{"id":1835965,"date":"2026-03-19T08:28:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T05:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1835965"},"modified":"2026-03-19T08:28:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T05:28:18","slug":"if-im-1-off-tadej-will-be-gone-mathieu-van-der-poel-prepares-to-take-on-pogacar-on-the-cipressa-at-milan-san-remo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1835965","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;If I&#8217;m 1% off, Tadej will be gone&#8217; &#8211; Mathieu van der Poel prepares to take on Poga\u010dar on the Cipressa at Milan-San Remo"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-1024-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;If I&#8217;m 1% off, Tadej will be gone&#8217; &#8211; Mathieu van der Poel prepares to take on Poga\u010dar on the Cipressa at Milan-San Remo<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nStephen Farrand <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-03-19T08:28:18Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 March 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Alpecin-Premier Tech finds a perfect peak to set-up a spring Monument triple<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-700 mb-2 text-[12px] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-gray-700 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-1024-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><figcaption class=\"mt-2\"><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"!m-0\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 sm:ml-1.5 font-base text-xs\"><span class=\"font-normal\">0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div role=\"dialog\" class=\"hidden fixed inset-0 z-[999999999999999999] bg-[#33333370] flex items-center justify-center p-6 newsletter-modal\" data-batch-endpoint=\"https:\/\/newsletter-subscribe.futureplc.com\/v2\/submission\/submit_batch\" data-batch-source=\"302\" data-component-name=\"Newsletter:Modal\">\n<div class=\"bg-neutral-100 rounded-xl shadow-xl w-full lg:w-2\/3 xl:w-1\/2 p-6 relative max-h-[95vh] overflow-y-auto\">\n<div id=\"newsletter-capture-modal\">\n<div class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0 bg-inherit font-ui-heading\">Get the Cyclingnews Newsletter<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base font-article-copy\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"Newsletter:NewsletterForm\">\n<hr class=\"modal_hr mt-3 mb-4 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"modal_footer block text-left opacity-80 text-[.8em] leading-[1.3em] mt-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-article-copy\">\nBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation\" class=\"hidden\">\n<p class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0\">You are now subscribed<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base\">Your newsletter sign-up was successful<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation__userlogin\" class=\"hidden\">\n<hr class=\"my-5 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"items-start flex flex-col h-full justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flcw-text pb-5 pt-2 leading-[1.3]\"> An account already exists for this email address, please log in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"cca288e7-a0ef-4506-8d6d-b8a42acc8b49\">Perfection doesn&#8217;t exist in professional cycling, there are too many variables and too much human suffering involved. Yet Mathieu van der Poel seems in perfect form and has the perfect talents and race-smart tactics to win Milan-San Remo for a third time on Saturday. The Dutchman is the archetypal Spring Classics winner of his generation. He and even Tadej Poga\u010dar seem to know it too.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar desperately wants to win Milan-San Remo but knows nature has dealt the Alpecin-Premier Tech leader a better hand of cards for La Classicissima. He can win Grand Tours and virtually any other race but when he lines up in Pavia on Saturday morning, deep down Poga\u010dar knows Van der Poel can beat him. He has done it twice already and that must be unnerving for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader.<\/p>\n<p id=\"cca288e7-a0ef-4506-8d6d-b8a42acc8b49-2\">In 2023, Van der Poel surged away from Poga\u010dar near the top of the Poggio and won alone in the Via Roma in a faultless execution of the Milan-San Remo winner&#8217;s unwritten manual.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;It&#8217;s only a matter of time before he wins Milan-San Remo&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel braces himself for first face-off with Tadej Poga\u010dar in 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;He&#8217;s got the race sussed and he&#8217;s got Tadej&#8217;s number&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Poga\u010dar&#8217;s UAE management wary of Mathieu van der Poel but out for &#8216;revenge&#8217; at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Last year the Alpecin-Premier Tech leader was able to stay with Poga\u010dar when he made his all-out attack on the earlier Cipressa climb. He then responded to all the Slovenian&#8217;s countermoves on the Poggio and then won again in the Via Roma with a long-range power sprint. Poga\u010dar was arguably stronger in both races but Van der Poel raced far more intelligently and crucially was far faster in the Via Roma sprint.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think my form is more than good enough to win Milan-San Remo,\u201d Van der Poel said ominously during the final days of this year&#8217;s Tirreno-Adriatico.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019m happy with the preparation I\u2019ve had. Now I need to do more or less the same thing as last year, with a few extra details here and there. Then I should be fine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel has previously gone too deep at Tirreno-Adriatico, attacking early in bad weather to try to succeed. This year, he carefully measured his efforts but still won two stages: two very different stages and in two different ways.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">His first victory on the gravel finale to San Gimignano saw him take on GC contenders Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), go deep on the gravel and then climb and sprint to the finish line in a full-gas Poggio-style effort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">His second win on stage 4 to Martinsicuro was a full dress rehearsal for Milan-San Remo. RCS Sport race director Stefano Allocchio confirmed to <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> that he had designed the 213km route to replicate the finale of Milan-San Remo, with three late climbs on the stage profile before a flat finish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel had the legs to be part of the 14-rider selection and then rode a perfect finale. As eternal rival Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) wasted energy chasing attacks, Van der Poel surfed the wheels and then unleashed his sprint with 280 metres to go, as if he was entering the Via Roma. He won by several bike lengths just as he did in the real Via Roma in 2025.