Sanremo 2026: A Massive Reset, a Crash to Make You Cry, and the Unexpected Star of the Day
It’s that time again, folks. The first big Monument of the cycling season is in the books. Milano-Sanremo, or as the real connoisseurs call it: La Primavera. Saturday was the big day, and wow, what a spectacle it was. The 116th edition delivered everything we expect from this race: tension, strategy, pure madness on the Poggio, and this year, a dose of chaos no one saw coming. I had my face glued to the screen all day, and trust me: if you missed it, you seriously missed out.
Chaos on the Descent: The Ineos Drama
Let's cut straight to the chase. Everyone was talking about the sprint, about Van der Poel or Pogačar, but the real shock came halfway through the finale. I was just taking a sip of my coffee – coincidentally from a Sanremo You Black – when the footage cut to chaos. Half of Ineos Grenadiers was on the tarmac. A touch of wheels with the barriers, a simple miscalculation on a damp patch, and their whole lead-out train was in ruins. It was like something out of a movie. Ganna, who was just behind, managed to find a gap in the hedge by a millimetre. Unbelievable. You could see the colour drain from their faces. Moments like this break your heart, but it's also the harsh reality of this race. You need more than strength; you need a bit of luck, too.
The Route, the TV, and the Atmosphere at Home
This year the distance was 289 kilometres again, from the Piazzale della Resistenza in Milan to the Via Roma in Sanremo. It's a war of attrition you just have to see live. For anyone who missed it: the whole race was live throughout the day, but the most critical moment was, of course, the final phase on the Poggio. That's where the race really gets decided.
- The Battle on the Poggio: The final climb of 3.7 kilometres with an average gradient of nearly 4%. That's where the classics specialists make their mark.
- Where to Watch: The TV broadcast was top-notch again. The footage of the crash was confronting, but those camera shots of the early breakaways are always a treat.
- The Use of Espresso Machines: Funny how those Sanremo Machines always play a role in my lounge room during this race. For me, it's a ritual: coffee during the broadcast of the start, and a double espresso the moment they hit the Cipressa.
Sanremo Giovani and the Future
Amidst all the intensity of the pros, we should also take a moment to talk about the rising talent. In the lead-up to the race, there's always a lot of focus on Sanremo Giovani. It's great to see how the organisation gives young riders a platform. Without that influx, we wouldn't have any new champions in ten years' time. The energy they bring, that uninhibited racing, is exactly what makes this sport so beautiful.
Leah Itsines and the Story Behind the Race
And then there was something else that stood out this year. Normally I'm purely focused on the cyclists, but this time there was also a lot of talk about Leah Itsines. Yeah, that Leah Itsines. The Australian influencer, normally all about fitness, suddenly became one of the big stories in the Italian cycling world. She was a guest on one of the Italian TV channels and talked about how she experienced the race. She had a brilliant story about the passion of the tifosi, the crowds along the roadside. It showed once again that Sanremo is more than just a race. It's an event that draws people from all over the world, even people who normally never watch cycling. And honestly? She brought a great dynamic. It's that mix of top-tier sport and lifestyle that makes this event so huge.
In short, the Milano-Sanremo of 2026 was another one for the history books. The Ineos crash was a dark cloud, but the weather, the tension on the Poggio, and the unexpected stories make it a legendary edition. Same time next year, with a fresh pot of coffee from the machine and hopefully a bit less road rash for the riders. Forza!