Pidcock warns Pogacar of a possible ‘Cipressa blockade’ — what did the other Sanremo outsiders have to say?

Wearing race number one on Saturday is Van der Poel, the defending champion and already a two-time winner of La Primavera. “At Tirreno-Adriatico I got the confirmation I needed,” he said on Friday. Could we get another one-on-one battle on the Cipressa, just like last year? Van der Poel was not so sure. “Last year the wind was favourable, this year it seems a little less so. I think more riders may be able to follow, because sitting on a wheel gives you more of an advantage.”

All eyes will be on Pogacar, although on Friday he casually pointed to Tirreno-Adriatico winner Isaac del Toro as a joker card. “Our whole team is crucial. That is always the case in a race like Milan-Sanremo. How do I drop Van der Poel? By having better legs,” said the Slovenian world champion from UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

So who can challenge Van der Poel and Pogacar on Saturday? There are still several former winners on the start line, including Matej Mohoric of Bahrain Victorious. “Whether my shape is good enough, we’ll know after the finish,” the Slovenian smiled. “I have worked hard to be ready and I think I am as good as I wanted to be. I believe in the very small chance I have.”

Jasper Stuyven also refused to surrender to the idea of a straight duel all the way to Via Roma in Sanremo. “It is extra special to start a race you have already won once. The goal stays the same, and hopefully I can give Soudal Quick-Step something nice as well. I will try to ride the best race I possibly can, and as a team we have to believe in the chances we have. We are motivated.”

And what about Wout van Aert, the 2020 winner who returns to La Primavera? “I am not starting as the top favourite, but I am starting with the goal of winning the race. I absolutely believe in my chances,” he said, sounding every bit as eager as Mohoric and Stuyven. As a former winner, Van Aert knows better than most that “Milan-Sanremo is above all a race where many scenarios are possible.”

Riders like Mohoric and Stuyven will know that, under normal circumstances, they are unlikely to be right at the very front on the Cipressa. But if things stall at any point, they could still come back. The same applies to someone like Tobias Lund Andresen, who has been in superb form in 2026. “It feels like I have been in top shape since Australia. I feel great and I hope to carry that into Sanremo,” said the Dane.

At Decathlon CMA CGM, there seem to be two possible scenarios: Andresen climbs well enough to stay with the first group, or he has to let go briefly and perhaps gets another chance in a sprint later on. “Realistically, a sprint will be difficult now that some climbers have decided this is their Monument to win. We need to hope for a bit of luck and an opportunity.”

At Paris-Nice, Laurence Pithie also showed strong form for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. The Australian climbed well and sprinted strongly, making him another joker for Sanremo. “We are here with a lot of guys who need to be in position for the Cipressa. We have to follow, and if not, then we will see what happens.”

Then there are two more riders — alongside Van Aert and Romain Grégoire of Groupama-FDJ — who openly say they want to try to go with Van der Poel and Pogacar. Filippo Ganna already showed last year that he can come close. “Two second places — that is a good starting position. Victory is a dream, and maybe on Saturday it becomes reality. The legs are good.”

Tom Pidcock? The Milano-Torino winner looks to be in excellent shape, although according to him it will take more than just good legs. “Last year I had bad luck, but in the end in this race you also make your own luck. Last year it was my fault that I was not there, so hopefully I do not make those mistakes now.”

“We also have to see what other teams are going to do, because some teams may need to change the rulebook a little,” Pidcock hinted further. “You do not always have to go harder than someone else. Maybe some teams will block the road on the Cipressa. That would not be a bad tactic — for everyone except Tadej.”