Milano-Sanremo 2026: Can Pogacar Finally Conquer Van der Poel on the 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 picture before: Tadej Pogacar attacking on the Cipressa, and Mathieu van der Poel biding his time, waiting for the perfect counter on the Poggio. But this year, it feels different. It's almost as if the entire cycling world is holding its breath, asking: Can the Slovenian finally get it done?
The Ultimate Duel: The Flying Dutchman vs. The Yellow Dragon
Let's not beat around the bush. Milano-Sanremo 2026 is all about two men. On one side, we have the world champion, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who has pretty much collected every trophy there is, but still hasn't been able to tick the box next to "Classicissima." He's finished third, fourth, and fifth. He's tried everything, and in the last two years, he has redefined tactics by applying relentless pressure on the Cipressa. He's hungry, and he's in the kind of form we all witnessed at Strade Bianche recently.
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 to sit on Pogacar's wheel on the Cipressa, match his explosiveness on the Poggio, and then beat him in the sprint on the Via Roma. It almost feels like the race's outcome depends more on whether Van der Poel has an off-day than on whether Pogacar rides strong.
The Italian Longing: Can Ganna or a Local Hero Break the Duopoly?
While the two super favourites grab the headlines, there's a nation of tifosi yearning 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 machine in time trials, and if he can navigate the Poggio descent safely and create a gap on the flat run-in to Sanremo, he could very well be the one to bring glory back to Italy for the first time since Vincenzo Nibali in 2018.
Beyond that, 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 showing how much this race means to local cycling clubs. Few of them will likely win, but they carry the soul of the classic with them through the Ligurian mountain roads.
Keep an eye on Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team). He's on the start list and is one of the young sprinters who could surprise if the race ends in a reduced bunch sprint. But that requires him to make it over the Poggio, which is a big ask for such a young rider.
The Women's Race: Can Wiebes Repeat Her Triumph?
On the same day, the women will also tear through the Ligurian Riviera for the 2026 Milano-Sanremo Donne. Like the men, the women's edition is decided on the final 30 kilometres with the Tre Capi, Cipressa, and Poggio. Last year's winner, the dominant Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), is back to defend her title. She is undoubtedly the fastest if it comes down to a sprint. But the question is, will the peloton allow that? Teams like UAE Team ADQ, with former winner Elisa Longo Borghini and the in-form Karlijn Swinkels, will try to make the race hard on the Cipressa to shake Wiebes off.
It will be a tactical masterpiece. Can Wiebes' teammate, Lotte Kopecky, neutralise the attacks? Or will we get a surprise from one of the many challengers like Marianne Vos or Kasia Niewiadoma? One thing is certain: it will be explosive.
How to Watch the Classic: Route, Times, and Channels
The route for the Milano - Sanremo 2026 Preview features 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.
From this afternoon, the first driving bans are already in place around Sanremo – the locals know the classic is on its way. For us at home, it's time to find the couch and tune into Eurosport 2 or HBO Max, which will broadcast the race from start to finish. The expectation is that the peloton will hit the decisive climbs late in the afternoon:
- Cipressa (summit): Approximately 4:45 PM
- Poggio (summit): Approximately 5:05 PM
- Expected arrival on the Via Roma: Approximately 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 overpower each other with watts instead of rooks. Get ready for a Saturday where we finally get the answer to whether the last unconquered fortress for Pogacar falls, or if Van der Poel once again shows he is the greatest champion of his generation.