The 2026 edition of Milan-San Remo once again delivered one of the most dramatic races of the spring Classics season.
Over nearly 300 kilometers of racing, the day featured crashes, long chases, and relentless attacks on the race's iconic climbs.
In the end, Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates launched a decisive move and defeated Tom Pidcock in the final sprint to claim victory, while Wout van Aert attacked late to secure third place.
Early Drama: Crash Before the Final Climbs
One of the key moments of the race occurred just before the decisive final 30 kilometers. Shortly before the peloton reached the famous Cipressa climb, both Tadej Pogačar and Wout van Aert were involved in a crash. From the race footage, Pogačar appeared to hit the ground hard. Fortunately, with the help of their teammates, both riders managed to chase back and rejoin the peloton.
At the same time, another pre-race favorite, Mathieu van der Poel, also appeared to be affected during the chaotic moment. The incident added uncertainty to the race just as it was entering its most critical phase.
Cipressa: UAE Team Emirates Raises the Pace
As the race hit the Cipressa, the tempo immediately increased.
First, Brandon McNulty accelerated at the front of the peloton, positioning his teammate Pogačar near the front. Then Isaac del Toro took over and pushed the pace even higher. With around 2 kilometers remaining to the summit, Tadej Pogačar launched his first major attack.
Only two riders were able to follow:
Tom Pidcock
Mathieu van der Poel
Poggio: The Decisive Attack
The race then reached the iconic Poggio di San Remo, the climb that often determines the outcome of Milan-San Remo. Here, Tadej Pogačar attacked again.
This time, Mathieu van der Poel was unable to follow. However, Tom Pidcock managed to stay on Pogačar’s wheel, although he was reluctant to contribute at the front Meanwhile, the peloton behind was moving exceptionally fast this year. Even as the riders reached the Poggio, a large group remained together. After the descent, the chasing peloton caught back up with van der Poel. However, the leading duo of Pogačar and Pidcock maintained their advantage.
Final 2 kilometers: Van Aert Launches the Chase
In the closing kilometers, Wout van Aert launched a powerful attack with about 2 kilometers remaining. However, by this point, the decisive breakaway had already formed. Although van Aert managed to break clear from the peloton, he was unable to bridge the gap to the leaders.
Final Kilometer: Pogačar Wins the Sprint
With 1 kilometer to go, the two leaders approached the finishing straight in San Remo. Tom Pidcock continued to refuse to take a pull at the front, forcing Pogačar to control the pace. The pair entered the final sprint almost side by side.
In the decisive sprint to the line, Tadej Pogačar proved the stronger rider and crossed the finish line first to take victory.
2026 Milan-San Remo Results
Top three finishers:
Tadej Pogačar
Tom Pidcock
Wout van Aert
The race once again demonstrated why Milan-San Remo remains one of the most unpredictable and exciting events in professional cycling.
