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

[KoopaCycling]

So what is the most epic win you ever saw? Because in almost 30 years, I fail to see other MSR edition as good as this one.

On top of my head i think the Mohoric descent was more crazy. I feared for that man during the descent. not something i would advise following. But it was epic. Would need to rewatch what Nibali did as well.
But from memory i would not immediately put Nibali ahead of Pogacar. I think Van der poel win last year was incredible as well. The way he attacked Pogacar at the end of the Poggio. Pogacar win is up there but San remo has lots of history.
Wouldn't be surprised if lots of similar stuff happened that i never saw.

Demaré was memorable as well ^^.

 

[Salvarani]

Demare hanging in the car is the most memorable. For sure. What an incredible win that was. He earned that one.

 

[Salvarani]

I think it's pretty close. Last year we had the novelty of the Cipressa attack, which was insane to watch. The problem was, it seemed too obvious who would win the sprint, so there was less suspense in the final (I think most of us would have predicted the finish order?). This year I really wasn't sure who would win the sprint, and it was also much closer to the peloton catching back on. Both very exciting editions, either way.

As an aside, Remco really should have ridden this. I'm certain he'd have been able to follow on the Cipressa.

Remco will ride when Pog is not there. It is his strategy.

 

[Squire]

I think the key part is actually not going solo over Cipressa. Getting a couple of guys with you that are working together is actually very important for such a move to succeed.

Because as you say the others may preserve some energy, hoping their doms can bring it back.

But if the three strongest riders in the race are working together infront it may defeat that purpose.

Impossible is a strong word in today's cycling, but I'd say going solo from Cipressa is impossible unless you're orders of magnitude more superior than even Pog is. The key for his Cipressa thing to work, which it has done for two years, is that the people who can go with him also think it's in their interest to not have a Poggio shootout or a sprint against some of the guys that are left in the group(s) behind.

 

[canina82]

Demare hanging in the car is the most memorable. For sure. What an incredible win that was. He earned that one.

He almost brought one of the worst editions like it was as good as 2026 MSR.

 

[Berniece]

I think it's pretty close. Last year we had the novelty of the Cipressa attack, which was insane to watch. The problem was, it seemed too obvious who would win the sprint, so there was less suspense in the final (I think most of us would have predicted the finish order?). This year I really wasn't sure who would win the sprint, and it was also much closer to the peloton catching back on. Both very exciting editions, either way.

Last year wasn't influenced this hard by a crash, except for Pidcock. Pogacar attack way more times, MVDP had to counter more, MVDP then attacked himself, the whole battle was much more interesting. Then MVDP finished it again with a masterclass in end game tactics.

 

[Salvarani]

Impossible is a strong word in today's cycling, but I'd say going solo from Cipressa is impossible unless you're orders of magnitude more superior than even Pog is. The key for his Cipressa thing to work, which it has done for two years, is that the people who can go with him also think it's in their interest to not have a Poggio shootout or a sprint against some of the guys that are left in the group(s) behind.

Yup, we agree on that being key.

 

[HashRouge]

Impossible is a strong word in today's cycling, but I'd say going solo from Cipressa is impossible unless you're orders of magnitude more superior than even Pog is. The key for his Cipressa thing to work, which it has done for two years, is that the people who can go with him also think it's in their interest to not have a Poggio shootout or a sprint against some of the guys that are left in the group(s) behind.

That's the thing. I know people complain about riders working with Pogacar, but actually there are quite a few riders who would fancy their chances against him in a sprint who wouldn't have a chance in a bigger group. So someone like Pidcock would always be willing to work with him.

 

[memyselfandI]

Beautiful finale, just perfect finale from the capis section to the finish line.

It was very tight for Pogi because downhill from Poggio is rideable hard effort, it's not fast technical coasting. And as seen what w/kg Pidcock produced in M-T at Superga, he drove Pogi really to his limits. But same goes vice versa, there was just no slack for Pidders either.

Hats of to Visma and Trek, they did proper fight to the line.

I bet Brennan is kicking home furniture hard atm because being forced out of this..

Wondering is this race fine in this form for Ayuso or Seixas?

 

[Lequack]

Chris Horner's take

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVySTjUZABU

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Speaking about luck in a more serious way.

If someone like Pogacar has a shot at victory in every race he enters (and wins so much) it's obvious that many of his victories will have some luck involved. It's simple math. The more shots at victory you have the better chance you'll have luck at some point, that's why it's always worth trying. Yesterday MVP wasn't at his very best, maybe because of his hand pain (I'm not sure his legs were 100% though) but Pogacar had it difficult as well. Obviously we've seen many luck/bad luck situations before (i.e. MVP winning PR after Wout's puncture in the decisive sector, Pogacar ruining his Liege 2023 chances), which is a fundamental part of cycling.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Speaking of which (nobody did) Del Toro does seem to fade a tad once it goes past +200 and change kilometers.
Maybe cause of age. or he simply felt his work was done.

 

[HashRouge]

Speaking of which (nobody did) Del Toro does seem to fade a tad once it goes past +200 and change kilometers.
Maybe cause of age. or he simply felt his work was done.

I think he just did his job, no? All out sprint uphill once McNulty pulled off, then stick with the chasing group. I don't think there was ever any plan for del Toro to try and go with Pogacar, despite what people on here were saying. Based on that, it's quite hard to judge his ride yesterday. He certainly wasn't MVP though - that would be McNulty and whichever two riders buried themselves to bring Pogacar back to the peloton (Bjerg and Vermeersch?).

 

[Extinction]

Two considerations: 1) without the fall would he have gone on to solo, either from the Cipressa or Poggio? 2) Now that he's checked MSR off his bucket list, he will be even more confident and relaxed going into the cobbled monuments Flanders and, above all, Roubaix. A scary proposition for the competition.

