San Remo, Italy – All eyes will be on Tadej Pogacar this Saturday at Milan-San Remo, but despite five attempts, the Slovenian superstar has yet to conquer “La Classicissima.” Pogacar has consistently made the traditionally attritional race more spectacular, yet a victory on the Via Roma, the iconic avenue that hosts the finish of this cycling monument, has eluded him.
Historically a race for sprinters, Milan-San Remo remains one of the few major cycling prizes that has resisted Pogacar’s dominance. However, with a Giro d’Italia and five Tour of Lombardia titles to his name, Pogacar is comfortable on Italian roads.
Despite repeated attacks on the Cipressa and Poggio – the decisive climbs in the final kilometers – Pogacar has been unable to distance all of his rivals. Last year, his ambitious attempt to win all five cycling monuments was thwarted in Liguria by Mathieu van der Poel.
UAE Emirates Backs Pogacar for Revenge
Pogacar arrives at Milan this year appearing fresher, having participated in only one race in 2026: Strade Bianche, which he won two weeks ago, defeating Paul Seixas. A solo raid of 80 kilometers, as he attempted at Strade Bianche, will be more difficult on Saturday. But the four-time Tour de France champion will have the full support of his UAE Emirates team to execute his plan.
Leading the support will be Isaac del Toro. The recent winner of Tirreno-Adriatico has pledged his dedication to Pogacar, stating, “I will race at San Remo for Tadej and not seek a personal result.” UAE Emirates team manager Mauro Gianetti confirmed this week that the longest race of the season (298 km) is a key objective. “We’ve been waiting for a rematch on Milan-San Remo for a year! Tadej has trained often on the course this year,” Gianetti emphasized.
The course is well-known to all, with the decisive moments expected within the final 50 kilometers. “It’s no secret that the difference can be made on the Cipressa or the Poggio,” Gianetti added.
Last year, Pogacar successfully thinned the peloton on the steepest gradients of the Cipressa, located 21 km from the finish. However, he couldn’t shake Mathieu van der Poel, and Italian Filippo Ganna also managed to stay with the leading duo. Van der Poel ultimately won the sprint between the three.
Breaking the Curse
This Saturday, Pogacar and Van der Poel can write a modern chapter in their already historic rivalry. Van der Poel currently holds eight monuments to his name, while Pogacar has ten. But the Primavera continues to elude him.
“It’s a really special race. The climbs are fast, and it’s difficult to build differences. You have to be at 110% on the Cipressa, not 100%. Everything comes down to positioning. Then you have to start again with the Poggio, and be even better,” Pogacar explained to Cycling News this week.
At the end of his 2025 season, the rainbow jersey wearer already had his sights set on this third Saturday in March, the first major appointment of his 2026 season: “My objectives for 2026? The races that escaped me this year, Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix. Winning these two races represents a substantial challenge for me,” Pogacar confided last October.
A world champion hasn’t triumphed at San Remo since Giuseppe Saronni in 1983. Pogacar is determined to break that curse. A victory this Saturday would give him an eleventh monument, tying him with Roger de Vlaeminck for second place among the most decorated riders in these prestigious classics, trailing only Eddy Merckx’s 19 wins.
The challenge is significant, but Pogacar’s team is fully committed to supporting him. The race promises a thrilling showdown between two of cycling’s biggest stars, and a potential end to Pogacar’s Milan-San Remo frustration.
Milan-San Remo is scheduled to start on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The race covers 298 kilometers from Milan to San Remo, Italy.
