This week’s cycling news brings us to the eve of Milan-San Remo, a race renowned for its unpredictable finale, often described as “90% tedium, 10% electric.” We delve into pre-race contender rankings for MSR and unveil the results of a recent poll on readers’ favorite Spring Classics. Additionally, we recap recent midweek races that offered glimpses of current form, highlight rising star Lenny Martinez, and cover a community bike event in Santa Cruz, California.
Milan-San Remo Contender Rankings
Repeat winners of La Primavera used to be common, with Eddy Merckx famously winning it seven times. However, in the modern era of long-range attacks, the Cipressa-Poggio stretch has become a laboratory for exciting, unpredictable racing. It offers just enough challenge for climbers while still keeping sprinters (albeit not “true” sprinters like Cavendish in 2009 or Cipollini) in contention. This unique dynamic makes Milan-San Remo particularly thrilling, even in an era dominated by stars like Pogačar and Van der Poel. Here are the rankings for this year’s contenders:
Tier One
This race will likely come down to one of these two dominant riders, despite their differing styles.
- Tadej Pogačar
- Mathieu van der Poel
Tier Two
Should tactical errors, mechanical issues, or accidents sideline a Tier One favorite, these riders are poised to capitalize. Predictions are most interesting when they’re bold!
- Matthew Brennan
- Filippo Ganna
An unlikely scene in San Remo, but Brennan has shown flashes of climbing prowess and a strong sprint finish.
Tier Three
This group includes teammates of the favorites (one of whom is a former winner) and a rider known for exceptional descending skills.
- Isaac del Toro
- Tom Pidcock
- Jasper Philipsen
If Pidcock can hold his own on the Cipressa and Poggio, his descending could be a decisive factor.
Tier Four
Strong all-rounders who will need some luck to secure a podium finish.
- Romain Grégoire — Last year, he was the final rider dropped by Pogačar’s attack.
- Tobias Lund Andresen — Having a career-best year and consistently in contention at the finish.
- Matej Mohorič — His 2022 victory was extraordinary, but a repeat is not out of the question.
- Laurence Pithie — Could this be the race where his sprinter/rouleur potential fully materializes?
- Wout Van Aert — A sentimental favorite, often found in a supporting role for his teammates.
Wout Van Aert has recently demonstrated strong performances in support of his teammates.
Tier Five
Because every list needs five tiers, these riders are ones to watch, potentially making an impact.
- Matteo Jorgenson — Showed impressive form at Tirreno last week.
- Lukáš Kubiš — A dark horse from the Unibet Rose Rockets.
- Luke Lamperti — Gaining attention for his gutsy positioning skills, honed in criteriums.
- Giulio Pellizzari — Riding a strong wave of results this spring.
- Tim van Dijke — Suddenly appearing on many radar screens.
Jorgenson has been strong but may ride in support of Brennan.
Race News
Readers’ Favorite Classic: Paris-Roubaix Takes the Crown!
According to a recent poll, Paris-Roubaix, “The Hell of the North,” is overwhelmingly the favorite Spring Classic among readers. It significantly outpaced the Tour of Flanders, which secured second place. Milan-San Remo, despite its exciting final kilometers, surprisingly ranked second to last, just ahead of Amstel Gold. The preference for Paris-Roubaix likely reflects the enjoyment of watching the entire spectacle unfold from the comfort of home. These thrilling Classics will come thick and fast in the coming weeks, leading up to Liège in late April.
The Tour of Flanders also remains a popular choice among fans.
Pidcock Signals Strong Form with Milano-Trentino Victory
Tom Pidcock claimed a decisive victory at Milano-Trentino, the oldest race on the WorldTour calendar. While not a Monument, this midweek event features an iconic hilltop finish that Pidcock commanded. Primoz Roglič showed promising form, animating the penultimate climb and pulling away a select group. However, Pidcock’s late acceleration proved too powerful on the final climb to Superga, securing him the win with Tobias Halland Johannessen and Roglič taking second and third, respectively.