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;Milan-San Remo should be fun&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel shows he is ready for the Classics with Tirreno-Adriatico tactical masterclass<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;I want to make history&#8217; \u2013 Filippo Ganna bullish ahead of Milan-San Remo rematch with Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Even when not winning at Tirreno-Adriatico, Van der Poel worked hard with Milan-San Remo in mind and was impressive. He was part of the GC group on stage 5 on the first hilly loop around Mombaraccio. Then on stage 7 he then shredded the peloton on the early eight-kilometre climb, during what seemed like a final race simulation workout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u201cI\u2019m very happy with my performances at Tirreno. I also felt pretty good on the climbs,&#8221; Van der Poel said modestly, as others in the peloton were gobsmacked by his fitness and execution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;What we did during the stages are the right interval efforts and race stimulations that I need to be in my best shape,&#8221; he explained when asked by <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;At Tirreno I was looking for that extra hardness you only get at races and when going all out to win a race. It&#8217;s very difficult for me to simulate that in training and Tirreno has always worked for me as final preparation. I hope this year again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel is as modest as he is talented. His Classic&#8217;s greatestness is grounded in his simple desire to race hard, have fun and win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">He appears to be in his best ever form but refused to confirm it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That is always a difficult question,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think I\u2019m simply at a very good level, but to say right now that I\u2019m in the best shape of my life&#8230; I don\u2019t know. But I\u2019m definitely very happy with it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-spring-classics-bloom-rooted-in-cyclo-cross-suffering-3\">A spring Classics bloom rooted in cyclo-cross suffering<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"45bc69f1-7855-44ef-bd52-bb22ef2c6002\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel racing in Koksijde during the most recent cyclo-cross season which he walked away from with an eighth World Championship title <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"f7605fcd-98ca-4b23-b577-a926621e1f82\">Van der Poel peaks each season for the spring Classics, a window of greatness that is rooted in his eight cyclo-cross world titles and then blooms across three weeks between Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.<\/p>\n<p>He rode and won this year&#8217;s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad but arguably only because he was itching to get back racing after three weeks of training and staying in the Syncrosfera altitude hotel. He pushed back from pressure to ride Strade Bianche, knowing it did not fit in with his plans for his three-week super peak. He will perhaps add the Tuscan Classic to his spring campaign in 2027, when he is not expected to target the cyclo-cross World Championships.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel is 31 and so a veteran of the sport but only started targeting the Classics in 2019 and first raced a full road season and the Tour de France in 2021. Yet he knows himself so well and knows how to peak and win every spring.<\/p>\n<p>He has already won eight Monument Classics, the 2023 World title, Strade Bianche in 2021 and the 2019 Amstel Gold Race with that epic long sprint chase. He has won the Tour of Flanders three times and a fourth win would put him amongst the true Classics greats. A fourth Paris-Roubaix victory would be placed alongside Tom Boonen and Roger De Vlaeminck but nobody has ever won four in a row.<\/p>\n<p>History awaits him in the next three weeks. Van der Poel is the only active rider to have won Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix and a third win at Milan-San Remo could set him up for a historic spring Monument triple.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-van-der-poel-controls-pogacar-s-cipressa-attack-tactic-3\">How Van der Poel controls Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Cipressa attack tactic<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"908811c5-6b59-4ef3-ac14-1e677de8d2a0\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Poga\u010dar and Filippo Ganna at the 2025 Milan-San Remo <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"800e70c8-cc40-40a7-b7a7-5b3bd0d1834b\">Van der Poel has ridden Milan-San Remo six times but seems to understand the race like a local Ligurian and arguably better than Poga\u010dar, who is a Montecarlo resident and a frequent visitor to the Cipressa and Poggio.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar&#8217;s aggressive racing style on the Cipressa has changed the finale of Milan-San Remo, making it far more selective and thrilling for far longer. Van der Poel has carefully adapted his tactics and racing style to equal and defeat Poga\u010dar.He has learnt to be the Artful Dodger of Classic racing and Milan-San Remo winning, nimble at picking Poga\u010dar&#8217;s pocket without him even realising it.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar went all-in on with a violent attack on the Cipressa last year and is likely to do something similar this year. It is his best card in a weak hand for Milan-San Remo. Only Van der Poel and Filippo Ganna were able to go with him on the Cipressa in a moment of power racing reserved for a select few. The three then stayed away thanks to help from a tailwind along the Mediterranean coast and then Van der Poel responded to Poga\u010dar&#8217;s every attack before beating him in the sprint. Poga\u010dar may try to climb the Cipressa even faster this year, going significantly under his nine-minute record for the 5.7km 4% climb or even trying to go away solo.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel will again be ready and waiting.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I expect more or less the same scenario as in previous years. Last year Tadej came very close,&#8221; Van der Poel pointed out, already playing a pre-race tactical game.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What they did last year is, in my opinion, not something that is possible every year. We had the perfect wind on the Cipressa and also to get to the Poggio. If it&#8217;s a headwind, I think it&#8217;s a different story.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel latched onto Poga\u010dar when he attacked mid-Cipressa after the tight hairpin turn and final surge by his teammate Jhonatan Narv\u00e1ez, as the road kicked up briefly at 9%. Van der Poel knows he has to be on his wheel again when the Slovenian dynamites the race.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Last year he was already very close to getting a gap. If I&#8217;m 1% off, Tadej will be gone on the Cipressa. It&#8217;s only a matter of time before he wins that race,&#8221; Van der Poel said sportingly, while also teasing UAE Team Emirates into a false move and energy-consuming control of the peloton before the Cipressa.