Pogačar Crashes Yet Conquers: Finally Claims Milano-Sanremo After Years of Pursuit

UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Tadej Pogačar has finally captured his elusive first Milano-Sanremo title, prevailing in a dramatic two-man sprint against Britain's Tom Pidcock after overcoming a crash just 33 kilometers from the finish. The 298-kilometer race, which concluded on Via Roma in the Ligurian coastal city, delivered the Slovenian rider his 11th Monument victory—leaving only Paris-Roubaix absent from his trophy cabinet.

Why This Matters

• Monument milestone: Pogačar now ranks joint-third in history for Monument wins (11), level with Roger De Vlaeminck and trailing only Eddy Merckx.

• Resilience triumph: After hitting the tarmac near Imperia with torn kit and visible abrasions, the 27-year-old relied on teammates Florian Vermeersch and Felix Grossschartner to chase back into contention.

• Roubaix in sight: With three weeks until Paris-Roubaix on April 12, Pogačar can complete his collection of all five Monuments—a feat achieved by only three riders in cycling history.

A Crash That Nearly Ended Everything

The drama unfolded in the coastal approach to the Cipressa climb, where a mass pile-up at 32 kilometers to go brought down several pre-race favorites. Pogačar was entangled alongside Wout van Aert, Biniam Girmay, Matteo Jorgenson, and Mathieu van der Poel, who sustained cuts to his right hand. The Slovenian's shorts tore apart, revealing road rash across his left hip and thigh.

"For a second I thought it was over," Pogačar admitted post-race, his voice tinged with disbelief. Yet within moments, he was back on the bike. Brandon McNulty and other UAE domestiques paced him furiously back to the peloton just as the race hit the lower slopes of the Cipressa—one of two decisive coastal ascents that define La Classicissima.

The incident fractured the main group and forced riders into desperate bike changes. Van Aert, who also went down, lost precious seconds swapping machines but would ultimately fight back to claim third place, four seconds behind the leading duo.

The Cipressa and Poggio Attacks

Once reabsorbed, Pogačar wasted no time. With 2.6 kilometers remaining on the Cipressa (approximately 24 kilometers from the finish), he launched his trademark acceleration. Only Pidcock and Van der Poel could respond, the trio cresting together while the chasing pack splintered behind them.

On the iconic Poggio di Sanremo, Pogačar attacked again with surgical precision. His ascent clocked 10 seconds faster than the 2025 edition, a record-breaking pace that finally dropped Van der Poel. The Dutchman, who had denied Pogačar on this very road 12 months earlier with a blistering sprint, crumbled under the repeated surges and would finish eighth.

Pidcock, however, clung on. The Pinarello-Q36.5 rider matched every dig, descending the Poggio's technical bends with composure and emerging onto the flat coastal run into Sanremo still glued to Pogačar's rear wheel.

Sprint Showdown on Via Roma

With the gap to the chasers insurmountable, the race distilled into a nerve-shredding duel. Pogačar, known more for explosive climbing than pure sprint speed, faced a formidable opponent in Pidcock—a rider with punchy acceleration and a proven track record in high-stakes finishes.

The Slovenian chose to lead out, unwilling to gamble on Pidcock's wheel. He opened his sprint early, driving hard along the final 200 meters of Via Roma. Pidcock surged alongside, but Pogačar held his line and edged ahead by half a wheel—a margin so narrow it required a photo finish to confirm.

"Tom is incredibly fast, and he was in great shape today—congratulations to him," Pogačar said, still catching his breath. "I don't have much experience in one-on-one sprints, but I'm happy it worked out."

Pidcock graciously acknowledged defeat, calling Pogačar's ride "extraordinary" and admitting he'd been beaten by the stronger rider.

What This Means for Italian Cycling Fans

For followers of professional cycling in Italy, Pogačar's victory cements his status as the dominant force in one-day racing. The Slovenian has now won four of the last five Monuments he's entered, a streak that includes five consecutive Giro di Lombardia titles (2021–2025), matching Fausto Coppi's historic record.

