Van der Poel wins for the second time Milan-Sanremo after titanic struggle with Pogacar and Ganna

The 116th edition of Milan-San Remo, the first cycling monument of the season, was won for the second time by Mathieu van der Poel. The rider of Alpecin-DECEUNINCK, also the best in La Primavera in 2023, triggered his fellow refugees Filippo Ganna and Tadej Pogacar in the Sprint after 289 kilometers of course and an exciting final.

Van der Poel, Pogacar and Ganna had escaped the Cipressa with the three of us, the penultimate climb of Milan-Sanremo. On the Poggio, the last climb, Ganna had to fit when Pogacar turned on.

Van der Poel could come along and it seemed for a long time that the two favorites would compete for the win. But in the final kilometers, time trial specialist Ganna came back. In De Sprint, Van der Poel was the Italian and the Slovenian world champion.

Shortly after the start, the peloton gave all the space to eight riders, who apparently saw salvation in an early escape. Of course a hopeless mission. The lead was limited to no more than six minutes, so that the crowd did not have to make too much effort to cancel the flight again.

On the third of the so -called Capi, the Capo Berta, 40 kilometers from the finish, the leading group splashed apart. Martin Marcellusi was the first to reach the top and continued, with a lead of 1.20 on the peloton, his way.

The brave Italian drove the lungs out of his body and was the first to start the climb of the Cipressa, a job of 5.5 kilometers long to 4.1 percent and just after half a steepest part of 9 percent. Jasper Philipsen, last year’s winner but fell hard in Nokere Koerse last Wednesday, had to let the favorites go.

Just before the most difficult strip, none other than Pogacar turned on. Only Van der Poel and Ganna had an answer, even if it was hanging for the Italian and strangling when Pogacar accelerated again.

The three riders, mentioned in advance as the top favorites for the victory, went to the pursuers with a half -minute margin. Once downstairs the lead had grown to 45 seconds and Van der Poel, Pogacar and Ganna went full gas towards the Poggio, the last obstacle of the day.

It soon became clear that the winner of La Primavera had to be sought at the leading three. The chasing group was large enough, but did not get any closer despite bundled forces.

Almost ten kilometers from the finish followed the Poggio, a climb of 3.7 kilometers to 3.7 percent and with a steepest strip of 8 percent a kilometer from the top. And again Pogacar gave extra gas. That threatened to cost Ganna’s head, but Van der Poel, last year’s winner, loved the world champion.

With a second Slovenian acceleration, VDP also had to leave a hole, but a sharp turn saved him. Three times is ship’s right, Pogacar must have thought, but Van der Poel had no message, connected and then made a surprise attack. Also in vain.

In the descent, time trial specialist Ganna made frantic attempts to get back to the leading duo. And with success. The three of them competed for the win. Van der Poel went on from far on Via Roma and that turned out to be the right choice.