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In the past, you shouldn&#8217;t have even thought about attacking on the Cipressa, but Tadej and UAE have changed that, making Milan-San Remo a far harder but more spectacular race.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"he-s-such-a-killer-3\">&#8216;He\u2019s such a killer&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"55567069-560d-4e5a-ae34-9cb338b4bf73\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel celebrating a 2025 win <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"66dea663-3c97-4fb7-9097-ee5aceeb7963\">175 riders will roll out of Pavia on Saturday morning but only Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel are realistically expected to have a chance of victory.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In 95% of the scenarios, either Poga\u010dar breaks away alone or Van der Poel wins in a sprint between the two, with perhaps a third rider joining them, like Ganna did last year,&#8221; cycling expert and former rider Thijs Zonneveld said recently in his Dutch <em>In De Waaier<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The other 5% is simply that they neutralise each other and everything comes together. Milan-San Remo was the Classic where almost anyone could win. Sprinters could win, classic specialists could win, everyone actually had a chance. Now it&#8217;s basically a race where only two people can win.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Former Giro d&#8217;Italia winner and cycling analyst Tom Dumoulin fears that Poga\u010dar will crack Van der Poel on the Cipressa this year. But if he doesn&#8217;t then Van der Poel is the favourite to win again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNine times out of ten, Mathieu will beat Poga\u010dar in the sprint. He\u2019s such a killer,&#8221; the former Dutch pro and Giro d&#8217;Italia winner said in the<em>NOS<\/em> podcast, perfectly summarising Van der Poel&#8217;s Milan-San Remo talents and perhaps the key expected outcome on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eb3171fa-1288-4665-88a1-0e3e642cebd8\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3CCmsgV6sDgU5yLthueHtn-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3CCmsgV6sDgU5yLthueHtn.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3CCmsgV6sDgU5yLthueHtn.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3CCmsgV6sDgU5yLthueHtn.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Stephen Farrand<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Editor-at-large<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at <em>Cyclingnews.<\/em> He has previously worked for <em>Shift Active Media, Reuters<\/em> and <em>Cycling Weekly. <\/em>He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"mt-6 lg:px-0 relative max-w-[1070px] mx-auto viafoura-twig-component px-4\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class='vfcustom-community-guidelines'&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-lg\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-sm\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It&#8217;s only a matter of time before he wins Milan-San Remo&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel braces himself for first face-off with Tadej Poga\u010dar in 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He&#8217;s got the race sussed and he&#8217;s got Tadej&#8217;s number&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Poga\u010dar&#8217;s UAE management wary of Mathieu van der Poel but out for &#8216;revenge&#8217; at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Milan-San Remo should be fun&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel shows he is ready for the Classics with Tirreno-Adriatico tactical masterclass<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I want to make history&#8217; \u2013 Filippo Ganna bullish ahead of Milan-San Remo rematch with Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Pro Cycling<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Big surprise as Mads Pedersen set for return at Milan-San Remo after breaking his wrist and collarbone earlier in season<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Milan-San Remo weather report: How will the wind impact Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s hopes for an aggressive race?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">From top riders&#8217; real form to the teams not quite thriving \u2013 Five key questions ahead of Milan-San Remo and the next Classics<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Grand Prix de Denain: Alec Segaert toys with Hagenes and fends off peloton for extraordinary solo win<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">From top riders&#8217; real form to the teams not quite thriving \u2013 Five key questions ahead of Milan-San Remo and the next Classics<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s margin for improvement ahead of Giro d&#8217;Italia, Ineos&#8217; tactical hiccup, and the riders who shone in a brutal Paris-Nice \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Four WorldTour teams without a win in 2026 as rankings show super-teams soaring but some big hitters struggling<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I&#8217;ve struggled with it because I felt like I was more under the watchful eye&#8217; \u2013 Ur\u0161ka \u017digart opens up about handling attention and reaching potential with the belief of her team<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Pro Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Are scientists now more important than star riders? Inside pro cycling&#8217;s race for scientific innovation<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Rohan Dennis resurfaces on Instagram with a &#8216;deeply offensive&#8217; 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&#8211; Belgian rider&#8217;s saddle snaps off during &#8216;mini Paris-Roubaix&#8217;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;If I&#8217;m 1% off, Tadej will be gone&#8217; &#8211; Mathieu van der Poel prepares to take on Poga\u010dar on the Cipressa at Milan-San Remo<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nStephen Farrand <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-03-19T08:28:18Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 March 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Alpecin-Premier Tech finds a perfect peak to set-up a spring Monument triple<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-700 mb-2 text-[12px] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-gray-700 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation\" class=\"hidden\">\n<p class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0\">You are now subscribed<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base\">Your newsletter sign-up was successful<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation__userlogin\" class=\"hidden\">\n<hr class=\"my-5 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"items-start flex flex-col h-full justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flcw-text pb-5 pt-2 leading-[1.3]\"> An account already exists for this email address, please log in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"cca288e7-a0ef-4506-8d6d-b8a42acc8b49\">Perfection doesn&#8217;t exist in professional cycling, there are too many variables and too much human suffering involved. Yet Mathieu van der Poel seems in perfect form and has the perfect talents and race-smart tactics to win Milan-San Remo for a third time on Saturday. The Dutchman is the archetypal Spring Classics winner of his generation. He and even Tadej Poga\u010dar seem to know it too.