Milan-San Remo 2026: The Fastest Classic of the Season is About to Begin

Here we go again. The first true Monument of the cycling season is knocking on the door. Milan-San Remo, or as the purists call it: La Classicissima. Saturday’s menu features 293 kilometres and the most beautiful scenery along the Italian Riviera. And man, is it shaping up to be a brutal war of attrition. We're not talking about just any race here; this is the grand opening of the spring classics, and everyone wants a piece of the action.

Why we’re glued to the screen every single year

The beauty of San Remo lies in its timing and its terror. You know it’s going to be hours of orchestrated chaos. The teams with their sprinters are already dreaming of the Via Roma, the classics specialists can feel their legs tingling on the Cipressa, and then there’s always that one wild card who’ll try to blow the race apart on the Poggio. It’s a race of inches and mental strength. History has taught us that nothing comes for free here. Just think of the legendary 1970 edition, where Eddy Merckx cemented his status as the Cannibal. Or 1974, when Roger De Vlaeminck took his second of a total of three victories. Those were the days of pure mano-a-mano battles, with steel frames and leather hairnets.

The mythical editions that came before

As a cycling fan, I’m still fascinated by the history. In a Monument like this, you can really trace the lines from the past to the present. Take Milan-San Remo 1976. That edition is etched in my memory as one of the most unpredictable. A complete upset that showed that on these roads, bad luck or simply having your day can make your name. And Milan-San Remo 1983? That was the battle on the Poggio at its finest. Giuseppe Saronni, going all-in on the descent. It shows you: the classics of today are written with the ink of the legends of yesterday. The names change, but the drama remains.

The top contenders: who will get the flowers on the Via Roma?

Let’s shift our focus to today's riders. This year we have a start list that seems like it’s straight out of a dream. Here are the men I’ll be watching with both eyes:

• Tadej Pogacar: The Slovenian is, of course, the man wearing number one. He can do it all, but the question is whether he can combine his explosiveness on the Poggio with the patience of a true classics specialist. There are whispers that he’s planning to hit the Cipressa harder than ever before.
• Mathieu van der Poel: Our Dutch pride. He’s been building up to this moment all year. If he can make it over the Poggio without too much damage, he’s nearly unbeatable on the Via Roma in a sprint from a select group. The only question is: will they let him ride away?
• Tom Pidcock & Filippo Ganna: Two completely different types. Pidcock with his punch, Ganna with his raw horsepower on the flats. If the wind picks up, Ganna can shatter the peloton. Pidcock is my dark horse if it all comes down to the final metres.

The decisive kilometres: Cipressa and Poggio

We all know it: the race doesn't really start until the Cipressa. That’s where the pace ramps up until your legs are screaming. But the true finale unfolds on the Poggio di San Remo. The climb is short but nasty. If you can force a gap here, you’ve got the descent to the Via Roma to make that advantage count. It’s a cat-and-mouse game for everyone. The sprinters’ teams will try to keep things together, but it’s up to the classics specialists to stop them. The tactic is simple: make it so hard that your rivals are running on empty before the red carpet is rolled out.

My take on the finale

In recent years, I’ve seen too many top favourites cancel each other out. Part of me hopes for a scenario that brings back the old days, like in the ’70s and ’80s. Where an attack at the top of the Poggio isn’t immediately shut down, but a rider has the guts to drive it all the way home. Whether it’s Pogacar, Van der Poel, or a surprise package looking to etch their name in the history books alongside Merckx, De Vlaeminck, and Saronni. One thing is certain: when the riders take that final corner on Saturday after hours of racing, we’ll be glued to the screen. It’s Milan-San Remo. That’s all you need.