th.

We just need a big Bardiani fuga bidone attempt with Pellizzari, Ciccone, Fiorelli, Pinarello, Albanese, Rota, Zana, Velasco, Marcellusi, Maestri, Mulubrhan, Tonelli and Tarozzi to go up the road. Then not even Pedersen or Van Aert will start pulling. Pozzovivo will help, too, by giving wrong weather predictions to anyone who asks him.

 

[RedheadDane]

I'll expect little else than a training ride from him, possibly an exit halfway through, but I have also learned to never underestimate Mads P

I obviously hope he'll finish; I need all the points I can get for the CQ Game.
However, I've been wondering the same; bizarre as it might sound, could MSR simply be an "easier" race to return to racing in, compared to the cobbled classics with all the jostling for position?

 

[Nyanderc]

Mads P has trained none stop since the accident. First home trainer with heat training and lately a lot on the road.

Don't expect a training ride from him, he is there for a top result 😊👍

 

[Lequack]

Why are Vingegaard and Remco not riding, this is just up their alley.

 

[Lequack]

And the real question is, could Merckx have won against MVDP?

 

[MariaB]

And the real question is, could Merckx have won against MVDP?

Of course he could not.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

And the real question is, could Merckx have won against MVDP?

Of course he could. If they had raced it against each other from 1995 to 2001, Eddy would have had another 7 victories to his name.