Our Monday cycling news recap dives into the thrilling Milan-Sanremo, where Tadej Pogačar secured a historic victory. We gather reactions from top riders like Pogačar, Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert, and cycling legend George Hincapie. This edition also covers the women’s Milan-Sanremo, Nairo Quintana’s retirement, results from other races, and an update on Remco Evenepoel’s participation in the Tour of Catalonia.
Milan-Sanremo: Straight from the Riders’ Mouths
While the entirety of Milan-Sanremo might not captivate everyone, the race’s final 40 kilometers on Saturday were absolutely electrifying – arguably the most thrilling hour of cycling this year. Many, including journalist Spencer Martin, are debating if this was one of the greatest one-day races ever. A significant crash involving several pre-race favorites added to the drama, potentially even boosting Tadej Pogačar’s prospects.
“As soon as I got back on my bike, my teammates were there waiting for me. They did an incredible job. I was running on adrenaline, and we completed it… Even as I crossed the finish line, I wasn’t entirely sure I had won. This is truly one of the biggest victories of my career. Now, I can finally stop training along the coast twice a week for this incredibly unpredictable race.” — Tadej Pogačar
Most fellow riders were in awe of Pogačar:
“Tadej crashed, and I watched him continue to fight relentlessly to win. I have immense respect for that! As frustrating as his dominance can be, his talent is truly impressive… I tried to push him to attack sooner, but he clearly knew his strategy. Tadej mentioned he might not return to Milan-Sanremo, which means I’ll need a new motorbike to draft behind!” — Tom Pidcock
“I have no idea what he’s been doing, but it must be impressive. After such a hard crash, to still manage to get back to the front and perform like that is incredibly strong.” — Wout van Aert
Former riders also shared their admiration:
“Milan-Sanremo was traditionally a sprinter’s Monument. Now, the world’s best climber takes the win… This might very well be Pogačar’s finest career performance.” — George Hincapie
Pogačar paid tribute to his teammates:
“As soon as I got back on my bike, my teammates were there waiting for me. They did an amazing job. I was full of adrenaline and we finished it off.” — Tadej Pogačar
And his teammates returned the praise:
“After the crash, there was some panic, but once we got him back into position, it was all about giving 100% and trusting Tadej to finalize the win.” — Brandon McNulty (Pogačar’s UAE teammate, who led him up the first portion of the Cipressa)
Perhaps the most concise reaction came from Mathieu van der Poel, a former rival at Milan-Sanremo, who simply responded to Pogačar’s Instagram post with a goat emoji, signifying “Greatest Of All Time.”
Race News
Kopecky Crowns Herself Queen of the Via Roma
The women’s Milan-Sanremo began with an early nine-rider breakaway along the Ligurian coast, but the real action ignited on the Cipressa. Kasia Niewiadoma’s aggressive pace shattered the peloton, though her overly daring descent led to a severe crash into a barrier, causing a multi-rider pile-up. Debora Silvestri of Laboral Kutxa was the most severely affected, sustaining five broken ribs and a shoulder microfracture, but she later expressed gratitude that it wasn’t worse and vowed to return. The race continued, and on the Poggio, Puck Pieterse launched an attack, forming a five-rider lead group that held its advantage to the finish. Defending champion Lorena Wiebes led the chase group home for sixth. In the final sprint, Lotte Kopecky decisively pulled ahead of Noemi Rüegg and Eleonora Gasparrini, claiming victory and solidifying her status as the queen of the Via Roma. This marks another Monument win for the Belgian star, confirming her triumphant return to top form. Chapeau, Lotte!
Groenewegen Victorious at GP Monseré
While many top sprinters competed in Italy, Dylan Groenewegen secured an impressive second victory within two days, winning the Grand Prix Jean-Pierre Monseré shortly after his triumph at the Bredene Koksijde Classic. The Unibet Rose Rockets sprinter unleashed his characteristic late burst to snatch victory from a seemingly assured breakaway in Roeselare.
The 203-kilometer race from Ichtegem, despite climbs like the Gitsberg and Lookhuisstraat, largely favored sprinters. Soudal Quick-Step diligently controlled the peloton, neutralizing several break attempts. A late seven-man escape, including Simon Dehairs and Kamil Małecki, seemed poised for success, and Sente Sentjens’ solo move with a kilometer remaining briefly widened their lead. Pascal Ackermann initiated a long sprint but faded. Dehairs surged ahead and appeared headed for victory until Groenewegen launched from the peloton in the final meters, sweeping past everyone to claim first place. Dehairs finished second, and Małecki took third. This marks Groenewegen’s third win of the season, following the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana in January and the Bredene Koksijde Classic, prompting speculation: is this former elite sprinter truly back?
