117th Milan-Sanremo Preview for March 21

The 117th edition of Milan-Sanremo, cycling's first Monument of the 2026 season, takes center stage on Saturday, March 21, drawing elite men's and women's pelotons to the Italian Riviera for races that blend endurance, strategy, and explosive finales. Starting from Milan and finishing on Sanremo's Via Roma, the events promise high drama on a course accessible to sprinters, climbers, and puncheurs alike, with decisive action unfolding over the iconic Cipressa and Poggio climbs.

The men's race spans nearly 300 kilometers, marking one of the longest single-day events on the WorldTour calendar. Riders face a largely flat opening before a hilly crescendo in the final 60 kilometers, where the Cipressa and Poggio ascents and descents often decide the outcome. Defending champion Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck aims to secure a third victory, relying on his proven ability to match attacks and sprint effectively. World champion Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates enters as a top favorite after consecutive third-place finishes, having demonstrated formidable form with a solo 78-kilometer effort at Strade Bianche earlier this month. Pogacar, absent key teammates Tim Wellens and...