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar desperately wants to win Milan-San Remo but knows nature has dealt the Alpecin-Premier Tech leader a better hand of cards for La Classicissima. He can win Grand Tours and virtually any other race but when he lines up in Pavia on Saturday morning, deep down Poga\u010dar knows Van der Poel can beat him. He has done it twice already and that must be unnerving for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader.<\/p>\n<p id=\"cca288e7-a0ef-4506-8d6d-b8a42acc8b49-2\">In 2023, Van der Poel surged away from Poga\u010dar near the top of the Poggio and won alone in the Via Roma in a faultless execution of the Milan-San Remo winner&#8217;s unwritten manual.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;It&#8217;s only a matter of time before he wins Milan-San Remo&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel braces himself for first face-off with Tadej Poga\u010dar in 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;He&#8217;s got the race sussed and he&#8217;s got Tadej&#8217;s number&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Poga\u010dar&#8217;s UAE management wary of Mathieu van der Poel but out for &#8216;revenge&#8217; at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Last year the Alpecin-Premier Tech leader was able to stay with Poga\u010dar when he made his all-out attack on the earlier Cipressa climb. He then responded to all the Slovenian&#8217;s countermoves on the Poggio and then won again in the Via Roma with a long-range power sprint. Poga\u010dar was arguably stronger in both races but Van der Poel raced far more intelligently and crucially was far faster in the Via Roma sprint.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think my form is more than good enough to win Milan-San Remo,\u201d Van der Poel said ominously during the final days of this year&#8217;s Tirreno-Adriatico.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019m happy with the preparation I\u2019ve had. Now I need to do more or less the same thing as last year, with a few extra details here and there. Then I should be fine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel has previously gone too deep at Tirreno-Adriatico, attacking early in bad weather to try to succeed. This year, he carefully measured his efforts but still won two stages: two very different stages and in two different ways.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">His first victory on the gravel finale to San Gimignano saw him take on GC contenders Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), go deep on the gravel and then climb and sprint to the finish line in a full-gas Poggio-style effort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">His second win on stage 4 to Martinsicuro was a full dress rehearsal for Milan-San Remo. RCS Sport race director Stefano Allocchio confirmed to <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> that he had designed the 213km route to replicate the finale of Milan-San Remo, with three late climbs on the stage profile before a flat finish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel had the legs to be part of the 14-rider selection and then rode a perfect finale. As eternal rival Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) wasted energy chasing attacks, Van der Poel surfed the wheels and then unleashed his sprint with 280 metres to go, as if he was entering the Via Roma. He won by several bike lengths just as he did in the real Via Roma in 2025.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;Milan-San Remo should be fun&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel shows he is ready for the Classics with Tirreno-Adriatico tactical masterclass<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;I want to make history&#8217; \u2013 Filippo Ganna bullish ahead of Milan-San Remo rematch with Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Even when not winning at Tirreno-Adriatico, Van der Poel worked hard with Milan-San Remo in mind and was impressive. He was part of the GC group on stage 5 on the first hilly loop around Mombaraccio. Then on stage 7 he then shredded the peloton on the early eight-kilometre climb, during what seemed like a final race simulation workout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u201cI\u2019m very happy with my performances at Tirreno. I also felt pretty good on the climbs,&#8221; Van der Poel said modestly, as others in the peloton were gobsmacked by his fitness and execution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;What we did during the stages are the right interval efforts and race stimulations that I need to be in my best shape,&#8221; he explained when asked by <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;At Tirreno I was looking for that extra hardness you only get at races and when going all out to win a race. It&#8217;s very difficult for me to simulate that in training and Tirreno has always worked for me as final preparation. I hope this year again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel is as modest as he is talented. His Classic&#8217;s greatestness is grounded in his simple desire to race hard, have fun and win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">He appears to be in his best ever form but refused to confirm it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That is always a difficult question,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think I\u2019m simply at a very good level, but to say right now that I\u2019m in the best shape of my life&#8230; I don\u2019t know. But I\u2019m definitely very happy with it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-spring-classics-bloom-rooted-in-cyclo-cross-suffering-3\">A spring Classics bloom rooted in cyclo-cross suffering<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"45bc69f1-7855-44ef-bd52-bb22ef2c6002\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel racing in Koksijde during the most recent cyclo-cross season which he walked away from with an eighth World Championship title <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"f7605fcd-98ca-4b23-b577-a926621e1f82\">Van der Poel peaks each season for the spring Classics, a window of greatness that is rooted in his eight cyclo-cross world titles and then blooms across three weeks between Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.<\/p>\n<p>He rode and won this year&#8217;s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad but arguably only because he was itching to get back racing after three weeks of training and staying in the Syncrosfera altitude hotel. He pushed back from pressure to ride Strade Bianche, knowing it did not fit in with his plans for his three-week super peak. He will perhaps add the Tuscan Classic to his spring campaign in 2027, when he is not expected to target the cyclo-cross World Championships.