Although the field wasn’t at Milan-San Remo level, this victory gives Pidcock significant momentum heading into the season’s first Monument.
Derek Gee-West seemed to be in better spirits at the start of Milano-Trentino.
Philipsen Dominates at Danilith Nokere Koerse
Jasper Philipsen demonstrated his sprinting prowess by winning Danilith Nokere Koerse on Wednesday. He proved the fastest in a reduced bunch sprint, crossing the line ahead of Jordi Meeus and Juan Sebastian Molano. The 186.4-kilometer race featured numerous cobblestone sections and a challenging uphill finish on the Waregemsestraat. Despite an early four-man breakaway and a series of crashes that even forced Philipsen to change shoes, his Alpecin-Premier Tech team maintained control. A late solo attack by Alec Segaert was reeled in during the final meters, allowing Philipsen to perfectly time his sprint for a convincing victory. This strong showing, particularly his power on the final climb, suggests Philipsen is in excellent form.
Kopecky Reigns Supreme (Again) at Nokere Koerse
Lotte Kopecky delivered a commanding performance at the 2026 Danilith Nokere Koerse, securing her first win of the season and a record third career victory at the Belgian semi-classic. She surged clear in the final 150 meters, winning with apparent ease. The 133-kilometer women’s race included 22 cobbled sectors and 10 climbs. After an early breakaway and a late solo move by Ilse Pluimers were neutralized, Kopecky out-sprinted Charlotte Kool and Lara Gillespie. This win is particularly significant as it marks the sixth consecutive year Team SD Worx has won the race, and it confirms Kopecky’s strong form after returning from a back injury that affected her 2025 season. With Milan-San Remo next on her schedule, Kopecky enters the first Monument of the season with confidence.
Team and Rider News
Arensman Recovering Well After Tirreno-Adriatico Fall
Thymen Arensman experienced a mixed Tirreno-Adriatico. After an impressive start where he rivaled teammate Filippo Ganna in the opening time trial, a crash on the gravel stage to San Gimignano hampered his performance, leading to a fifteenth-place finish overall. Arensman stated on Instagram, “My general classification plans went into the trash after that crash. My body is still scraped and covered in wounds, but I am recovering well. The form is where we want it to be.” He also sacrificed himself for teammate Magnus Sheffield, who finished ninth. Arensman is now taking a break from cycling to tour Italy without his bike, with the Tour of the Alps (April 20) and the Giro d’Italia (May 8) as his next major goals.
Lenny Martinez: Our New Favorite Rider?
Why has Lenny Martinez captured our attention? Not just for holding his own against Jonas Vingegaard on the final climb of Paris-Nice and even pipping him at the line. Beyond his impressive racing, Martinez displayed incredible panache by high-fiving an underwear-clad roadside fan less than a kilometer before the finish. Truly a memorable moment!
Ride of the Week: The Santa Cruz Supermarket Street Sweep
This unique “Ride of the Week” comes courtesy of generous students at the University of California Santa Cruz. Recently, I joined them for an alleycat-style race through their beach town, which doubled as a food-raiser for the local food bank. The competition had two categories: “Speed” (fastest to collect required items) or “Cargo” (most food collected). Participants rode from grocery store to grocery store, gathering cans of beans, bags of rice, and other essentials.
Over 150 pounds of food collected for the local food bank!
Organized by my son, who grew up participating in a larger, long-running version in San Francisco, this was Santa Cruz’s inaugural event. We encourage everyone to organize a similar event in their hometown. It’s a simple, fun way to spend a day and make a significant contribution to your local food bank.
Some of the unique bikes from the Street Sweep, including a custom-sewn burrito carrier.
In honor of Jonas Vingegaard’s Paris-Nice victory, we’re re-sharing last year’s interview with the two-time Tour de France winner.