 

[Red Rick]

Speaking about luck in a more serious way.

If someone like Pogacar has a shot at victory in every race he enters (and wins so much) it's obvious that many of his victories will have some luck involved. It's simple math. The more shots at victory you have the better chance you'll have luck at some point, that's why it's always worth trying. Yesterday MVP wasn't at his very best, maybe because of his hand pain (I'm not sure his legs were 100% though) but Pogacar had it difficult as well. Obviously we've seen many luck/bad luck situations before (i.e. MVP winning PR after Wout's puncture in the decisive sector, Pogacar ruining his Liege 2023 chances), which is a fundamental part of cycling.

Causing a race splitting crash that ends up affecting your main rival more than you is pretty next level. But UAE have been using that kind of black magic for a while now.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Causing a race splitting crash that ends up affecting your main rival more than you is pretty next level. But UAE have been using that kind of black magic for a while now.

Not gonna lie, 3D chess by supposedly "brainless" Teddy.

 

[Andy262]

Causing a race splitting crash that ends up affecting your main rival more than you is pretty next level. But UAE have been using that kind of black magic for a while now.

Really?, Like…. really? I’ve yet to see how VdP was properly affected by the crash. Pog was way behind him in the aftermath.

 

[KoopaCycling]

There are images of Van der Poel holding his handles with only 1 hand.
Not saying this was anything close to what happened to Frank VDB in Verona, but it's clear WVA suffered most cause of bike swap, then probably MVDP. I don't think that's a controversial take at all.

Pogacar won, and he showed some great stuff regardless. And if UAE can light up the entire cipressa i'm very curious if lidl and Visma can get closer by working together immediately or are further behind from blowing up sooner and harder.

In any case the crash did affect the race. Most will say the outcomes would not have changed. some will say it did.
Personally i think only bad luck will keep Pogacar from winning all 5 this year.

 

[Red Rick]

Really?, Like…. really? I’ve yet to see how VdP was properly affected by the crash. Pog was way behind him in the aftermath.

He sustained an injury performed noticably worse than last year. Pogacar did not.

Also, the Van Aert group only coming back after the Cipressa was a huge deal, because without that factor the chase is probably way more coordinated from the beginning and they might have been pulled back to begin with.

 

[canina82]

Causing a race splitting crash that ends up affecting your main rival more than you is pretty next level. But UAE have been using that kind of black magic for a while now.

Why are you assuming Pogacar's crash affected MVP more than him?

1 - Pogacar had to recover way more time
2 - Pogacar looked "more injured" than MVP. We will never know who was more affected by the crash but you just assume it was MVP.
3 - Pogacar did most of the work

In any moment do you think Pogacar was just stronger than MVP?
Pidcock was probably able to follow because he is a better climber than MVP and had a perfect run in the Cipressa.

 

[Red Rick]

Why are you assuming Pogacar's crash affected MVP more than him?

Because Van der Poel underperformed significantly while Pogacar did not.

Someone who drops an all timer clearly wasn't affected by the crash very much.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Why are you assuming Pogacar's crash affected MVP more than him?

1 - Pogacar had to recover way more time
2 - Pogacar looked "more injured" than MVP. We will never know who was more affected by the crash but you just assume it was MVP.
3 - Pogacar did most of the work

In any moment do you think Pogacar was just stronger than MVP?
Pidcock was probably able to follow because he is a better climber than MVP and had a perfect run in the Cipressa.

1. Pogacar had to recover more time but got more help doing so. (from (non-) teammates, car, moto)
2. MVDP looked more injured to me
3. Work seemed quite evenly divided. The tad bit Pogacar did more is only to be expected when he was the one doing the attacking on the climbs. if anyhting it was baffling how much work Pidcock and MVDP did.

I think Pogacar would have been stronger regardless on this day. Just looking at strade told me he upgraded again but that's still different from assuming the effects of the crash on the 2 riders were the same. Like I stated earlier i don't think it's controversial at all to say WVA was affected the most then MVDP.

 

[canina82]

Because Van der Poel underperformed significantly while Pogacar did not.

Someone who drops an all timer clearly wasn't affected by the crash very much.

MVP is an all timer but let's not pretend he is in the same basket as Pogacar.
Only 2 followed Pogacar in Cipressa and you are telling me he underperformed significantly.

 

[Rackham]

MVP is an all timer but let's not pretend he is in the same basket as Pogacar.
Only 2 followed Pogacar in Cipressa and you are telling me he underperformed significantly.

It's doing MvdP a disservice to pretend he was somehow good yesterday. When on form he's a monster. Yesterday was not it, for whatever reason.

 

[HashRouge]

There are images of Van der Poel holding his handles with only 1 hand.
Not saying this was anything close to what happened to Frank VDB in Verona, but it's clear WVA suffered most cause of bike swap, then probably MVDP. I don't think that's a controversial take at all.

Pogacar won, and he showed some great stuff regardless. And if UAE can light up the entire cipressa i'm very curious if lidl and Visma can get closer by working together immediately or are further behind from blowing up sooner and harder.

In any case the crash did affect the race. Most will say the outcomes would not have changed. some will say it did.
Personally i think only bad luck will keep Pogacar from winning all 5 this year.

Most of the time he seemed to be holding the handlebars pretty normally in fairness. I'm not doubting he was affected, but I think we're possibly at risk of exaggerating it a little bit now. Either way, I'd be interested to see what he has said (if anything) about how much the crash. I do agree that Wout was most impacted because of the bike swap. Pogacar was seriously lucky that his bike was okay to be honest, given that he went down first.