Van der Poel put on pedestal across Europe: "Long time since Pogacar had that confrontational thought"
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Follow us on GoogleMathieu van der Poel delivered a masterful victory in a spectacular edition of Milan–San Remo on Saturday. The Dutchman from Alpecin-Deceuninck overcame Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG) and Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) after a thrilling showdown that kicked off on the Cipressa. Across Europe, media outlets spoke and wrote with admiration about this extraordinary edition of La Primavera. Here's a roundup.
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Starting with the Italians themselves, led by La Gazzetta dello Sport:
“Mathieu has the bright eyes of a child who once only dreamed of becoming cyclo-cross world champion, but instead, he has become a ruthless hunter in the classics. The king of kings. Cycling showed its beautiful side during this 27-kilometer attack, which even left Van der Poel impressed. His stats are equally jaw-dropping: seven wins and twelve podium finishes in nineteen Monument appearances.”
Back in the Van der Poel's home country, the headlines also spoke volumes.
“Is this the best Mathieu van der Poel ever?” asked AD.
“Van der Poel’s bluff and class frustrate Pogacar,” analyzed De Telegraaf.
“This will be talked about for a long time,” predicted Trouw.
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“Milan–San Remo route being reinvented”
Just across the border in Belgium, they were just as stunned by Van der Poel. “Mathieu van der Poel has won an incredible edition of Milan–San Remo, perhaps the most beautiful of the century. The Dutchman had to dig incredibly deep for it, as Tadej Pogacar turned the finale into a brutal battle. But even on the Cipressa and the Poggio, the world champion couldn’t break away,” wrote HLN.
Het Nieuwsblad identified a problem for Pogacar:
“Even if the Slovenian executes his winning formula to perfection and rides the ideal race, Van der Poel, thanks to his finishing speed, will always have the upper hand in Milan–San Remo. It must have been a long, very long time since Pogacar left a finish line with such a sobering thought.”
“An exceptional winner and a brilliant runner-up,” headlined L’Équipe.
“Milan–San Remo known as a boring race? These riders are reinventing the route, turning it into one of the most thrilling Monuments. The Italian classic sets the tone for spring. In two weeks, Mathieu van der Poel will face Tadej Pogacar again at the Tour of Flanders. This time, the Slovenian might have a slight edge. Damn—we can’t wait.”
Read more below the photo!
Van der Poel as "emperor of Via Roma"
“Van der Poel defies Pogacar’s torture,” wrote Spanish outlet Marca. “The Dutchman claimed his second victory on the Via Roma, the seventh Monument of his career, after withstanding the fury of Tadej Pogacar, who threw everything he had at him on the Cipressa and the Poggio. An unforgettable race.” AS fully agreed: “Emperor of the Via Roma. Eternal glory for Van der Poel after a historic race.”
Delo, from Slovenia, noted that their own Pogacar still hasn’t solved the complex San Remo puzzle. “Van der Poel remains Pogacar’s unsolved mystery in San Remo. Pogacar did everything he could to win the first Monument of the season, but still finished in third place.”
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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
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026