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel is 31 and so a veteran of the sport but only started targeting the Classics in 2019 and first raced a full road season and the Tour de France in 2021. Yet he knows himself so well and knows how to peak and win every spring.<\/p>\n<p>He has already won eight Monument Classics, the 2023 World title, Strade Bianche in 2021 and the 2019 Amstel Gold Race with that epic long sprint chase. He has won the Tour of Flanders three times and a fourth win would put him amongst the true Classics greats. A fourth Paris-Roubaix victory would be placed alongside Tom Boonen and Roger De Vlaeminck but nobody has ever won four in a row.<\/p>\n<p>History awaits him in the next three weeks. Van der Poel is the only active rider to have won Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix and a third win at Milan-San Remo could set him up for a historic spring Monument triple.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-van-der-poel-controls-pogacar-s-cipressa-attack-tactic-3\">How Van der Poel controls Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Cipressa attack tactic<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"908811c5-6b59-4ef3-ac14-1e677de8d2a0\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Poga\u010dar and Filippo Ganna at the 2025 Milan-San Remo <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"800e70c8-cc40-40a7-b7a7-5b3bd0d1834b\">Van der Poel has ridden Milan-San Remo six times but seems to understand the race like a local Ligurian and arguably better than Poga\u010dar, who is a Montecarlo resident and a frequent visitor to the Cipressa and Poggio.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar&#8217;s aggressive racing style on the Cipressa has changed the finale of Milan-San Remo, making it far more selective and thrilling for far longer. Van der Poel has carefully adapted his tactics and racing style to equal and defeat Poga\u010dar.He has learnt to be the Artful Dodger of Classic racing and Milan-San Remo winning, nimble at picking Poga\u010dar&#8217;s pocket without him even realising it.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar went all-in on with a violent attack on the Cipressa last year and is likely to do something similar this year. It is his best card in a weak hand for Milan-San Remo. Only Van der Poel and Filippo Ganna were able to go with him on the Cipressa in a moment of power racing reserved for a select few. The three then stayed away thanks to help from a tailwind along the Mediterranean coast and then Van der Poel responded to Poga\u010dar&#8217;s every attack before beating him in the sprint. Poga\u010dar may try to climb the Cipressa even faster this year, going significantly under his nine-minute record for the 5.7km 4% climb or even trying to go away solo.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel will again be ready and waiting.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I expect more or less the same scenario as in previous years. Last year Tadej came very close,&#8221; Van der Poel pointed out, already playing a pre-race tactical game.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What they did last year is, in my opinion, not something that is possible every year. We had the perfect wind on the Cipressa and also to get to the Poggio. If it&#8217;s a headwind, I think it&#8217;s a different story.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel latched onto Poga\u010dar when he attacked mid-Cipressa after the tight hairpin turn and final surge by his teammate Jhonatan Narv\u00e1ez, as the road kicked up briefly at 9%. Van der Poel knows he has to be on his wheel again when the Slovenian dynamites the race.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Last year he was already very close to getting a gap. If I&#8217;m 1% off, Tadej will be gone on the Cipressa. It&#8217;s only a matter of time before he wins that race,&#8221; Van der Poel said sportingly, while also teasing UAE Team Emirates into a false move and energy-consuming control of the peloton before the Cipressa.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In the past, you shouldn&#8217;t have even thought about attacking on the Cipressa, but Tadej and UAE have changed that, making Milan-San Remo a far harder but more spectacular race.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"he-s-such-a-killer-3\">&#8216;He\u2019s such a killer&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"55567069-560d-4e5a-ae34-9cb338b4bf73\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel celebrating a 2025 win <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"66dea663-3c97-4fb7-9097-ee5aceeb7963\">175 riders will roll out of Pavia on Saturday morning but only Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel are realistically expected to have a chance of victory.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In 95% of the scenarios, either Poga\u010dar breaks away alone or Van der Poel wins in a sprint between the two, with perhaps a third rider joining them, like Ganna did last year,&#8221; cycling expert and former rider Thijs Zonneveld said recently in his Dutch <em>In De Waaier<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The other 5% is simply that they neutralise each other and everything comes together. Milan-San Remo was the Classic where almost anyone could win. Sprinters could win, classic specialists could win, everyone actually had a chance. Now it&#8217;s basically a race where only two people can win.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Former Giro d&#8217;Italia winner and cycling analyst Tom Dumoulin fears that Poga\u010dar will crack Van der Poel on the Cipressa this year. But if he doesn&#8217;t then Van der Poel is the favourite to win again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNine times out of ten, Mathieu will beat Poga\u010dar in the sprint. He\u2019s such a killer,&#8221; the former Dutch pro and Giro d&#8217;Italia winner said in the<em>NOS<\/em> podcast, perfectly summarising Van der Poel&#8217;s Milan-San Remo talents and perhaps the key expected outcome on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eb3171fa-1288-4665-88a1-0e3e642cebd8\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3CCmsgV6sDgU5yLthueHtn-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3CCmsgV6sDgU5yLthueHtn.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3CCmsgV6sDgU5yLthueHtn.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3CCmsgV6sDgU5yLthueHtn.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Stephen Farrand<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Editor-at-large<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at <em>Cyclingnews.