Italian riders struggled to keep pace with the ferocious selection on the Ligurian climbs. Andrea Vendrame salvaged sixth place, the best Italian result, while Matteo Trentin finished ninth and Edoardo Zambanini 10th. Filippo Ganna, runner-up in 2025, was dropped on the Cipressa and limped home in 33rd position, opting not to contest the sprint from the chasing group.

The broader narrative for Italian cycling is bittersweet: while La Classicissima remains beloved and the race delivered high drama, homegrown contenders were once again left chasing shadows. Ganna's off-day highlighted the fine margins at this level—one bad moment on the Cipressa, and the race slips away.

Women's Race: Kopecky Claims Via Roma Sprint

In the women's edition, Belgian champion Lotte Kopecky emerged victorious from a five-rider sprint, outpacing Swiss rider Noemi Ruegg and Italy's Eleonora Gasparrini. The quintet formed after Puck Pieterse's aggressive attacks on the Poggio, with Gasparrini's teammate attempting a late lead-out that ultimately favored Kopecky's superior speed.

Italian riders Elisa Balsamo (8th) and Chiara Consonni (9th) rounded out the top 10 from the chasing group.

A serious crash on the Cipressa descent marred the race, with several riders hurtling over the guardrail. Pre-race favorites Kasia Niewiadoma and Kim Le Court Pienaar were among those caught up. Italian rider Debora Silvestri (Laboral Kutxa) suffered the worst injuries but remained conscious and was reported in stable condition at a local hospital.

Pogačar's Path to Paris-Roubaix

With Milano-Sanremo now secured, attention shifts to the cobblestones of northern France. Pogačar finished second at Paris-Roubaix in 2025 on his debut, and has publicly stated that winning the "Queen of the Classics" holds greater appeal than claiming a fifth Tour de France title.

He has prepared meticulously, reconnoitering the pavé sectors in December 2025 and again in March 2026. Should he triumph on April 12, he would join the ultra-exclusive club of riders to have won all five Monuments—a feat achieved only by Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx, and Roger De Vlaeminck.

His 2026 Monument tally already stands at two (Strade Bianche on March 7 and now Milano-Sanremo), with the Giro delle Fiandre, Paris-Roubaix, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège still to come.

A Modern Cannibal

Pogačar's palmarès now reads like a greatest-hits compilation: four Tour de France titles, one Giro d'Italia, two World Championships, and 11 Monuments. Yet what unnerves rivals most is not the numbers but the relentless, inescapable style of his victories.

Even after crashing, bleeding, and tearing his kit, Pogačar delivered the same performance he would have in pristine conditions: attack until nobody can follow, then attack again. It's a racing philosophy that recalls Eddy Merckx's era, earning him the moniker "modern cannibal" in cycling circles.

"A huge thanks to my teammates Vermeersch and Grossschartner, who gave everything to bring me back," Pogačar said. "Without the team, I would have ridden straight to Sanremo to watch the finish."

The crash and comeback narrative has resonated deeply across Italian media, with commentators framing it as the essence of Milano-Sanremo—the most unpredictable Monument, wherefortuna and grit intersect. For Pogačar, it also represents closure: after finishing 12th, 5th, 4th, and twice 3rd in previous editions, he has finally "sfatato il tabù" (broken the curse).

Van der Poel, who shared the 2020–2026 Monument spoils with Pogačar (the pair have split nearly two-thirds of all Monument wins in that span), was left chasing on the Poggio. His eighth-place finish underscores how even cycling's best struggle to contain Pogačar when the Slovenian is on form.

Mads Pedersen won the sprint from the chasing group for fourth, with Van Aert—despite the crash and bike change—muscling his way clear on the Poggio descent to secure the final podium spot.

Looking Ahead

For Italian cycling enthusiasts, the spring Classics calendar now pivots north. The cobbled monuments of Flanders and Roubaix beckon, where Van Aert, Van der Poel, and Pogačar will collide again. But the balance of power has shifted: Pogačar is no longer the climber experimenting with one-day racing—he is the dominant figure across all terrains, hunting the one prize that eludes him.

The 2026 Milano-Sanremo will be remembered not just for who won, but for how: bloodied, battered, and utterly unstoppable. As Pogačar himself put it, "It's not a perfect day because I'll be licking my wounds for a while, but I'm overjoyed to have finally won here."