Milano - Sanremo 2025: The Best Finish in Living Memory?
The Milan start crackles with a unique tension. Riders understand the monumental challenge ahead, the odds stacked against them. It's a feeling akin to entering a battle with limited resources, yet the determination to endure, to hope for the best, prevails.
Typically, Milan-Sanremo unfolds with a predictable pattern: an early breakaway, a steady rhythm until the Passo del Turchino, and then a gradual escalation along the coastal roads. The true action ignites with 30 kilometers remaining, at the Cipressa. This year, however, the race shattered expectations, transcending the usual 300-kilometer prelude to a final sprint.
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A long-awaited spectacle unfolded. Tadej Pogačar launched an audacious attack, strategically timed. It was astonishing to witness three riders, including Mathieu van der Poel, clinging to his wheel. The group's composition inevitably shifted. Romain Grégoire faltered, followed by Filippo Ganna, leaving van der Poel as Pogačar's sole pursuer. Pogačar, adjusting his strategy, eased slightly, allowing Ganna's re-entry, forming a formidable trio.
The descent revealed a stunning 40-second gap, a testament to the lead group's exceptional strength against a world-class peloton. On the Poggio, Pogačar unleashed a series of powerful accelerations, distancing Ganna. Van der Poel, however, remained resolute, mirroring a heavyweight boxing match. Then, with 500 meters to the summit, van der Poel countered, a move that captivated cycling enthusiasts globally. This was not merely a display of physical prowess, but a mental duel, a reminder of the extraordinary era of cycling we are witnessing. Pogačar, rarely challenged, faced a formidable adversary.
Post-descent, the trio regrouped, setting the stage for a dramatic finale. The final 500 meters saw a tactical battle, with van der Poel, Ganna, and Pogačar vying for position. Van der Poel's early sprint, launched with 300 meters remaining, caught his rivals off guard, securing his second Milan-San Remo victory in three years.
The sheer brilliance of these riders is undeniable, consistently exceeding expectations. Michael Matthews, finishing fourth, expressed his disappointment, prompting a reflection: are other teams and riders now resigned to battling for podium places when van der Poel and Pogačar are at their peak?
This year's Milan-San Remo will be etched in cycling history. Furthermore, with Pogačar's unexpected entry into Paris-Roubaix, the anticipation for a potential rematch intensifies.