«When I fell for a second I thought “it’s all over”. I’m happy, I couldn’t wait to win this Sanremo, I have so many emotions in my head. I didn’t have much experience in two-man sprints, I really congratulate Tom Pidcock, I knew it would be tough because he is very fast.” «Did I realize I won? No, I’ll need a few more moments.” The Slovenian star of UAE Team UAE Team Emirates-XRG joked like this. World champion Tadej Pogacar won the 117th edition of the Milan-Sanremo, the first Monument Classic of the season of 298 kilometers in total starting from Pavia and arriving in the city of flowers, in the traditional finish line in via Roma.
The 27-year-old champion, who crashed after Imperia about 33 kilometers from the finish and immediately rejoined the group, overtook the British Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) in a two-man sprint and takes over the roll of honor from the Belgian Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), winner in 2023 and 2025.
Third place for another Belgian, Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), three Italians in the top 10: sixth Andrea Vendrame (Team Jayco AlUla), ninth Matteo Trentin (Tudor) and tenth Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious).
For Pogacar, who in his career boasts four Tours de France, one Giro d’Italia, two world championship golds and one European gold, three Liège-Bastogne-Liège, five Tours of Lombardy, two Tours of Flanders, four Strade Bianche, one Amstel Gold Race and two Freccia Wallone, this is his first time at the Classicissima of Spring and his 11th “monument” (he only lacks the “scalp” of Paris-Roubaix). Appointment now on Easter Sunday, April 5th, with the Tour of Flanders.