Dhe Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel has secured the first major spring classic of the cycling season. At the 114th edition of Milan-Sanremo, the 28-year-old from the Alpecin-Deceuninck team won the solo race after 294 kilometers. Two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar from Slovenia had to settle for fourth place. Filippo Ganna (Italy) came second ahead of Belgian Wout van Aert.
Pogacar attacked on the day’s final poisonous climb, the Poggio di Sanremo, but was unable to break away from his closest rivals. Around five kilometers before the finish, cross-country world champion van der Poel hit back on the descent and, after his irresistible start, he was no longer caught by his three prominent pursuers.
The classics specialist thus also managed to win at Milan-Sanremo 62 years after the triumph of his grandfather Raymond Poulidor.
The first of the five “monuments” of cycling had started more than six hours earlier in the best conditions in Milan. For a long time, no group was able to break away decisively on the largely flat terrain.
The German champion Nils Politt tried his luck in a solo escape around 17 kilometers from the finish, but was swallowed up again a little later and was unable to make a decisive contribution to the final.
