🚴‍♂️ Tadej Pogacar’s Quest for the Missing Monument: Will 2026 Finally Be His Year at Milano–Sanremo?
At just 27, Tadej Pogacar’s career is already a testament to greatness, boasting a trophy cabinet brimming with major victories. Yet, for all his triumphs as a multiple world champion and Tour de France winner, one prestigious race continues to elude him: Milano–Sanremo. And this is the part most people miss—despite his dominance in other races, this Italian Monument remains a stubborn gap in his otherwise flawless résumé.
Milano–Sanremo, celebrated for its legendary climbs like the Cipressa and the Poggio, has proven to be a puzzle Pogacar can’t quite solve. Its relatively forgiving route often allows sprinters to conserve enough energy to outpace him in the final stretch, a key reason he’s yet to claim victory. But here’s where it gets controversial—is Pogacar’s reliance on raw power holding him back? Former winner Vincenzo Nibali (https://www.idlprocycling.com/cycling/vincenzo-nibali-knows-exactly-why-tadej-pogacar-never-won-milano-sanremo) suggests that Pogacar needs to blend his strength with sharper tactical acumen to crack this race.
In the past four editions, Pogacar has consistently finished in the top five, including two third-place finishes, yet victory remains just out of reach. In 2025, he attempted to break away on both the Poggio and the Cipressa, launching aggressive attacks after a strong team lead-out. However, rivals like Mathieu van der Poel and Filippo Ganna matched his efforts, leaving him to settle for a near miss in the final sprint.
Pogacar, however, is far from defeated. He’s pinning his hopes on 2026 being his breakthrough year at Milano–Sanremo. To prepare, he recently spent a day meticulously reconnoitering the finale (https://x.com/BikeBlz/status/2008170415793819760?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008170415793819760%7Ctwgr%5E7cf227b65f956c8a23915e3258aae86b07b03d17%7Ctwcon%5Es1&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wielerflits.nl%2Fnieuws%2Fde-tegenstand-is-gewaarschuwd-tadej-pogacar-nu-al-gespot-op-de-poggio%2F), pushing himself to the limit on the iconic Poggio climb to fine-tune every detail ahead of the spring classic.
Will his relentless preparation finally pay off? We’ll find out on Saturday, 21 March, when Milano–Sanremo marks just the second race of the season for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader. His campaign begins with Strade Bianche on 7 March, followed by the cobbled Classics. Beyond Sanremo, Pogacar’s ambitions extend to Paris-Roubaix, another Monument missing from his collection.
Thought-provoking question for you: Is Pogacar’s approach to Milano–Sanremo too focused on brute force, or is it the race’s unique dynamics that make it his toughest challenge? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a debate!
