Whoop ages of 20.7 and 18.0: Van der Poel and Pogacar reveal intriguing clues ahead of Milan-Sanremo
Cycling
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleAnyone trying to identify the leading favourites at Friday’s team presentation before Milan-San Remo in Pavia only had to listen to the tifosi. The loudest cheers were reserved for INEOS Grenadiers’ Filippo Ganna, UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader Tadej Pogacar and Alpecin-Premier Tech star Mathieu van der Poel. But what did the two biggest headliners actually have to say for themselves on the eve of La Primavera?
ADVERTISEMENT
One eye-catching statistic surfaced just before the riders were introduced to the crowd at Piazza della Vittoria. It came from an Instagram post by American performance company Whoop, which tracks a range of data linked to athletic condition. Not only Virgil van Dijk, Rory McIlroy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Aryna Sabalenka and LeBron James use the wearable, but Van der Poel and Pogacar do as well. According to the post, the 31-year-old Dutchman and 27-year-old Slovenian have respective “Whoop ages” of 20.7 and an astonishing 18.0.
Looking at the sharp and relaxed faces of both riders in Pavia, you could almost believe it. Both men appear in excellent condition as they prepare to face each other again on Saturday over the 300 kilometres between Pavia and Sanremo. And on Friday, both offered a few revealing thoughts about what may decide the race.
Continue reading below the post!
Van der Poel expects more riders to survive over the Poggio
“It’s a special race, and that’s exactly what makes it so difficult to control,” said Van der Poel, already a winner this year at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and of two stages at Tirreno-Adriatico. “I’m happy with how my preparation has gone. At Tirreno-Adriatico I got the confirmation I needed, everything went according to plan and the feeling is good.”
“I think I’m close to my best shape, and after Tirreno-Adriatico I trained well, but without going overboard,” he continued. “If a small group gets away, it will probably be the strongest riders.”
“In a race like this, it’s all about being in position on the Cipressa and the Poggio, and then the legs decide it. Tactics do not play such a big role there,” said the Dutchman, who once again expects Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG to force the race. “Since UAE and Tadej started racing like that, the dynamic has changed.”
“The wind can play a crucial role in how the race unfolds, especially if there are attacks early on. But we should not expect that kind of scenario every year. Last year the wind was favourable; this year it seems a little less ideal. I think that means more riders may be able to follow, because sitting on a wheel gives you more advantage. But I could also be wrong.”
Continue reading below the photo!
Pogacar reconned the route with Bonifazio
The Slovenian arrived before the press with a fresh blond hairstyle and greeted the Italian crowd enthusiastically as he looked ahead to La Primavera. One overexcited supporter, who claimed to have placed 1,000 euros on the world champion, briefly stole the spotlight. Pogacar’s answer was clear enough.
“I know nothing about gambling and I’m actually a bit against it, so: don’t do it.”
Back to the race itself. “I feel good and after Strade Bianche I spent a few days in Belgium to recon some of the Classics, but I’ve also been in this region,” said Pogacar. Asked how often, he smiled: “I didn’t count.” He explained that he had been there with Belgian teammate Florian Vermeersch and former rider Niccolò Bonifazio, king of the Cipressa descent.
“But it’s not only about me, because we also have Isaac Del Toro, who is in very good shape,” Pogacar said of the Tirreno-Adriatico winner. “But our whole team is crucial. That’s always the case in a race like Milan-Sanremo. How do I have to drop Van der Poel? By having better legs.”
According to Whoop, at least, Pogacar has the younger sporting age. Now he still has to prove he has the better legs on Saturday.
Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
IDL-productions
Glasgow set to shine as World Cup demand outstrips expectations and Mason eyes first home cyclocross race
Pogačar, Vingegaard and Van Aert went faster again in 2026... except when they didn't
Team GB dominate, China on the rise, Lavreysen the best ever? Five takeaways from the 2026 Track World Championships
Track World Championships day 2: A golden day for Team GB, Levreysen goes 2 for 2, and Kopecky eliminates the competition
Rumours, speculation and guesswork: 2027 Tour de France route will be revealed live on October 22 in Paris
Latest Cycling News
Tadej Pogačar on Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Boonen, but also kiwi/pineapple, visualisation and the Gravel World Championships
Former Giro winner Tom Dumoulin records a blistering time at the New York Marathon
Tadej Pogačar isn't especially impressed by the 2027 Tour de France route: 'Its always more or less the same'
Paul Seixas looks to avoid Pogačar at the Tour de France en route to his top priority, the World Championships
Vingegaard and Seixas should ride the 2027 Giro d’Italia: 'Climbers will be very happy'
Popular Cycling News
Former Giro winner Tom Dumoulin records a blistering time at the New York Marathon
Tadej Pogačar isn't especially impressed by the 2027 Tour de France route: 'Its always more or less the same'
Tadej Pogačar on Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Boonen, but also kiwi/pineapple, visualisation and the Gravel World Championships
Modern Adventure just keeps growing: Hincapie's team strengthen 2027 roster with 4 great signings
Disgruntled Sjklemose could be best suited rider for Tour de France 2027 at Lidl-Trek: 'That doesn’t sit well'
Latest Comments
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- 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
- Is the Valdigne time trial uphill all the way, or are there flatter sections too? I’m still figuring out how these stages work.jennifer1903-11-2026
- 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
- Three mountain finishes and an uphill time trial—this route looks tailor-made for Vollering. That final stage to Mont Blanc could be brutal.cadencekingm03-11-2026
- Seixas has said he’s bored with the transfer talk, so maybe the article could give more space to the racing itself. He’s under contract until 2027; there’s no need to turn every appearance into a signing saga.velodromevirtuoso103-11-2026