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

[VayaVayaVaya]

View: https://youtu.be/9qWVGvr-x9Y?feature=shared

Crazy no one in the field could go with Nibali when he climbed it in 6:13. Poor Pogacar did it in 5:38 and wasn’t solo.

www.climbing-records.com/2025/03/pogacar-van-der-poel-and-ganna-shatter.html?m=1

 

[Pantani_lives]

Crazy no one in the field could go with Nibali when he climbed it in 6:13. Poor Pogacar did it in 5:38 and wasn’t solo.

www.climbing-records.com/2025/03/pogacar-van-der-poel-and-ganna-shatter.html?m=1

It was partly a tactical matter. Back then people thought it was too early to attack and the sprinters' teams would reel him in.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think Pogacar has bigger chances to win MSR than MvdP would in Lombardia, even if the entire UAE team including Pogacar would work for him

I was joking of course. In Lombardy Pogacar wouldn't have to chase Van der Poel, who would be left in the dust way before Pog's attack.

 

[Kazistuta]

Everybody sees the off chance. It's been mentioned and discussed multiple times in this thread.
Mathieu won't take the bait: Pog wants to win this one himself and everybody knows that.

Sorry, didn't read the whole thread, only the last four pages. Didn't see any talk about that there.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It was partly a tactical matter. Back then people thought it was too early to attack and the sprinters' teams would reel him in.

If he was as watched as Pogacar is they would chase him immediately.

 

[CyclistAbi]

La Primivera.

 

[AlfaLum]

And noone sees the off-chance of Pogi "allowing" Del Torro to attack first on Poggio to force his competition to react as possible? Maybe it's a way for UAE to win despite the unfavorable wind conditions.
I don't think Van Der Poel will just let Del Torro slide away, though.

UAE are likely to have two out of the four (perhaps five, am not sure about Ganna) strongest riders on Poggio tomorrow.

With the wind being unfavourable this might be UAEs best chance of victory, but i doubt they will play it like that because there is a risk del Toro could win it instead of Pogacar.

But if Del Toro is strong enough to force van der Poel to close him down with Pogacar in his wheel that could be the best chance of Pogacar actually breaking Mathieu on the follow-up attack.

 

[canina82]

I'm wishing a nice MSR to everyone! Fingers crossed for no crashes.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

La Primivera.

I think you mean La Primožvera.

 

[tobydawq]

If he was as watched as Pogacar is they would chase him immediately.

Why would he have been that? Nobody would think that Nibali could win the race.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Lequack]

Polti team have transformed into vegetables

 

[Red Rick]

Crazy no one in the field could go with Nibali when he climbed it in 6:13. Poor Pogacar did it in 5:38 and wasn’t solo.

www.climbing-records.com/2025/03/pogacar-van-der-poel-and-ganna-shatter.html?m=1

Headwind that year.

Plus that was before they started treating it like a puncher's classic and it was big chonkers pacing the Poggio like a beached whale

 

[search]

Nibali was also past his prime already back then, and everyone had forgotten that he was considered a contender once.

Mohoric somehow benefitted from the same a couple of years after, although on a lesser scale.

 

[search]

talking about Mohoric, it'll be interesting to see what he can do today, btw. Same for Alaphilippe.

Of course they are washed, but this is a very particular race, where top shape isn't absolutely necessary

 

[fenns]

he'd swap them all for a decent haircut

 

[KZD]

Hard to look past Van der Poel and Philipsen for this one. The former is the favourite if we have a more attacking race while the latter is the favourite if we have a more defensive race.

The headwind will surely make it more difficult but looking at how strong Pogačar was in Strade Bianche and how much he has been focusing on this race, I am convinced he will try again on Cipressa even though I don't see him dropping Van der Poel and others might hang on like Ganna, Van Aert, Jorgenson or Gregoire.

As for Del Toro, without Narvaez and Wellens, UAE has no chance but to use him for a leadout otherwise Pogačar likely attacks a 20-30 men group into a cross-headwind and its not as if Del Toro is as fast as someone like Narvaez in a reduced group sprint.

My pick for the win is Van der Poel and I will keep an eye on Magnier as well.

 

[Red Rick]

Alaphilippe is a good shout to get a decent result. He's very clearly still explosive on these kind of races, but he tends to just burn himself out.

If he only has to burn hot on the Poggio, he can make the finale.

 

[Netserk]

jasper philipsen will win this bike race

 

[RedheadDane]

he'd swap them all for a decent haircut

I hate to break it to you, but... I think with the amount of money he earns, he can afford choosing his own haircut.
I think it might be what the kids consider "cool" these days.

Anyway, they're off for neutral start.

 

[Squire]

jasper philipsen will win this bike race

Tobias Lund Andresen will win this bike race.

 

[Netserk]

a shame that ganna and ineos still have black shorts

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Bardiani fuga bidone, here we go!

So the moto driver from Strade Bianche Donne hasn't been fired yet.

 

[Salvarani]

Whole Bardiani and Polti team trying to get into the break

 

[Salvarani]

Omg....

scandal