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Follow us on GoogleTadej Pogačar had already won Strade Bianche after a heavy crash once before, and in Milan-Sanremo he produced another extraordinary comeback. The UAE Emirates-XRG world champion hit the deck on the run-in to the Cipressa, but was able to continue quickly and, thanks to an outstanding effort from his team, still found the chance to attack on the climb. After more accelerations on the Poggio, only Tom Pidcock could stay with him, before Pogačar beat the Brit in a two-man sprint.
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The joy at the finish was immense for Pogačar, but perhaps even greater inside the team. Team boss Mauro Gianetti said with delight that UAE had been building toward this moment ever since Sanremo 2025. Even the usually stoic Brandon McNulty was smiling, while Isaac Del Toro could hardly understand how his leader had still managed to pull it off after a crash and a desperate chase back.
The praise continued in the mixed zone, where second-placed Pidcock and third-placed Wout van Aert both looked at Pogačar in disbelief. Van Aert summed it up perfectly: “I saw him next to me on the ground, and then I saw him next to me again on the podium, so I have no idea what he did in between. It must have been impressive, what he showed.”
That same admiration also came from Pidcock, who was deeply disappointed after finishing second. Speaking to NOS, the Brit said: “Tadej is probably the best, or one of the best bike riders ever. What he did today, fighting like that after a crash… his mentality is incredible. He didn’t have to fight that hard — he has already won so much and he was in pain — but he kept fighting.”
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Pogačar considered giving up after hard Milan-Sanremo crash
Those were warm words, but in his flash interview after the finish Pogačar admitted that, immediately after the crash on the approach to the Cipressa, he briefly thought his race was over. “When I crashed, for one second I thought it was done. It was just before the Cipressa, the most important phase of the race.” He put it even more bluntly elsewhere: “If I didn’t have my team, I would just go straight to the finish before Cipressa.”
So the world champion was right on the edge and did briefly consider abandoning the fight. Speaking to NOS, he then managed to joke about it: “Maybe I wasn’t paying attention and I just slid across the tarmac. I don’t think I’ve ever made such a long slide, even in a water park.” After that, UAE Emirates-XRG saved his race. “I didn’t have too much damage, and then I saw my team. They gave everything to bring me back. They gave me hope.”
“At first you think it’s over and you’re swearing in your head,” Pogačar added. “But my bike was still reasonably okay, and then I saw Florian Vermeersch and Felix Großschartner. They brought me back on the Cipressa, and after that McNulty and Del Toro did an amazing job.” From there, the Slovenian committed fully on both the Cipressa and the Poggio.
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Pogačar had his hands full with Pidcock
“There was a headwind on the Cipressa, which was not ideal,” Pogačar said as he analysed the finale against Pidcock. “It was harder on the flat section toward the Poggio, but there the wind was better. I went all-out and I would have preferred to go solo, but Tom was very strong. Mathieu rode really well too, but in the end Tom and I got away together, and I was lucky in the sprint.”
“Tom is punchy and a very fast rider. He is really in shape, so I was a bit worried when he forced me to lead out. I knew I couldn’t wait too long because he has a better kick. It was close.” Pogačar then appeared to suggest to Pidcock that he might leave Milan-Sanremo alone for the coming years. In the mixed zone he responded with a mysterious smile: “Maybe I’ll be cheering from the roadside next year. I’ll have made some people happy who were hoping I wouldn’t race here again.”
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026
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- Three sprint chances, then all that climbing? The GC battle should really take shape after Passo San Marco. Can’t wait!robert6503-11-2026
- Finishing on the same day the men race Stage 20 is a nice touch, but I hope the women’s race gets plenty of coverage too.pedalpowe2903-11-2026
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- I’m still figuring out how these criteriums work: is the team time trial in Saitama part of the main race, or a separate event? Either way, seeing Cavendish there as an ambassador is pretty cool.davidm03-11-2026
- McNulty’s Veneto Classic win in the rainbow jersey was a strong way to close his season. The45km Saitama circuit ridden 25 times sounds like it could suit punchy riders as much as the sprinters. Who’s the favourite?tourdeforce903-11-2026
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