Milan -Sanremo is still missing Tadej Pogacar in his title collection – he finally wants to close this gap.
They still exist, the big races that Tadej Pogacar did not win. The cycling superstar lacks little in his impressive balance, and no gap in his vita scratches the ego like Milan-Sanremo. The race starts on Saturday at 10.25 a.m. in Pavia south of Milan.
“It is the race that will bring me to the grave. I’m so close, but it’s so far away. It’s incredible,” said Pogacar in a podcast in winter and revealed his frustration.
Moritz Cassalette, Sportschau Tourfunk, February 18, 2025 3:57 p.m.
One of the most unpredictable Run
“La Primavera”, the journey into spring, is one of the most unpredictable races in the entire calendar. The first monument of the year has a reputation to be one of the easiest to end, but the most difficult to win.
Unlike the Flanders Tour, Liège-Bastogne-Liège or Paris-Roubaix, the striking hills or cobblestone paving passages are missing in northern Italy. Milan -Sanremo is decided on explosiveness, tactics and racing intelligence – and offers classic hunters such as sprinters equally realistic victory opportunities. The enormous length of almost 300 km – on Saturday the course leads to the 116th edition over 289 km from Pavia to Sanremo – is an additional challenge.
Pogacar from fall recovered
Pogacar was close to a win several times, despite great efforts it wasn’t enough. Last year the world champion finished third, in 2023 he was fourth, fifth a year before. This year, he was finally to work, which he even won in his fabulous season 2024, in which he won the rare “triple crown” from Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and the World Cup.
The shape is right. Two weeks ago, Pogacar won the Strade bianche confidently and did not let a violent fall. The Slovenian has recovered from the crash in Tuscany, assured team manager Joxean Fernandez from Pogacars Equipe Uae Emirates-Xrg. “He was in pain for two days after his fall, but it gets better every day. I don’t know if it will be 100 percent, but he will already judge it,” said Fernandez.
Question mark behind Defending champion Jasper Philipsen
The decision is traditionally initiated by the two climbs Cipressa and Poggio. Pogacar is likely to force a decision to prevent a target sprint on Via Roma. The experienced German helper Nils Politt is supported by him. In the direct duel with the end fastest drivers such as the former world champions Mads Pedersen and Mathieu van der Poel, Pogacar would probably have left out again.
A question mark is behind defending champion Jasper Philipsen. The Belgian top sprinter fell in the target sprint on Wednesday at the one-day race. German sprinter such as Pascal Ackermann (Israel Prime Minister Tech) and ex-winner John Degenkolb (Picnic Postnl) have a hard time given the competition. Filippo Ganna bears the hosts’ hopes. The time trial ace last demonstrated its strong shape on the long-distance trip Tirreno-Adritico. “I need a perfect performance, especially at the end when you pay for every mistake,” said Ganna of the Gazzetta Dello Sport.