Milan-San Remo 2026: The Fastest Classic of the Season Is Ready to Roll

Here we go again. The first real Monument of the cycling season is knocking on the door. Milan-San Remo, or as the purists call it: La Classicissima. This Saturday, it’s 293 kilometres and the most beautiful flowers of the Italian Riviera on the menu. And honestly, it’s shaping up to be a proper war of attrition. We’re not talking about any ordinary race here; this is the grand opening ball of the Monuments, and everyone wants in on the action.

Why we’re glued to the screen year after year

The beauty of San Remo lies in its timing and its terror. You know it’s going to be hours of controlled chaos. The teams with their sprinters are dreaming of the Via Roma, the Classics men are feeling the tingle in their legs on the Cipressa, and then there’s always that one wildcard who’ll turn things upside down on the Poggio. It’s a race of millimetres and mental strength. History shows that nothing comes for free here. Just think back to the legendary 1970 edition, where Eddy Merckx cemented his status as the Cannibal. Or 1974, where Roger De Vlaeminck snagged his second of three wins. Those were the days of pure mano-a-mano battles, on steel frames with leather hairnets.

The mythical editions that came before

As a cycling fan, I’m always captivated 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. It was a total surprise, showing that on these roads, a bit of bad luck or having your perfect day can make your name. And Milan-San Remo 1983? That was the Poggio battle at its absolute best. Giuseppe Saronni going all out on the descent. It goes to show: today's Classics are written with the ink of yesterday's legends. The names change, but the drama remains.

The favourites: who’ll claim the flowers on the Via Roma?

Let’s look at today’s riders. This year, we’ve got a start list that seems like it’s straight out of a dream. Here are the men I’ll be watching like a hawk:

• 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. Word on the street is he’s planning to tackle the Cipressa harder than ever before.
• Mathieu van der Poel: Our Dutch pride. It’s been a year of working towards this moment. If he can get over the Poggio without too much damage, he’s almost unbeatable on the Via Roma in a sprint from a select group. The only question is: will they even let him get away?
• Tom Pidcock & Filippo Ganna: Two completely different types. Pidcock with his punch, Ganna with his raw brute force on the flat. If the wind picks up, Ganna can shatter the peloton. Pidcock is my dark horse if it comes down to the final metres.

The decisive kilometres: Cipressa and Poggio

We all know it: the race truly begins on the Cipressa. That’s where the pace gets jacked up until your legs are screaming. But the real finale unfolds on the Poggio di San Remo. It’s a short climb, but it’s vicious. If you can force a gap here, you’ve got the descent to the Via Roma to capitalise on it. Everyone’s playing a game of cat and mouse. The sprint teams will try to keep it together, but it’s up to the Classics men to stop them. The tactic is simple: make it so hard that your rivals are running on empty before the red carpet is even rolled out.

My take on the finale

In recent years, I’ve seen too often how the top favourites end up watching each other. Somewhere, I’m hoping for a scenario where we relive the old days, like in the ’70s and ’80s. Where an attack at the top of the Poggio isn’t immediately shut down, but where a rider has the guts to go all the way. Whether it’s Pogacar, Van der Poel, or a surprise package looking to stamp their name in the history books alongside Merckx, De Vlaeminck, and Saronni. One thing’s for sure: when the riders come through that final corner after hours of racing on Saturday, we’ll be there with our noses pressed to the screen. It’s Milan-San Remo. That’s all you need.