Milano-Sanremo 2026: Can Pogacar Finally Beat Van der Poel on Via Roma?
There's something really special about the first Monument classic on the cycling calendar. On Saturday, 21 March, the peloton rolls out from Pavia for the 117th edition of Milano-Sanremo 2026, and you could cut the tension with a knife. We've seen the picture before: Tadej Pogacar attacking on the Cipressa, and Mathieu van der Poel playing it cool, 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 and asking: Can the Slovenian finally get the job 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's basically collected every trophy under the sun by now, 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's redefined tactics by piling on relentless pressure on the Cipressa. He's hungry, and he's got the form we all saw at Strade Bianche recently.
On the other side stands the reigning 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 commanding solo ride and has since dominated at Tirreno-Adriatico. Van der Poel has this unique ability: he can sit on 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 whether Pogacar rides strong.
The Italian longing: Can Ganna or a local hero break the duopoly?
While the two superstars hog the headlines, there's a whole nation of tifosi thirsting for a home win. That could very well come from Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers). Ganna was in the decisive break last year and ended up on the podium. He's a machine on the time trial, and if he can navigate the Poggio descent safely and gap the others 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.
On top of 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 that shows just how much this race means to the local cycling clubs. Most of them probably won't win, but they carry the soul of the classic with them through the mountain roads of Liguria.
Danish fans should keep an eye on Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team). He's on the start list and is one of those young sprinters who could spring a surprise if the race ends in a reduced bunch sprint. But that requires him to make it over the Poggio, and that's a tall order for a young guy.
The women's race: Can Wiebes repeat her triumph?
On 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 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's 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's going to 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's for sure: It's going to be explosive.
How to watch the Classic: Route, timings, 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 in 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 restrictions are already in place around Sanremo – the locals know the classic is on its way. For us at home, it's time to hit the couch and tune in to 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): Approximately 4:45 PM
- Poggio (summit): Approximately 5:05 PM
- Expected arrival on Via Roma: Approximately 5:15 PM
Milano-Sanremo (men) isn't just a bike race; it's a chess match on two wheels, where the pieces weigh 80 kilos and take each other on with watts instead of rooks. Get ready for a Saturday where we finally get answers on whether the last unconquered fortress for Pogacar will fall, or if Van der Poel once again proves he's the greatest champion of his generation.