<\/em> He has previously worked for <em>Shift Active Media, Reuters<\/em> and <em>Cycling Weekly. <\/em>He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"mt-6 lg:px-0 relative max-w-[1070px] mx-auto viafoura-twig-component px-4\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class='vfcustom-community-guidelines'&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-lg\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-sm\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It&#8217;s only a matter of time before he wins Milan-San Remo&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel braces himself for first face-off with Tadej Poga\u010dar in 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He&#8217;s got the race sussed and he&#8217;s got Tadej&#8217;s number&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Poga\u010dar&#8217;s UAE management wary of Mathieu van der Poel but out for &#8216;revenge&#8217; at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Milan-San Remo should be fun&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel shows he is ready for the Classics with Tirreno-Adriatico tactical masterclass<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I want to make history&#8217; \u2013 Filippo Ganna bullish ahead of Milan-San Remo rematch with Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Pro Cycling<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/oZuMSJgcYAmdrGir4W3ekD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Big surprise as Mads Pedersen set for return at Milan-San Remo after breaking his wrist and collarbone earlier in season<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CnkSAUeNGAhJ97W8H77XbR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Milan-San Remo weather report: How will the wind impact Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s hopes for an aggressive race?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">From top riders&#8217; real form to the teams not quite thriving \u2013 Five key questions ahead of Milan-San Remo and the next Classics<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ci7LgjCEw7XCz7FG4d2qED-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Grand Prix de Denain: Alec Segaert toys with Hagenes and fends off peloton for extraordinary solo win<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mjn5kXszgCzChPUPEwWpF6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">From top riders&#8217; real form to the teams not quite thriving \u2013 Five key questions ahead of Milan-San Remo and the next Classics<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iCE6b6hbSX5wbBSrHrFur6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jonas Vingegaard&#8217;s margin for improvement ahead of Giro d&#8217;Italia, Ineos&#8217; tactical hiccup, and the riders who shone in a brutal Paris-Nice \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HgHzGXUVXmFcxV9edtD8En-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Four WorldTour teams without a win in 2026 as rankings show super-teams soaring but some big hitters struggling<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FBjDCdbzt3c9gr7XdyznBi-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I&#8217;ve struggled with it because I felt like I was more under the watchful eye&#8217; \u2013 Ur\u0161ka \u017digart opens up about handling attention and reaching potential with the belief of her team<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RwzmAx5hHT6BiQqZUVka7A-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Pro Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Are scientists now more important than star riders? Inside pro cycling&#8217;s race for scientific innovation<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QvsXqZZgznWeNnJBEV4tq3.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Rohan Dennis resurfaces on Instagram with a &#8216;deeply offensive&#8217; post<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Gent-Wevelgem 2026 route<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">From top riders&#8217; real form to the teams not quite thriving \u2013 Five key questions ahead of Milan-San Remo and the next Classics<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Big surprise as Mads Pedersen set for return at Milan-San Remo after breaking his wrist and collarbone earlier in season<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;A very uncomfortable ride&#8217; &#8211; Belgian rider&#8217;s saddle snaps off during &#8216;mini Paris-Roubaix&#8217;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;If I&#8217;m 1% off, Tadej will be gone&#8217; &#8211; Mathieu van der Poel prepares to take on Poga\u010dar on the Cipressa at Milan-San Remo<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nStephen Farrand <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-03-19T08:28:18Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 March 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Alpecin-Premier Tech finds a perfect peak to set-up a spring Monument triple<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-700 mb-2 text-[12px] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-gray-700 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"!m-0\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 sm:ml-1.5 font-base text-xs\"><span class=\"font-normal\">0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div role=\"dialog\" class=\"hidden fixed inset-0 z-[999999999999999999] bg-[#33333370] flex items-center justify-center p-6 newsletter-modal\" data-batch-endpoint=\"https:\/\/newsletter-subscribe.futureplc.com\/v2\/submission\/submit_batch\" data-batch-source=\"302\" data-component-name=\"Newsletter:Modal\">\n<div class=\"bg-neutral-100 rounded-xl shadow-xl w-full lg:w-2\/3 xl:w-1\/2 p-6 relative max-h-[95vh] overflow-y-auto\">\n<div id=\"newsletter-capture-modal\">\n<div class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0 bg-inherit font-ui-heading\">Get the Cyclingnews Newsletter<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base font-article-copy\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"Newsletter:NewsletterForm\">\n<hr class=\"modal_hr mt-3 mb-4 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"modal_footer block text-left opacity-80 text-[.8em] leading-[1.3em] mt-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-article-copy\">\nBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation\" class=\"hidden\">\n<p class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0\">You are now subscribed<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base\">Your newsletter sign-up was successful<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation__userlogin\" class=\"hidden\">\n<hr class=\"my-5 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"items-start flex flex-col h-full justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flcw-text pb-5 pt-2 leading-[1.3]\"> An account already exists for this email address, please log in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"cca288e7-a0ef-4506-8d6d-b8a42acc8b49\">Perfection doesn&#8217;t exist in professional cycling, there are too many variables and too much human suffering involved. Yet Mathieu van der Poel seems in perfect form and has the perfect talents and race-smart tactics to win Milan-San Remo for a third time on Saturday. The Dutchman is the archetypal Spring Classics winner of his generation. He and even Tadej Poga\u010dar seem to know it too.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar desperately wants to win Milan-San Remo but knows nature has dealt the Alpecin-Premier Tech leader a better hand of cards for La Classicissima. He can win Grand Tours and virtually any other race but when he lines up in Pavia on Saturday morning, deep down Poga\u010dar knows Van der Poel can beat him. He has done it twice already and that must be unnerving for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader.