The 116th edition of Milano-Sanremo, covering an exhausting 289 kilometres from Pavia to the iconic Via Roma, provided an extraordinary spectacle of aggressive racing, tactical intrigue, and raw strength. Mathieu van der Poel clinched his second career victory at La Classicissima, becoming the first rider to achieve multiple wins since Erik Zabel’s back-to-back triumphs in 2000 and 2001. This victory also cemented Alpecin-Deceuninck’s historic three-peat, matching the record last held by the legendary Molteni team from 1970 to 1972.
Cold rain greeted the riders at the start in Pavia, making the race challenging from the outset. Within 20 kilometres, an eight-man breakaway featuring Alessandro Verre, Martin Marcellusi, Tommaso Nencini, Mathis Le Berre, Baptiste Veistroffer, Mark Stewart, Filippo Turconi, and Kristian Sbaragli escaped. They built an advantage nearing six minutes, forcing the peloton to organise a steady pursuit as the race headed towards the critical coastal climbs.
The series of short coastal hills known as the ‘capi’ reduced the leaders’ advantage considerably, and by Capo Berta, it stood at just one minute. Marcellusi attempted a solo escape from the doomed breakaway, but his bid ended swiftly at the base of the Cipressa climb, where UAE Team Emirates-XRG assumed control, setting a blistering tempo.
Photo Credit: LaPresseMidway up the Cipressa, Tadej Pogacar delivered a fierce attack, immediately fracturing the peloton and dramatically reshaping the race. In doing so, Pogacar broke the Cipressa climb record, clocking an exceptional 9 minutes flat—the fastest ascent since Gabriele Colombo’s race-winning move in 1996. Only Mathieu van der Poel and Filippo Ganna could respond, while promising young Frenchman Romain Grégoire briefly held their wheels before slipping back. As the trio crested the Cipressa, their lead stood at around 30 seconds, effectively deciding the race’s outcome much earlier than usual.
The leaders cooperated well along the coastal road, stretching their advantage to nearly 50 seconds before tackling the decisive Poggio climb. Here, Pogacar repeatedly attempted to break away, testing Van der Poel’s endurance and putting Ganna under extreme pressure. The Italian slipped back several times, yet consistently fought his way back into contention.
Near the summit of the Poggio, Van der Poel launched a sharp counter-attack, briefly distancing Pogacar, though the Slovenian managed to reconnect at the summit. The pair descended with a slender lead of about twelve seconds over Ganna, who utilised his renowned time-trialling ability to rejoin the leading duo with 500 metres remaining.
As the trio approached Via Roma, Van der Poel boldly initiated an early sprint from 300 metres out, catching both rivals off guard. The move proved decisive, granting Van der Poel his second Milano-Sanremo victory. Filippo Ganna once again finished as runner-up, repeating his podium performance from 2023, and notably becoming the only Italian rider to reach the Milano-Sanremo podium since Vincenzo Nibali’s victory in 2018. Pogacar crossed the line third, securing his fourth consecutive top-five finish in Milano-Sanremo, having been fifth in 2022, fourth in 2023, and third in both 2024 and 2025.
Behind, Michael Matthews led home the chasing pack 43 seconds later, claiming fourth place, while Olav Kooij sprinted strongly into eighth, marking his first top-ten finish in a Monument.
Photo Credit: LaPresseRider reactions
Speaking shortly after crossing the finish line, Mathieu van der Poel was clearly elated yet visibly exhausted from the intensity of the day’s racing. Reflecting on his tactics and the unique challenges of the race, he highlighted the early struggles he faced before finding form along the Mediterranean coast:
“It wasn’t easy at all today, especially at the start in the rain and cold—I felt pretty horrible. But when we reached the coast and conditions improved, I really started to feel good. The attack from Pogacar on the Cipressa was incredible—I knew immediately this would be the moment to decide the race. We worked well together, and I felt I had strong legs. Launching my sprint at 300 metres surprised them—I think they expected I’d leave it later—but it was something I’d planned during the winter. It was the right tactic, and I’m proud to win again.”
Van der Poel’s victory was historic in more ways than one, as his triumph ended a remarkable 17-year run of unique winners at Milano-Sanremo, making him the race’s first repeat champion since Zabel’s double in the early 2000s.
Filippo Ganna, clearly drained yet immensely proud of his performance, acknowledged the physical toll of battling two of cycling’s current greats. Despite his evident disappointment at falling short once more, the Italian expressed deep admiration for his rivals:
“When Tadej attacked on the Cipressa, I knew immediately the race was changing. I tried to ride at my own pace and manage my effort, but those two riders made it incredibly hard. Honestly, today I tried to follow the two gods of cycling—they took several years off my life out there. On the descent, I just closed my eyes and went full gas. My only regret might be not anticipating Van der Poel’s sprint, but I couldn’t have done more. I gave absolutely everything.”
Ganna’s podium further emphasised his consistency at Milano-Sanremo, having now twice finished second (2023, 2025), cementing his status as Italy’s strongest challenger in this race since Nibali’s 2018 victory.
For Tadej Pogacar, a rider renowned for his attacking style, the race brought another bittersweet podium finish. Despite another tactical masterclass, the Slovenian candidly admitted that he was simply beaten by a stronger opponent on the day. Speaking thoughtfully after the finish, he praised both his team and his rivals:
“I felt strong, and we stuck exactly to our plan today. My team was incredible, really perfect all race. I attacked on the Cipressa because I knew it had to be hard and aggressive to drop some rivals. Mathieu and Filippo followed, and we collaborated well. On the Poggio, I tried again and again to distance Mathieu, but he was simply too strong today. Chapeau to him—he really deserved this win. Third place isn’t what I hoped for, but I gave my best. We’ll certainly come back next year to try again.”
Pogacar’s result continued his remarkable consistency at Milano-Sanremo, having now secured a fourth consecutive top-five finish, an impressive streak that underscores his persistent threat at La Classicissima.
Olav Kooij, securing his first Monument top-ten finish, offered reflective insight into his own progression and acknowledged the dominance of the leading trio. The Dutch sprinter conveyed optimism regarding his future prospects:
“When Pogacar attacked, I immediately knew what was coming—it’s such a hard pace to match. I hoped it would regroup for a bigger sprint, but those three were just on another level today. My team did an incredible job positioning me, and I’m pleased with eighth. But I definitely want more in the future—this experience gives me confidence for what’s possible.”
Photo Credit: LaPresse2025 Milano-Sanremo result
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