photo credits @ Milan – San Remo
Tadej Pogačar attacked on the Cipressa, a legendary move, one of those thermonuclear blasts that only he can deliver. But this time, unlike many others, the Slovenian didn’t manage to go solo, as Mathieu Van der Poel and Filippo Ganna were right there on his wheel, joining the madness.
Together, they made a 5.6 km climb at 4.1% look like a Dolomite wall, with riders scattered across every switchback. Unofficial times clocked them at 8’55” – the mythical 9-minute barrier was crushed.
Then came the descent – the three superstars were already 45 seconds clear, no games, no glances, just full commitment. They locked in, rotated like a team trial squad, and charged together toward the Poggio, where Pogačar attacked again just 100 meters into the climb. Ganna cracked a bit, losing a few meters. The World Champion glued himself to Pogačar’s wheel, shutting down every dig. As if to prove he had more, Van der Poel even dared to counter, trying the same move that won him the race two years ago – but this time, Pogačar was ready.
A few seconds behind, Ganna rode a remarkable tempo – steady, measured and, powerful – and just as they hit the final kilometer, he closed the gap and made it back in. Milan- San Remo 2025 came down to a royal sprint – a showdown between three titans of this sport. And the crown went to Mathieu Van der Poel, ahead of a phenomenal Filippo Ganna and a relentless but still cursed Pogačar, doomed to keep chasing that elusive Classicissima victory.