<\/p>\n<p id=\"cca288e7-a0ef-4506-8d6d-b8a42acc8b49-2\">In 2023, Van der Poel surged away from Poga\u010dar near the top of the Poggio and won alone in the Via Roma in a faultless execution of the Milan-San Remo winner&#8217;s unwritten manual.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ut5sNvCNcbCA9zyqjAKVPc-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;It&#8217;s only a matter of time before he wins Milan-San Remo&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel braces himself for first face-off with Tadej Poga\u010dar in 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sVjT5areL8ZsPteKnfY7ye-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;He&#8217;s got the race sussed and he&#8217;s got Tadej&#8217;s number&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Poga\u010dar&#8217;s UAE management wary of Mathieu van der Poel but out for &#8216;revenge&#8217; at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Last year the Alpecin-Premier Tech leader was able to stay with Poga\u010dar when he made his all-out attack on the earlier Cipressa climb. He then responded to all the Slovenian&#8217;s countermoves on the Poggio and then won again in the Via Roma with a long-range power sprint. Poga\u010dar was arguably stronger in both races but Van der Poel raced far more intelligently and crucially was far faster in the Via Roma sprint.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think my form is more than good enough to win Milan-San Remo,\u201d Van der Poel said ominously during the final days of this year&#8217;s Tirreno-Adriatico.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019m happy with the preparation I\u2019ve had. Now I need to do more or less the same thing as last year, with a few extra details here and there. Then I should be fine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel has previously gone too deep at Tirreno-Adriatico, attacking early in bad weather to try to succeed. This year, he carefully measured his efforts but still won two stages: two very different stages and in two different ways.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qgJkLoZghVnsZC7vzTCAHc slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">His first victory on the gravel finale to San Gimignano saw him take on GC contenders Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), go deep on the gravel and then climb and sprint to the finish line in a full-gas Poggio-style effort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">His second win on stage 4 to Martinsicuro was a full dress rehearsal for Milan-San Remo. RCS Sport race director Stefano Allocchio confirmed to <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> that he had designed the 213km route to replicate the finale of Milan-San Remo, with three late climbs on the stage profile before a flat finish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel had the legs to be part of the 14-rider selection and then rode a perfect finale. As eternal rival Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) wasted energy chasing attacks, Van der Poel surfed the wheels and then unleashed his sprint with 280 metres to go, as if he was entering the Via Roma. He won by several bike lengths just as he did in the real Via Roma in 2025.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJUknyvtGMxhbEd4pJVUb3-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: All eyes are on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel, but Isaac del Toro is the danger man at Milan-San Remo<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xMH7UKbmKtyqUzWHF6JoST-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;Milan-San Remo should be fun&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel shows he is ready for the Classics with Tirreno-Adriatico tactical masterclass<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;I want to make history&#8217; \u2013 Filippo Ganna bullish ahead of Milan-San Remo rematch with Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Even when not winning at Tirreno-Adriatico, Van der Poel worked hard with Milan-San Remo in mind and was impressive. He was part of the GC group on stage 5 on the first hilly loop around Mombaraccio. Then on stage 7 he then shredded the peloton on the early eight-kilometre climb, during what seemed like a final race simulation workout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u201cI\u2019m very happy with my performances at Tirreno. I also felt pretty good on the climbs,&#8221; Van der Poel said modestly, as others in the peloton were gobsmacked by his fitness and execution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;What we did during the stages are the right interval efforts and race stimulations that I need to be in my best shape,&#8221; he explained when asked by <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;At Tirreno I was looking for that extra hardness you only get at races and when going all out to win a race. It&#8217;s very difficult for me to simulate that in training and Tirreno has always worked for me as final preparation. I hope this year again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Van der Poel is as modest as he is talented. His Classic&#8217;s greatestness is grounded in his simple desire to race hard, have fun and win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">He appears to be in his best ever form but refused to confirm it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That is always a difficult question,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think I\u2019m simply at a very good level, but to say right now that I\u2019m in the best shape of my life&#8230; I don\u2019t know. But I\u2019m definitely very happy with it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-spring-classics-bloom-rooted-in-cyclo-cross-suffering-3\">A spring Classics bloom rooted in cyclo-cross suffering<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"45bc69f1-7855-44ef-bd52-bb22ef2c6002\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ixfq5Cw5wKJgKLwfKcjiRK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel racing in Koksijde during the most recent cyclo-cross season which he walked away from with an eighth World Championship title <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"f7605fcd-98ca-4b23-b577-a926621e1f82\">Van der Poel peaks each season for the spring Classics, a window of greatness that is rooted in his eight cyclo-cross world titles and then blooms across three weeks between Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.<\/p>\n<p>He rode and won this year&#8217;s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad but arguably only because he was itching to get back racing after three weeks of training and staying in the Syncrosfera altitude hotel. He pushed back from pressure to ride Strade Bianche, knowing it did not fit in with his plans for his three-week super peak. He will perhaps add the Tuscan Classic to his spring campaign in 2027, when he is not expected to target the cyclo-cross World Championships.