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It has been said for years that Milan-San Remo is the easiest race to finish, but the hardest to win. Having raced it, I agree 100 percent with this statement. Unfortunately for the main favorites, winning at MSR is the only thing that matters.
At the start in Milan, there’s a unique atmosphere. Everyone knows that they can finish the race, but the odds of winning are slim. It feels like going into battle without enough ammunition or a reliable map. Still, you gear up, brace yourself for the inevitable suffering, and hope for the best.
The race typically allows a breakaway to escape easily, settles into a steady tempo until after the Passo del Turchino, then ramps up along the coast road until the bottom of the Cipressa where the race finally gets exciting with 30km to go. At first, this year looked to be the same 300km race just for a 300m sprint, but we were treated to something spectacular.
We have been waiting for years to see someone launch from this far out. UAE perfectly executed their plan, and Tadej Pogačar made his move at a very strategic moment. I could not believe that anyone could stay on his wheel, let alone three guys, and it would only be a matter of time before that group thinned out even more.
First it was Romain Grégoire from Groupama-FDJ who totally blew, then Ganna from Ineos dropped off the pace, leaving only Mathieu van der Poel able to hold Pogačar’s wheel. Forced to change tactics towards the top, Pogačar came off the gas a bit, which allowed Ganna to return, making a three-man group of absolute hitters in the front.
When they crested the top and began the descent, I was shocked to see the gap at 40 seconds! I never thought that I would see the day where three riders were able to make that big of a difference against such a stellar field on the Cipressa.
As soon as they hit the Poggio, Pogačar began launching powerful attacks which dropped Ganna, but Van der Poel was right on his wheel. It felt like watching a heavyweight boxing match, anticipating Pogačar’s knockout punch, but Van der Poel absorbed the blows like the champion he is and suddenly counter-attacked.
When Van der Poel went over the top of Pogačar’s last acceleration with 500m to go from the top of the Poggio, I believe that every cycling fan in the world was in awe. This was not just a physical masterpiece that we were all witnessing, but a mental one as well. Two of the best riders in the world battling it out on the road is why we should realize that we are living in a special time in the history of cycling. I can only think of the psychological impact this must have had on Pogačar, as it is rare that we see anyone put him to the sword.
After an effort like that, I was glad to see that Pogačar and Van de Poel didn’t take any risks on the descent, allowing the determined Ganna to return to the front. If we weren’t entertained enough already, it was going to get even better.
In the final 500m, as the three warriors of the day jostled for position, I was in disbelief. Van der Poel on the left, Ganna on the right, and Pogačar hanging back, not even in Ganna’s slipstream? Sprinting after 300km is vastly different from sprinting after 200km, so I couldn’t quite understand this tactic.
Van der Poel must have felt like he hit the lottery with 300m to go, already having a sizable gap to Pogačar and Ganna on the other side of the road. He looked in total control of the situation, as he often does in these big moments.
His decision to launch so early seemed to catch the others off-guard before they could employ whatever tactic they had in mind, and he easily won Milan-San Remo for the second time in three years.
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I can’t stress enough how fortunate we are to experience such thrilling moments from the amazing riders of this generation. Just when you think it can’t get any better, they prove us wrong.
In a post-race interview, fourth place finisher Michael Mathews said, “we didn’t come here for fourth.” While that sentiment is true, it made me wonder… When Van der Poel and Pogačar are in top form and competing in the same race during the upcoming classics, are other teams and riders beginning to think that a podium finish is the best they can hope for?
Milan-San Remo this year was nothing short of spectacular and will be remembered for years to come, but with the breaking news that Pogačar has decided to participate in Paris-Roubaix this year, will we be treated to a rematch and even better race in a few weeks?