The Secret Behind Milan-Sanremo’s Appeal? It’s Measured in Kilograms
Not long ago, Milan-Sanremo was widely seen as ‘the sprinter’s classic,’ lacking sufficient climbs or toughness to deter powerful, fast finishers. While climbers like Nibali (2018) and Alaphilippe (2019) did occasionally win, the race typically favored sprinters such as Cavendish, Petacchi, or Cipollini. This trend has shifted dramatically. Tadej Pogačar’s influence has redefined the race’s strategy; aggressive attacks on the Cipressa are now commonplace and often decisive. Consequently, riders of almost any physique can now reach the podium or even win Milan-Sanremo.
Consider Saturday’s top three:
- Tadej Pogačar — 66 kg/146 lbs
- Tom Pidcock — 58 kg/128 lbs
- Wout van Aert — 78 kg/172 lbs
This showcases a remarkable 44-pound weight difference between second-place Pidcock and third-place van Aert. While similar physical diversity might appear in other races (e.g., Paris-Roubaix with a similarly built Mathieu van der Poel replacing van Aert), the final 35 km of Milan-Sanremo seem perfectly tailored to create exhilarating racing in the modern era. This evolution is highly welcome.
Team and Rider News
Seixas Headed to UAE Emirates XRG?
After his exceptional showing at Strade Bianche, 19-year-old Paul Seixas has emerged as cycling’s most captivating young talent. The French prodigy’s rapid ascent has initiated a transfer discussion, with UAE Emirates XRG confirming significant interest in recruiting him from his current French team. UAE team manager Mauro Gianetti openly expressed his admiration, stating, ‘Signing Paul is more than a dream. He is the next big thing – a rider with undeniable talent.’ Gianetti drew comparisons between Seixas and generational stars like Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel, and Jonas Vingegaard, hailing him as ‘the new phenomenon.’
However, opinions diverge on the optimal path for his development. Five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault advises caution against rushing Seixas into the toughest competitions too soon. The legendary Frenchman suggests the teenager should aim for the Giro d’Italia or Vuelta a España before tackling the Tour de France, warning that a severe defeat against Pogačar could hinder his progression. Hinault remarked, ‘If he gets thrashed by Pogačar and finishes ten minutes behind, it is better for Paul to test himself elsewhere first. Let him do the Giro – a duel with Vingegaard there would provide a good indication of his capabilities.’
Quintana Announces Retirement
Nairo Quintana, the 36-year-old winner of the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, has declared that 2026 will be his last season as a professional cyclist, with the Vuelta a España marking his final race. Quintana expressed his future aspirations, as quoted by newspaper AS: ‘After I retire, I want to build on this. Establish businesses and support athletes. Give back to the community. I want more children to dream as I dreamed. This journey continues with new dreams; it’s not an end, but a new beginning.’
Having turned professional in 2011, Quintana spent the majority of his career with Movistar Team, with a stint at Arkéa-Samsic from 2020-2022. In only his second year, he secured a significant mountain stage victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné, alongside wins at the Route du Sud and the Giro dell’Emilia. For years, Quintana was a strong contender for the Tour de France’s Yellow Jersey, achieving second place twice behind Chris Froome and winning both the White Young Rider’s Jersey and the Polka-Dot Climber’s Jersey. His impressive palmarès also includes two Tirreno-Adriatico titles, the Tour of Catalonia, and the Tour of Romandie. Cumulatively, he has amassed 51 professional race victories to date.
Evenepoel Escapes Tenerife, Will Make It to Tour of Catalonia
In a twist of irony, Remco Evenepoel’s much-anticipated showdown with Jonas Vingegaard at the Tour of Catalonia was nearly derailed when he became stranded on Tenerife by Storm Therese. Evenepoel, training at altitude on Mount Teide – a renowned preparation base – with his wife Oumi Rayane, was trapped for two days due to heavy rain and snow preventing descent. The storm severely impacted the Canary Island, leading to widespread flight cancellations and hazardous conditions for which locals were unprepared. Despite the challenges, Spanish officials made significant efforts to facilitate Evenepoel’s descent, measures he ironically described as ‘perhaps a bit too extreme.’
Coincidentally, several of Vingegaard’s Visma teammates, including promising Norwegian rider Jørgen Nordhagen, were also stranded at the same Tenerife hotel. Nordhagen’s team, however, anticipated his timely departure. For Nordhagen, Catalonia offers a crucial chance to learn from Vingegaard, a mentorship initially intended for the UAE Tour before Vingegaard’s illness forced his withdrawal.