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel is 31 and so a veteran of the sport but only started targeting the Classics in 2019 and first raced a full road season and the Tour de France in 2021. Yet he knows himself so well and knows how to peak and win every spring.<\/p>\n<p>He has already won eight Monument Classics, the 2023 World title, Strade Bianche in 2021 and the 2019 Amstel Gold Race with that epic long sprint chase. He has won the Tour of Flanders three times and a fourth win would put him amongst the true Classics greats. A fourth Paris-Roubaix victory would be placed alongside Tom Boonen and Roger De Vlaeminck but nobody has ever won four in a row.<\/p>\n<p>History awaits him in the next three weeks. Van der Poel is the only active rider to have won Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix and a third win at Milan-San Remo could set him up for a historic spring Monument triple.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-van-der-poel-controls-pogacar-s-cipressa-attack-tactic-3\">How Van der Poel controls Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Cipressa attack tactic<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"908811c5-6b59-4ef3-ac14-1e677de8d2a0\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uqBPEa5dbWTrvN9t7jKNfJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Poga\u010dar and Filippo Ganna at the 2025 Milan-San Remo <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"800e70c8-cc40-40a7-b7a7-5b3bd0d1834b\">Van der Poel has ridden Milan-San Remo six times but seems to understand the race like a local Ligurian and arguably better than Poga\u010dar, who is a Montecarlo resident and a frequent visitor to the Cipressa and Poggio.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar&#8217;s aggressive racing style on the Cipressa has changed the finale of Milan-San Remo, making it far more selective and thrilling for far longer. Van der Poel has carefully adapted his tactics and racing style to equal and defeat Poga\u010dar.He has learnt to be the Artful Dodger of Classic racing and Milan-San Remo winning, nimble at picking Poga\u010dar&#8217;s pocket without him even realising it.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar went all-in on with a violent attack on the Cipressa last year and is likely to do something similar this year. It is his best card in a weak hand for Milan-San Remo. Only Van der Poel and Filippo Ganna were able to go with him on the Cipressa in a moment of power racing reserved for a select few. The three then stayed away thanks to help from a tailwind along the Mediterranean coast and then Van der Poel responded to Poga\u010dar&#8217;s every attack before beating him in the sprint. Poga\u010dar may try to climb the Cipressa even faster this year, going significantly under his nine-minute record for the 5.7km 4% climb or even trying to go away solo.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel will again be ready and waiting.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I expect more or less the same scenario as in previous years. Last year Tadej came very close,&#8221; Van der Poel pointed out, already playing a pre-race tactical game.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What they did last year is, in my opinion, not something that is possible every year. We had the perfect wind on the Cipressa and also to get to the Poggio. If it&#8217;s a headwind, I think it&#8217;s a different story.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel latched onto Poga\u010dar when he attacked mid-Cipressa after the tight hairpin turn and final surge by his teammate Jhonatan Narv\u00e1ez, as the road kicked up briefly at 9%. Van der Poel knows he has to be on his wheel again when the Slovenian dynamites the race.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Last year he was already very close to getting a gap. If I&#8217;m 1% off, Tadej will be gone on the Cipressa. It&#8217;s only a matter of time before he wins that race,&#8221; Van der Poel said sportingly, while also teasing UAE Team Emirates into a false move and energy-consuming control of the peloton before the Cipressa.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In the past, you shouldn&#8217;t have even thought about attacking on the Cipressa, but Tadej and UAE have changed that, making Milan-San Remo a far harder but more spectacular race.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"he-s-such-a-killer-3\">&#8216;He\u2019s such a killer&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"55567069-560d-4e5a-ae34-9cb338b4bf73\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nsqsoAsVAgWNosN2n7DAvR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel celebrating a 2025 win <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"66dea663-3c97-4fb7-9097-ee5aceeb7963\">175 riders will roll out of Pavia on Saturday morning but only Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel are realistically expected to have a chance of victory.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In 95% of the scenarios, either Poga\u010dar breaks away alone or Van der Poel wins in a sprint between the two, with perhaps a third rider joining them, like Ganna did last year,&#8221; cycling expert and former rider Thijs Zonneveld said recently in his Dutch <em>In De Waaier<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The other 5% is simply that they neutralise each other and everything comes together. Milan-San Remo was the Classic where almost anyone could win. Sprinters could win, classic specialists could win, everyone actually had a chance. Now it&#8217;s basically a race where only two people can win.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Former Giro d&#8217;Italia winner and cycling analyst Tom Dumoulin fears that Poga\u010dar will crack Van der Poel on the Cipressa this year. But if he doesn&#8217;t then Van der Poel is the favourite to win again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNine times out of ten, Mathieu will beat Poga\u010dar in the sprint. He\u2019s such a killer,&#8221; the former Dutch pro and Giro d&#8217;Italia winner said in the<em>NOS<\/em> podcast, perfectly summarising Van der Poel&#8217;s Milan-San Remo talents and perhaps the key expected outcome on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p id=\"eb3171fa-1288-4665-88a1-0e3e642cebd8\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/if-im-1-percent-off-tadej-will-be-gone-mathieu-van-der-poel-prepares-to-take-on-pogacar-on-the-cipressa-at-milan-san-remo\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Qr7jhDanbFMdv4rQHuvjv6-1024-80.jpg&#8221;] Pro Cycling &#8216;If I&#8217;m 1% off, Tadej will be gone&#8217; &#8211; Mathieu van der Poel prepares to take on Poga\u010dar on the Cipressa at Milan-San Remo Features By Stephen Farrand published 19 March 2026 Alpecin-Premier Tech finds a perfect peak to set-up a spring Monument triple When you purchase through links on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-1835965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1835965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1835965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1835965\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1835965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1835965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1835965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}