Milano-Sanremo 2026: The Season’s Fastest Classic Is About to Begin

Here we go again. The first true Monument of the cycling season is knocking at the door. Milano-Sanremo, or as the purists call it: La Classicissima. On Saturday, a 293-kilometre journey and the most beautiful flowers of the Italian Riviera are on the menu. And man, this is shaping up to be a real war of attrition. We're not talking about just any race; this is the grand opening of the big Classics, and everyone wants a piece of the action.

Why we're glued to our screens every year

The beauty of Sanremo lies in its timing and its terror. You know it's going to be hours of orchestrated chaos. The sprint teams are dreaming of the Via Roma, the Classics specialists are feeling the burn in their legs on the Cipressa, and then there's always that one daredevil who throws the race into chaos on the Poggio. It's a race of millimetres and mental strength. History shows you don't get anything for free here. Just think of the legendary 1970 edition, where Eddy Merckx cemented his status as the Cannibal. Or 1974, where Roger De Vlaeminck claimed his second of three total victories. Those were the days of pure man-to-man battles, with steel frames and leather helmets.

The mythical editions that came before

As a cycling fan, I'm always captivated by the history. In a Monument like this, you can trace the lines from the past to the present. Take Milano-Sanremo 1976. That edition is etched in my memory as one of the most unpredictable. A complete surprise that showed how, on these roads, bad luck or having your perfect day can make your name. And Milano-Sanremo 1983? That was the battle for the Poggio at its finest. Giuseppe Saronni giving it everything on the descent. It shows: the Classics of today are written with the ink of the legends of yesterday. The names change, but the drama remains.

The favourites: Who will grab the flowers on the Via Roma?

Let's look at the riders today. This year we have a start list that seems straight out of a dream. Let me name the ones I'll be keeping both eyes on:

• 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 is, he's never ridden the Cipressa as hard as he's planning to this time.
• Mathieu van der Poel: Our Dutch pride. He's been working towards this moment all year. If he gets 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 let him ride away?
• Tom Pidcock & Filippo Ganna: Two completely different types. Pidcock with his punch, Ganna with his raw power on the flats. If the wind picks up, Ganna can rip the peloton apart. Pidcock is my dark horse for when it really comes down to the final metres.

The decisive kilometres: Cipressa and Poggio

We all know it: the race really begins on the Cipressa. That's where the pace gets cranked up until your legs are screaming. But the true finale unfolds on the Poggio di San Remo. The climb is short but nasty. Anyone who can force a gap there has the descent to the Via Roma to capitalise on that advantage. Everyone plays the cat-and-mouse game. The sprint teams will try to keep things together, but it's up to the Classics specialists to prevent that. The tactic is simple: make it so hard that your rivals are empty before the red carpet rolls out.

My take on the finale

In recent years, I've seen too often how the big favourites end up staring each other down. 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 neutralised, but where a rider has the guts to go all the way. Whether it's Pogacar, Van der Poel, or a surprise contender looking to etch their name into the history books alongside Merckx, De Vlaeminck, and Saronni. One thing's for sure: when the riders take that final corner on Saturday after hours of racing, we'll be here with our noses pressed to the screen. It's Milano-Sanremo. That's all you need.