Milano-Sanremo 2026: Can Pogacar Finally Beat Van der Poel on Via Roma?
There's something truly special about the first Monument classic on the cycling calendar. On Saturday, March 21st, the peloton rolls out from Pavia for the 117th edition of Milano-Sanremo 2026, and the tension is palpable. We've seen this movie before: Tadej Pogacar attacking on the Cipressa, and Mathieu van der Poel biding his time, waiting for the perfect countermove on the Poggio. But this year feels different. It's almost as if the entire cycling world is holding its breath, asking: can the Slovenian finally finish the job?
The Ultimate Duel: The Flying Dutchman vs. The Yellow Dragon
Let's not beat around the bush. Milano-Sanremo 2026 comes down to two men. On one side, we have the World Champion, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who has practically assembled a full trophy cabinet but still hasn't ticked the box next to "Classicissima." He's finished third, fourth, and fifth. He's tried everything, and in the last two years, he's redefined tactics by laying down relentless pressure on the Cipressa. He's hungry, and he's got the form we all witnessed recently at Strade Bianche.
On the other side stands the defending champion, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech). The Dutchman has won two of the last three editions and looks to be in the form of his life. He won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with a dominant solo move and has since dominated at Tirreno-Adriatico. Van der Poel possesses that unique ability: he can latch onto Pogacar's wheel on the Cipressa, match his explosiveness on the Poggio, and then beat him in the sprint on Via Roma. It almost feels like the race outcome depends more on whether Van der Poel has an off-day than on how strongly Pogacar rides.
Italian Longing: Can Ganna or a Local Hero Break the Duopoly?
While the two superstars grab the headlines, an entire nation of tifosi is thirsting for a home victory. That could very well come from Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers). Ganna was part of the decisive breakaway last year and ended up on the podium. He's a time trial machine, and if he can navigate the Poggio descent safely and gap the others on the flats into Sanremo, he just might be the one to bring glory back to Italy for the first time since Vincenzo Nibali in 2018.
Furthermore, there's plenty of local flavour in the peloton. From the Bergamo area, both six female and four male riders are taking the start—a proud tradition that shows just how much this race means to local cycling clubs. Few of them are likely to win, but they carry the soul of the classic with them through Liguria's mountain roads.
Canadian fans might want to keep an eye on the young talents in the race, watching for emerging sprinters who could surprise in a reduced bunch kick.
The Women's "Classicissima": Can Wiebes Repeat Her Triumph?
The same day, the women will also be blazing through the Ligurian Riviera for the 2026 Milano-Sanremo Donne. Just like the men's race, the women's edition is decided on the final 30 kilometres featuring the Tre Capi, Cipressa, and Poggio. Last year's winner, the dominant Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), is back to defend her title. She's undoubtedly the fastest if it comes down to a sprint. But the question is, will the peloton allow it? Teams like UAE Team ADQ, with former winner Elisa Longo Borghini and in-form Karlijn Swinkels, will try to make the race hard on the Cipressa to shake Wiebes off.
It's going to be a tactical masterpiece. Can Wiebes' teammate, Lotte Kopecky, neutralize the attacks? Or will we see a surprise from one of the many challengers like Marianne Vos or Kasia Niewiadoma? One thing's for sure: it will be explosive.
How to Watch the Classic: Route, Times, and Channels
The route for the Milano - Sanremo 2026 Preview covers a whopping 298 kilometres from Pavia to Sanremo, nine kilometres more than last year. The final 60 kilometres are some of the most intense of the entire cycling season, with the three small climbs (Capi), followed by the Cipressa and then the legendary Poggio, whose summit comes just 5.4 kilometres from the finish.
Starting this afternoon, the first driving bans are already in effect around Sanremo—the locals know the classic is on its way. For us at home, it's time to find a spot on the couch and tune into Eurosport 2 or HBO Max, which will be broadcasting the race from start to finish. The expectation is that the peloton will hit the decisive climbs late in the afternoon:
- Cipressa (summit): Around 4:45 PM
- Poggio (summit): Around 5:05 PM
- Expected arrival on Via Roma: Around 5:15 PM
Milano-Sanremo (m) is not just a bike race; it's a chess game on two wheels, where the pieces weigh 80 kilos and battle with watts instead of rooks. Get ready for a Saturday where we finally get answers: will the last unconquered fortress fall for Pogacar, or will Van der Poel once again prove he's the greatest champion of his generation?